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Back in May, we focused in on the only time that Challenge Nation made an appearance on one of MTV's biggest hits of the 2000's. It was in 2003 in the midst of the single most scandalicious season ever of The Real World that Trishelle Cannatella of the original Las Vegas season was invited to come to a meeting at MTV's west coast offices only to be stopped at the gate by security guards and was stuck behind a metal detector. It's only when Ashton Kutcher came by as did her castmate (and fellow occupant of the 28th floor Palms hot tub) Steven Hill that she got Punk'd.
Her being part of that memorable first season of the prank series that escalated the stock of the former That 70's Show star to all-time highs came during in the midst of the season that changed it all for the show that taught everyone in the entire industry how to do reality television. Sex, drama and everything wild from the capital of adult freedom saw this MTV original truly come of age as reality television as the channel saw it before it came to Sin City was never the same again. Thanks to what went down in Vegas, Trishelle started to show up on many other TV shows afterwards from Celebrity Fear Factor with a well-known Real World alum to hanging out with Steve-O and George Takei.
And now, you can add another show to that list, and thus the many shows that various MTV Reality alumni of young and old have appeared on. And it just so happens to be in the now ubiquitous world of romantic reality television, and one of the biggest hits in this sub-genre.
With The Challenge: Total Madness now in the books, now begins the speculation of what next season for the show might be. It's still a long way off of who might be given the call to go into what will sure be the strangest season ever for the show as it now tackles a boat load of things that we really don't even want to elaborate on right now. Whatever the case, it has to follow what might not be the best season ever after tonight's back-half of the reunion, but one that has kept those hungry for some competitive action entertained during this COVID-cased quarantine lockdown.
It was a year ago at this time that we were in the midst of the summer offseason in between the two War of the Worlds seasons, and during the summer of 2019 Facebook's revival of The Real World brought three seasons in Atlanta, Thailand and Mexico City to social media. But from the MTV front - and aside from Big Brother 21, love was in the air in the revolutionary all-LGBT themed Season 8 of Are You The One? and Season 3 of the U.S version of Ex On The Beach. Once again, familiar MTV faces from fairly recently in alumni from AYTO, The Challenge and Real World to one of the biggest in Making the Band's Aubrey O'Day were part of the drama as were #Marlena of BB19.
However, when it came to those figures who made connections among everyone in last year's EOTB house, the one romantic ecosystem that stole much of the buzz surrounded that of Cameron Armstrong, who three years ago competed on the musical competition series Boy Band and then returned to the ABC network in a small role of a nurse on the cop drama The Rookie. He found himself in a love triangle with two exes - one of which was still living with him in Ariana Nova, and another who she crashed his getaway date with singer Alexis McNeal. And he had to face the music with both of his exes when the threesome were summoned into the Shack of Secrets, and where awaiting them was a day in The Exes Court with Judge Devin Walker, and where another ex, Jocelyn, came walking in as a witness.
We might not know at this early stage what the theme for Season 36 of The Challenge might be, but if there is a season that might involve lovers that might come down the road, then shockingly two of the three figures might figure into the mix of who might be casted. That belongs to those former exes who still have feelings for each other if it just on a amicable level than most other pairs of EOTB exes, and it's all because of their own homemade challenge series fittingly called, ExGames.
When MTV's The Challenge: Total Madness began on April Fool's Day night, it was in the midst of something not seen by our generation: a pandemic shutting down just about everything we had in our plans for the start of this decade of the 2020's. Concerts, weddings, graduations, trips, major events and just about everything else that was scheduled to take place this year have either been called off or pushed back by the COVID crisis, something that, unfortunately, is starting to pop up once again, as America is also facing the racial tensions spurred by the Black Lives Matter movement.
Something that's been affected deeply by COVID has been of the sports world being put on hold everywhere from America to Europe to down under in Australia. A boatload of major events were nixed for the first time since World War II, and one event that was supposed to be going on right now, the Tokyo Olympics, have been postponed to next summer. And it's only now that sports is getting back to normal: UFC, NASCAR, soccer and golf started things out, and by this weekend three of the four major sports will be in action, with the fourth in the NFL to follow shortly after.
Of all that's happened at the intersection of sport and COVID, it can point to that March night in Salt Lake City where a player from the Utah Jazz was hospitalized before a game that ultimately was abandoned, sparking an unprecedented domino effect. It has been a key moment in what has been a rough season in the National Basketball Association, including the passing of a former lawyer who helped turn the league into a global powerhouse in former commissioner David Stern. And his successor, Adam Silver, has faced the tough task of restarting things, like all other sports, although he may an upper hand thanks to placing everyone inside the bubble of Walt Disney World.
But the passing of Commissioner Stern pales in comparison to what has to be one of those days that's burned in the memory bank of every sports fan the world over of that gloomy last Sunday in January, where the tragic death of one of the most iconic athletes of our time united this divided world. The untimely passing of Kobe Bryant has overshadowed everything else, other than the virus, of the NBA season... but thanks to two weeks of training camp and scrimmages at Mickey Mouse's house, things are finally set to get back in motion this week with all eyes set on crowning a champion.
And while NBA MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo has been able to spend this lockdown watching The Challenge & other MTV Reality matters without missing a minute on the court for the Bucks, there's one other important link between the Association and the fifth major pro sport. And as hoops fans everywhere prepare for the NBA restart this Thursday night, you can thank a guy who's a basketball enthusiast through & through and his Big Brother wife to help us introduce you to one of sports' most powerful women: the Boss Lady of the Los Angeles Lakers.
*** Advisory: #DCSocialPulse contains adult language, objectionable content & spoilers for some readers. Viewer Discretion is Advised. Due to its length, take frequent eye breaks if you're viewing this top to bottom. ***
Hello again and welcome along... if you can imagine a time where you can unwind and not have to worry a single thing in the whole world right now, then it's likely that you are thinking about a trip to Las Vegas. Not all of you might share this same sentiment at this time, but thanks to a Thursday night date with Jersey Shore's two resident bachelors you have reason to head out to Sin City thanks to them having A Double Shot at Love, as Season 2 of their quest for love rages on in the desert.
Last week saw Antonio finally have reason to call his girlfriend back home that he has been cheating on, and he kept things mum on what has been going on in Vegas, staying true to the mantra that what happens in Sin City should stay there -- obviously, it's not the case when MTV is there. And we had yet another hookup to join that list of those who have coupled up, as Nicky and Suzi became the third pair of newbies to get it on. But the season as a lot of you are concerned kicked off in full swing with the arrival of Mike the Situation & his wife Lauren to join Pauly D. and Vinny for a special weekend.
Back earlier this year and once upon a time, the Southerners of Floribama Shore had their own party of the decade when the king of Puke & Rally, Codi, invited the crew and their parents for the ultimate house party. Now comes the sequel, and this time we're headed to the pool as Pauly hosts a pool day in his honor at Drai's, and when it's a party Jersey Style, you can be sure that this is THE happening in town. And after the jump, DCBLOG cordially invites you to the summer's biggest bash, as A Double Shot at Love hosts The Most Epic Pool Party Ever!
*** Advisory: #DCSocialPulse contains adult language & objectionable content. Viewer Discretion is Advised. Due to its length, take frequent eye breaks if you're viewing this top to bottom. ***
Welcome back everyone... this has been quite a week in the world of sports: Thursday night marked Opening Day in Major League Baseball as it begins its 60-game sprint to the pennant, while Walt Disney World is playing host to the knockout rounds of Major League Soccer's summer tournament AND restart scrimmages for the NBA. Plus, the NFL made it official in granting approval for its 2020 season on time, while the NHL also prepares to restart as well - and there's also UFC, golf, NASCAR and a lot more - and we're one year out from the opening of the Tokyo Olympics.
All of these items are now taking shape here on this last weekend of July and they are awakening from a spring and summer's slumber, which has allowed the fifth major pro sport of MTV's The Challenge to take center stage with Season 35 of Total Madness. And last week saw a wintertime marathon to the finish line for the final nine competitors, who had to maneuver their way through the snow, the mountains, cold temperatures and each other to get to the end of a season that's seen this show become the center of the sports world.
At the end of all that, Britain's Jenny West outlasted everyone to get to the finish line first and keep a slice of The Challenge crown in UK control and score £390,000. But on this side of the Atlantic, it's Johnny Bananas that has all the attention as he returns to the winners circle with his unprecedented seventh Challenge title - his first since that memorable steal of Sarah's money on Rivals III. There's not controversy this time around, as everyone got to congratulate him and Jenny on conquering the summit to take Total Madness, and for a moment all feels right in our world.
And all that's left is for them and most of the cast to join former NFL player Vernon Davis to discuss all that's gone down during the season -- but like everything else that's happened this year, this Challenge reunion is taking place not in a studio, but in the comfort of their own homes and with Zoom software in tow. We'll bring you that coming up, plus we'll look ahead to what should your ideal postseason fix of The Challenge, thanks to one of its biggest fans. Thanks for joining us...
Well, welcome on in to this last weekend of July and as the dog days of summer roll along, we bring you into a week Inside MTV Reality where, for the first time since March, it's something other than The Challenge that headlines the week's episode coverage, for that the party of the summer takes top billing. We'll have those two items covered soon enough, but we begin with summer in Siesta Key.
Last week saw Chloe again do what she does best: spread gossip... but it's when she flubs a rumor concerning Alyssa & her man that saw her get into hot water with Madisson that forces the ladder to move out. We also had more ex drama when an ex of Kelsey's from earlier this year return to town when Robby's fellow Rebella co-worker Jake flew back to Florida - which comes at the wrong time with her & Garrett being an item again. And Juliette got to coordinate a local fashion show that, just as it was on The Hills, saw a model fall down - luckily that wasn't aired on live network television.
If you are one of those who would want to fast forward through this lost summer and into THE time of year when it comes to celebrating, you've come to the right spot. But don't let the Key crew smiling above fool you -- this is not your ordinary fall gathering of family and friends with food around the table... you'll find out why after the jump as we wrap an awkward Thanksgiving night and Friendsgiving dinner by the beach. Welcome to paradise...
As this lost summer of sorts rages on, yesterday saw our lives feel full once again thanks to the 10th anniversary of the forming of One Direction, followed by Taylor Swift releasing a new surprise album. And it's with those two items in mind that we have two musical stories for the price of one to start off your summer's weekend...
Last Friday, global pop star Chris Brown dropped a new music video that saw him do something that's inconceivable in our new reality, but something we're sure we're gonna do once we finally socially distance ourselves from COVID: throw a house party. Those who also follow our primary beat of MTV Reality shows may have spotted a familiar face asking Chris and Young Thug to join her on her next journey: Nurys Mateo of Are You The One? and Ex On The Beach. But as it turns out, she isn't the only alum of the Season 6 cast to make waves this summer (new dad Malcolm and dad-to-be Anthony included).
In the final two weeks that determined the group's fate, one of the key turning points that kick-started their historic comeback from being down to one light in two weeks to lighting all eleven at season's end to fly out of New Orleans $1 million richer was what happened in their ninth week. After sitting together for most of those excruciating eight weeks as everyone was focused on various romances in that house, Bostonian Nicole Spiller and Los Angeles basketballer Tyler Colon were sent into the Truth Booth, and they emerged as what turned out to be the season's only Perfect Match.
But perhaps, Ty saved his biggest moments of his AYTO experience for when he got to take out of his suitcase a ukulele to join the Oakland rapper who always wears that baseball cap (and who once got to meet up with a guy named Stephen Curry), Ethan Cohen aka "Emoney," to perform some music. They first collaborated on a song that they fittingly called "The Perfect Match Song" which they then performed at the end of the end-of-season reunion, followed by recording some songs together including "Happy Place."
Hey there, welcome back... if your heart feels like it and can brave doing whatever you can to stay safe in this new world, browse over all those travel deals floating around the web right now. It's likely you'll find plenty of bargains for flights and hotel rooms for a place where, this hot summer's day, the mercury is exceeding 100 degrees if you dare to walk a portion of its main street. Of course, we're talking about Las Vegas, and that's where Season 2 of A Double Shot at Love rages on from that famed stretch of Las Vegas Boulevard known as the Strip.
The hot button topic on everyone's mind within the confines of the penthouse at The LINQ has been of Antonio's girlfriend, and last week the girls of the house paid a call to Nicole back home in Staten Island, which eventually caught his attention and led to the summer's first blow-up. But as part of an effort to cheer everyone up, Pauly & Vinny got to do what everybody who's in a down mood does whenever they're in Sin City: go to a Strip Club... and not only did Derynn meet up again with that stripper, Pauly & Nikki got much-needed face time in the midst of all that fun in the brothel.
Now, things are about to get a bit more interesting: enter the only man of the entire group who has a wedding ring on his fingers. The Situation & his bride arrive in town, and much more... coming up.
Usually, sports fans this time of year would be thinking of action on the diamond, on our own soccer pitches, on the free agency front and a slew of major championship events during this Summer of Sports. But 2020 has been totally different: a global pandemic has dramatically altered our athletic schedule both here at home and abroad, but where something called MTV's The Challenge has served as comfort food to sports & TV fans alike with Season 35 of Total Madness having just crowned its two worthy champions from America and Britain.
One sport that has been part of the relaunch of live competition globally in the past month & a half is one which traditionally sees many of its biggest tournaments take place during the summertime. Golf generally shines the brightest as does the weather when the last three legs of the game's four major championship tournaments take place between May & August. But this year has seen one of them, The Open Championship in the U.K., get nixed because of COVID, and two others in The Masters and the U.S. Open have been moved to the fall to follow the PGA Championship that's slated for next month in San Francisco.
Last week saw these two worlds of the fifth major pro sport and this quaint little game collide in time for the conclusion of Total Madness. But instead of a place as breathtaking as Augusta National, Pebble Beach or St. Andrews in Scotland, the venue was something more different where it's much shorter and where you have only one club to play with. And it's also the toughest one in all the land... and one of those who took to that course also went through the same kind of brutal conditions that Bananas, Jenny and the Total Madness final nine had to put up with... say hello to Holey Moley.
*** Advisory: #DCSocialPulse contains adult language, objectionable content & spoilers for some readers. Viewer Discretion is Advised. Due to its length, take frequent eye breaks if you're viewing this top to bottom. ***
Well on this summer's Sunday, here we are... 139 days ago tonight, twenty-eight competitors from twelve states in the Union and three overseas countries gathered with TJ Lavin behind the old Iron Curtain that separated freedom from communism in the Czech Republic. And after everything that's transpired in its capital city of Prague - and even outside of it on occasion, things now are getting as serious as it can get as we have reached the final act of Season 35 of The Challenge, and the conclusion of a season that is appropriately titled for these times we are in, Total Madness.
Last week was the Semifinal as the challengers competed one more time in a regular daily challenge and then made one last visit to the venue of the weekly eliminations, the purgatory. A man who's won more of these than any other player and a Big Brother champ claimed their spots in the final by virtue of excelling in a hybrid of car driving and bowling, while a defending champion and a fellow British sophomore won the last tickets in by plowing their way through Hall Brawl. But it's the gesture of Nelson who won our hearts and our respect in letting his closest ally compete for family, including a second kid which he got to welcome as this season has aired.
Bananas, Bayleigh. Cory, Fessy, Jenny, Kaycee, Kyle, Rogan and Melissa have all earned their way out of the Bunker and into the Final Nine, and they are en route on a nine-hour jaunt to the mountains to contest the $1 million final in the snow. The 2-day affair will test their nerves of handling the freezing cold temperatures and the huge mountain range, and where they will have to dig deep if they want to win their share of the cash, which only goes to the top male and female finisher who will each receive $500,000. So, the players will have to go big or get left out of sharing that treasure chest awaiting them at the summit.
After the jump, it's all or nothing for seven figures as DCBLOG brings you the SocialPulse of the $1 Million Finale of The Challenge: Total Madness. And thanks for joining us, we're glad you're along for the ride.
Usually, summers like these would be the biggest time of year for those in the music industry as tours and festivals take over amphitheaters and sporting venues all throughout the hottest season of the year... but this one is like no other: those venues are empty as we continue to grapple with the COVID reality that we living with. But still, there is plenty of new music to go around to keep us company at home and wherever we may be to keep ourselves entertained.
This year marks a decade & a half since the emergence on the scene of a 16-year-old from a suburb of over 2,500 people outside of Richmond, Virginia. It was in summer 2005 that "Run It!" from Chris Brown was released on pop radio stations, and it instantly became a song of the summer. And was the sign of things to come when, during Thanksgiving week, the track hit #1 on the Billboard Hot 100 at the same time Chris' self-titled debut album also dropped and eventually followed the lead of his debut single to ascending to the Top 5 of the Billboard 200 - the first man to have a #1 debut single since the mid-'90s.
That set the tone for a career that has seen him continue to top the charts and where he has sold over 140 million records and garnered dozens of awards... and he just turned 31. He's also forged a movie career for himself with several roles, along with owning his own clothing line and even owning more than a dozen Burger King restaurants. But there's also the elephant in the room of past wrongdoings: a summer 2012 fight in New York with Drake and his entourage where the Spurs' Tony Parker had his eye cut, another scuffle with Frank Ocean a year later, a hit & run in L.A., and charges of Brown threatening a woman with a gun... and due to this he's prohibited from traveling to Britain.
And of course, there's the high-profile relationship with Chris and Rihanna: just before the 2009 Grammys they got into a huge fight that ended with her face all beaten up. His public image suffered tremendously in the wake of that domestic violence incident by the time he had his day in court, eventually pleading guilty to a felony of assault and being handed a lengthy probation, although most thought Brown was left off lightly than he should have been. More bad blood followed including a controversial tattoo and him going off behind the scenes at a TV appearance before finally agreeing to enter rehab to clean up his act due to his out-of-control mental health.
Summer 2020 sees Chris mark a slew of milestones: earlier this month, he revealed the name of his upcoming tenth studio album which bears his nickname Breezy. He also had his 100th career entry into the Hot 100 singles chart when "Not You Too" from a Drake mixtape entered the list, and a collaborative mixtape with Young Thug, Slime & B, which includes the lead single "Go Crazy," which has also sparked its own TikTok dance challenge. The video for it dropped yesterday which sees him and Young throw a house party in the Hollywood Hills (something we wish we could throw on Saturday nights like this), and features cameos by Justin & King Combs, sons of their more famous daddy Sean "Diddy" Combs, the man behind MTV's next relaunch of Making the Band 5.
The reason we are covering Breezy here is that, if you watch the video in its entirety, two young ladies come walking into that bash as lightning bolts in the L.A. sky and join the hundreds partying with Chris and Young. The lady wearing the white dress is none other than Nurys Mateo from MTV's Are You The One? and Ex On The Beach... the last time we featured that member of the "Sexy Season 6" crew on here was exactly a year ago this summer when she made out with Cardi B. in the opening seconds of the Love & Hip Hop queen's spine-tingling video for "Press," and a few years after being in "Broccoli" by D.R.A.M. before being cast on AYTO.
Since it was released it has been at the top of the YouTube trending list and has already achieved over four million views on YouTube. And Nurys co-stars in the clip alongside Sharlena Hassani, a Beverly Hills skincare small business owner, and who ask them to follow them to wherever they go next... which ends with a cliffhanger and teasing a possible reappearance in a follow-up video. When the video dropped yesterday, only those who have followed Nurys from the beginning knew who she is from her MTV days... and she posted on Instagram after the premiere, "We might’ve gone crazy 😜 @chrisbrownofficial"
And those who have rolled with Nurys from when then joined Team MTV three years ago (and for when they were filming AYTO at this time in summer 2017 - with the end of this month being when they completed that historic $1 million comeback) were quick to send their reactions to her after seeing her starring role in "Go Crazy," with her ride or die Diandra Delgado reminding everyone on Twitter, "Y’all go watch the GO CRAZY music video & lmk if ya see a familia face 😏😏😏😏😏😏😏😏 @NurysKMateo."
Nour of last year's Season 8 saying "OMG YES BABYGURL!!!! so proud of you!! congrats 🔥🔥🔥🔥😻😻😻😻," Tyranny of Season 5 & Ex On The Beach writing "Yes yes yes go girl ! I’m so so happy for you you deserve this !!!! Aghhhh!", and Ellie of Season 2 saying "Omfg THATS MY BABY DADDDDYYYY STOPPPPP BITCH IM SO JEALOUS 😭😭😭😭!" And where will Nurys pop up next? We'll wait and see...
We've arrived at the end of a week that's seen one of the biggest MTV franchises find itself meeting with a sudden final reckoning, but it's also one where the one sport that's kept us entertained this spring & summer is also having its last act. We'll have the ladder covered in short order along with yet another hookup in the Double Shot abode ahead in this week Inside MTV Reality, which begins with an appetizer down in Siesta Key.
When we last left Florida, just about everyone in town was shook by the news being scooped by, of all people, Chloe that Alyssa is pregnant with Alex's baby... and when that was relayed to her Juliette was reduced to tears all around some pizza and wine. Elsewhere, things are alright again for Brandon, who's now back together with his former girlfriend Camilla and who's now working a real job... but you can't say that for his ex Amanda after she & her ex JJ got into it at his birthday party at her place.
Now, things are about to get even more juicy in the summer heat: someone moves out because of one's sketchy behavior of spreading something other than a virus, an ex decides to make his return to town, and a familiar scenario from years back makes its way out east as another prestigious event goes down. After the jump, we begin our now weekly recaps of Season 3B of Siesta Key, plus some historical background to a big moment of this week... and welcome to the weekend.
Without elaborating on it for the sake of the section of our readership who hasn't caught up on it yet, last night saw The Challenge Total Madness crown its champions in a field where all but two of the finalists did not have their roots begin in the show that started this entire MTV Reality story of The Real World. The prospect of having shows from outside the true OG of this entire genre competing for the top prize may not have possible at the start of the last decade, but the expansion of the potential draft pool of the fifth major pro sport began in earnest five years ago.
It was, appropriately enough, on Battle of the Exes 2 that those not cast on RW, Road Rules or who gained admission through the back door as Fresh Meat began to take shape. We here at DCBLOG were there at the start of the journey of MTV's first entry into the current reality dating craze when Are You The One? premiered in 2014, and being one of the many shows that have launched out of the channel's most buzzed about shows. It turned a small place with lasers into where hopes for love can live or die by a "perfect match" message... same goes for a series of beams that can tell a house's fortune of running the table and winning money. And it has given us a number of memorable alumni, from ultimate perfect match Amber & Ethan to many of The Challenge's top names.
Four of the original season 1 cast graduated onto The Challenge and Exes 2 a year after their triumph in the Hawaiian islands: Adam, Brittany, Simone and a comedian from Tampa named John Jacobs. If you happened to have caught season 1, you may remember him as that quirky guy who threw around dollar bills during an argument with a couple girls, and who held the last key to the house taking down the $1 million when they unplugged the love triangle involving him, Puerto Rican Jacy and Brooklynite Scali.
Despite being on that lone Challenge, J.J. has been a staple of this site ever since, from meeting Alex Rodriguez shortly after his retirement announcement from baseball, to him being a reporter catching a gun theft at a Florida fairground right as it was happening, and being a man on the street when the nation was in town for a political convention. It is only part of what those on YouTube get to experience when they subscribe to his very own YT channel, which includes the many stories he's filed for the Tampa News Force, and all of those stand-up routines from Tampa Bay area comedy clubs... including that time where a fight broke out in the audience while he was on stage.
A hidden talent that J.J. seems to have is music, and below are some of the good stuff he's been working on during this lockdown and where the virus madness has been happening outside his door in Florida. Included are his own visual album along the lines of Beyonce's Lemonade, and him auditioning for Hamilton 2 after the release of the Broadway hit's new film on Disney+ earlier this month. And one interested viewer was Brandon of AYTO Season 2 who tweeted yesterday, "Fvck that. This is fvcking good music."
Hey there, welcome back... even though it's Thursday, we know this has been quite a week for those of you who follow the MTV world. But before we get to elaborate on that, let's not get that in the way of what the true spirit of the shows you love really is: having fun and having the time of your life. With that in mind, let's proceed with wrapping last week on A Double Shot at Love.
Previously in Las Vegas, the focus was on the two most prominent of the exes who've earned another shot: for Maria, she finally had a chance to get to talk to Vinny after what happened last year, and at night's end they were preparing his signature Sunday dinner. Someone who wasn't around the table that night was Nikki as she continues to wait things out with Pauly, with lots of time on her watch. But it was Derynn who stole the show once again: this time instead of jumping into the water, she decided to put on a PDA at the club with a Chippendale in stripper Ricky.
And when you're in a city that has plenty of these adult pleasure joints on hand, you know you really haven't experienced what Sin City is all about until you have walked into a brothel. We'll take a trip into a strip club for some love and possibly a make-up, just ahead before an all-new episode tonight.
One-hundred & thirty-nine days ago on the Thursday before Leap Day, an Instagram video of a desk & two lit-up lamps kicked off the month-long prelude to the biggest, baddest and the boldest season ever of MTV's The Challenge... and it's safe to say that it has certainly been a most eventful time in our mad world since then. Tonight, a spring & summer of action and activity both in and outside the Czech Republic will culminate with the final challenge in a new nation that will bring to a close Season 35 of America's fifth major pro sport, and the season fittingly titled, Total Madness.
Though the fifteen episodes we have been able to witness since premiere night on April 1st, we have had plenty of drama go down in Prague: some of the coolest and most well put-together challenges ever conceived, the unexpected alliance of two of this game's biggest names, stellar rookie seasons of a few players who haven't had the jitters of playing in this game for the first time get to them, and everything else too. And we are set for one final push to the end in this, the fifth $1 million final in the past four years on this show you and I love.
Yes, we here at DCBLOG thrive on bringing you all the social media reaction to the episodes and applying our own touch to the tried & true episode recap, and of course the stories behind the story. But, it's only when we get to this last stage of the entire season do we get to do what everybody else does on your favorite sources for Challenge talk on webcasts & elsewhere: take a look at where it all stands right now game-wise and see how those still left with us in this game have fared.
And that's where we get to unlock the keys to the Strategy Room... and we'll have the chance to dissect the roads that Bayleigh, Cory, Fessy, Jenny, Johnny Bananas, Kaycee, Kyle, Melissa and Rogan have all taken from when they were among the twenty-eight contestants that started this game on April 1st, to now taking dead aim at $1 million in the middle of July. We'll do that and give out our predictions of who will reign supreme, among other things, coming up just ahead...
We are into a whole new week, and if you are in the mood for something that's a little bit more juicy when it comes to the drama side of MTV Reality, then you've come to the right place. And if things were feeling perfect than they are right now, then definitely you are dreaming of being in paradise... and that is the case for the lucky handful who call home the beach community of Siesta Key, where Season 3 is rolling along with its second half.
The first two weeks of summer 2020 in the Key has had the premiere night surprise of Alex being edited out of this second half for his past online undoings in a time of reality getting blacked out. But that's not to say that it has overshadowed what's gone on in the first two episodes (a note: we're covering this biweekly until The Challenge concludes next week): another one of those galas once again stirring some drama, Madisson finding herself again in a long-distance relationship with her 40-year-old producer boyfriend, and Siesta Key's own Ex On The Beach with Robby and the exes of Maddy, Amanda and Brandon invading the town's Halloween bash.
And what did they say in the promos for this: "Secrets Are Never Safe?" Well, it's prevalent down in Florida as the latest bombshell to drop on this town stuns just about everyone.... we'll look at the group reacting to the A-Team becoming parents and other matters ahead, before Episode 5 tonight.
As we are now getting closer to crowning our thirty-fifth season champion on The Challenge in a few days' time, the fittingly-titled "Total Madness" has provided us with at least 90 minutes of much-needed escapist television from what has been going on in our world. Those of you who have been watching that during this time of being at home and with not much else in the world of competitive content out there have been definitely entertained, with the last act still awaiting us.
You have no doubt heard about the growing movement going on with those who you got to enjoy watching on The Challenge for many years, and those who entertained you before I got to begin watching and covering this show on a permanent basis. Some of them are inching to have one more chance at this with the help of one Godfather of MTV Reality named Mark Long, but others are now into the daily challenge of life after MTV.
One of those things that we can be happy and smile about is when those who we've gotten to enjoy over the years get to tackle what we often call around here life's biggest challenge: parenting and raising kids. And while we have been busy following what's been going on both on the big show itself and off of it, two Challengers who made their debuts ten years ago on both a regular season and a special one during an annual season of renewal are now two of Team MTV's newest parents.
That special one during what has long been a tentpole event for MTV since the channel's early days came during Spring Break 2010, when casting directors were scouting prospects all around a town in Mexico to see if they could take part in a special Spring Break Challenge. Camila Nakagawa came down to the beach from the University of Nebraska, but she had no idea of what she would get herself into, or what the future would lay ahead: seven years of doing twelve Challenges in total, winning two of those, creating memorable moments both on the field and off.
Back in February before things got out of control in this world, Camila revealed first to People Magazine that she would be expecting her first kid... something that she or any of us totally did not expect, but she has joined a slew of other moms who have given birth not just to new babies, but also in the world of COVID. Because of all the panic going on outside, she had move her gender reveal party to a virtual one over the Mother's Day weekend for her Instagram followers. The connection gave out just as the big moment arrived, but the result came out blue - symbolic of a baby boy.
And last Tuesday with the below Instagram post, she introduced everyone to her new kid and with this caption: "He’s here. 🧡 meet baby Kai Aiden, the love of my life." She wrote later, "Words cannot express the feelings and emotions going through me right now. ❤️ Thank you to every single one of you who supported my pregnancy journey leading into this new phase of my life. Thank you to my beautiful family who have been there for me every single step of the way, through the ups and the downs, for always reminding me that I am strong and capable of anything in this life. Thank you to my friends who Have provided me with great advice, love and laughter when I needed most. ... Thank you my baby boy for choosing me as your mother. I love you so much more than I ever thought possible. Just thank you, thank you, thank you. I have never felt so blessed in my entire life. 🥰🥰"
Fellow MTV'ers gave her congrats from Ashley K., "Oh my goooooodnessssss!!!! Obsessed, he’s soooooo cute! Congratulations beauty! Super happy for you. 💙", to Tori: "Ohhhhhhhh myyyyyy god 😍😍😍 congrats Camila and baby Kai!!! What a perfect name 💗", and Brain Candy Podcast's Susie Meister: "I trust he’ll have a Tik Tok in no time. Welcome to the world, Kai! Happy birthday!! 💕💕💕" Fellow Challenger turned mom Paula wrote, "He’s utterly perfect!!!!! No surprise there! Welcome to motherhood officially. All the love in the world!!!", while Rivals champ Tyler added, "Omg, congrats!!!! So precious."
In the past two summers, we have enjoyed the thrill of getting to see people in love as only MTV can do it. We've had two seasons of Are You The One? and a summer of Ex On The Beach during that time, but Season 2 of A Double Shot at Love will have to do this time around, featuring Maria of AYTO Season 7 as she once again finds herself in the company of Vinny & Pauly D.
Still, MTV Reality's takes on love are making news, as there is joy for not one, but four alumni of either or both AYTO and EOTB who are now taking the next step to tackle that challenge of raising a kid years after they made trips into the Truth Booth and the Shack of Secrets. However, this will come during this time of living in a COVID world, as the pandemic continues to wreck havoc on the life we live, and the usual fanfare that comes with welcoming that new addition has been subdued a bit... but nonetheless, whenever there's news of babies it's always something to smile about.
It was at this time last summer that Season 3 of Ex On The Beach once again brought together an all-star cast of reality superstars to come to grips with their not-so-romantic past. Danity Kane & Making The Band's Aubrey O'Day, AYTO alum turned Challenge villain Devin Walker and the Big Brother showmance of Mark & Elena headlined the group... and the group of exes who washed up on-shore were just as juicy.
Two of those who came to Malibu in that precarious spot on the beach were Shannon Duffy of the AYTO Season 5 cast and Anthony Martin of Season 6, both airing in 2017. He made the drive down to the beach as the ex of original housemate Geles Rodriguez, and she also did likewise as the soccer player's ex fresh off of a breakup before joining Romeo Miller & co. And as it was down in New Orleans, Anthony had to again endure having a drink thrown in his face in the EOTB house.
Their first time together may not have been a breeze, but working things out like any couple in that Malibu madhouse may have been the best thing to happen to #Shanthony. And on Mother's Day in May they announced that they are expecting, joining Shannon's fellow AYTO Season 5'er turned mom Taylor Selfridge and MTV king Cory Wharton in having all-Ex On The Beach babies.
Stay-at-home orders and social distancing have truncated the traditional celebrations that come with an impending pregnancy, including baby showers and the ubiquitous gender reveal -- and Anthony & Shannon got to experience it themselves being at Taylor & Cory's big bash earlier this year along with everyone else in Team MTV. But COVID didn't stop #Shanthony from holding their own gender reveal party nearly two weeks ago with family, close friends and fellow EOTB'ers the Kaplan Twins, Cameron Armstrong and his ex Ariana Nova on hand to find out who it is...
