DCBLOG Look Ahead: Welcome to September...

BY DC CUEVA                      

■ @DC408DXTR  @ IG/YT/SC/TB

We hope you are safe and sound and just soaking in whatever we have of the summer of 2020 that we wish it would be better than it has been, but are just trying to keep yourself healthy and cool in this tense time in the world right now. This has been quite the past few days, and the past month for that matter, as we are headed towards Labor Day coming up, and we can finally get on into that time full of holidays known as fall, or autumn as some of you like to call it.

Over the weekend, yours truly and my family got to spend this late summer's weekend at my sister's in the valley as she, my bro-in-law and their kids got to celebrate my nephew's 11th birthday with us and some of their neighbors. That has allowed me to take some time away from social media and from working on both this DCBLOG site and my burgeoning YouTube channel for much more enjoyable and quality time with family. It's always a refreshing thing for me to get to spend time with them in knowing that it's time with my loved ones ranks ahead of what I get to do online, especially in our changed world, although I did get the chance to premiere three videos over the weekend, in addition to two that debuted just as our President took to the mic last Thursday.

Now, this does change up my plans for what I had for both DCBLOG and for my YouTube channel for this first week of September, and here's what ahead...

● Besides last night's Video Music Awards, last week's big thing in the MTV circle was the season 3 finale and reunion for Siesta Key. Because of my YouTube work taking precedent last week as well as my family outings, I haven't gotten a chance to watch it just yet, but once I get to do so tomorrow (as this post goes up on Monday, August 30) I'll then do the last WRAP for it on here afterwards - so, don't get on me for wondering why it's not up yet.

● There's also some other blog content coming your way here after that: on Friday, the world was saddened by the passing of Black Panther's Chadwick Boseman after a private four-year battle with colon cancer... and we'll share the memories two of the guys of Floribama Shore had meeting him at the 2018 MTV Movie & TV Awards. We'll also join a past Challenger as she got to take her talents to HGTV to help a local couple pick their new house in their hometown, and there's also a look ahead at who has been cast for the next season of The Challenge.

● In fact, we are so pressed for time around here that we will have to bring you the Pulse Xtra for last week's episode of A Double Shot at Love as part of next week's blog wave. I have also not been able to watch it as of yet, and will do so in due course... and there's also all of the social content to also sift through and compile as well, and that will appear for you on here on Friday to kick off Labor Day Weekend as a part of a special doubleheader covering that and this week's episode as well.

● And aside from DCBLOG, there is all of those #DCVegas videos: tonight I am transferring my second camcorder tape to digital which will cover the 2009 trip, the one where I spent my birthday in Sin City... and maybe, I could also convert to digital my 2010 trip as well if I have time. There are also several videos left in my 2007 series of vlogs, and they will be posted as part of the spiritual last weekend of summer, coming up at the end of the week.

So, that's what is ahead both on here on DCBLOG, and over there on DC YouTube. See you then...

- I AM DC  @DC408Dxtr
#TheEscapeYouDeserve

DC SocialPulse Xtra: A Double Shot At Love - It's Getting LIV in Miami

*** 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. ***

BY DC CUEVA                        

■ @DC408DXTR  @ IG/YT/SC/TB

This is the week of the biggest bash MTV puts on each year, though this year's Video Music Awards will be different in any other way. One place that's been among the handful that has hosted the annual handing out of the famous moonmen statuettes is the city of Miami, and that is where we find the cast of A Double Shot at Love as they're with Pauly D. and Vinny to revisit the scene of the crime of two past overall seasons of Jersey Shore.

The bromance is in South Florida once again, and when we last left them and the crew they were getting used to temporary quarters for a couple days as the DJ is preparing to take the stage at the LIV nightclub at Fontainebleau Miami, one of the biggest nightclubs on earth. At the same time, he's also been having renewed feelings for Nikki, all while Vinny has been in his own element with Maria - but there seems to always be a tendency for those who have been on the Shore franchise to pop up yet again. And the Keto King had a run-in once again with the same bartender girl who was all over him two years ago on that Family Vacation... crazy, isn't it?

But now, the biggest gig yet for Pauly awaits right down on South Beach, coming after he broke Nikki's heart... or did he? We'll find out the answer to that, along with the group being given a rude awakening on the Double Shot Pulse Xtra just ahead.

DC ExtraTime: Before They Were MTV Stars - The First Time Club

BY DC CUEVA                        

■ @DC408DXTR  @ IG/YT/SC/TB

Brandon (right) with Christina, Joel & Marie
in The First Time Club (Facebook)

Tonight as we near the finish line of this lost summer of 2020, Siesta Key will wrap up its third season as MTV kicks off the countdown to the Video Music Awards. It's one that's given fans and casual reality viewers plenty to talk and buzz over in a ride that began back in January and now ending this last week of August with both the season finale and a virtual at-home reunion to come on afterwards, hosted by a member of my sister's graduating class of 1995 at this blogger's alma mater Milpitas High School, The Real's Jeannie Mai. And it's safe to say that this has been quite a summer times two in this dual suburb of Sarasota and Tampa Bay, Florida.

It all began when one of JoJo Fletcher's Bachelorette suitors, Robby Hayes, stole and then broke the heart of the show's main protagonist who just turned legal age. We've also had more ongoing drama with her and her ex-boyfriend, who moved on to a childhood friend of his who helped to make them the first in this clique to become parents. There's also the bombshell dropped by one of the girls that she is now dating someone who's not only twenty years older than her, but who also happens to be an ex-producer of the show itself. And there are other things that have had those from Robby's Bachelor Nation alumni to big name movie stars join in on the fun of watching a show born out of the spirit of The Hills and Laguna Beach, for which the producers of the ladder created this spiritual relaunch.

What started out as just a typical TV pilot paid for out of the wallet of a rich local entrepreneur who also happens to be the father of that new baby daddy has turned into something much more. Since it debuted three years ago, Siesta Key has stayed true to what its West Coast predecessors preached back in 2004 ago when Laguna introduced the subgenre of reality drama in mixing what you love about daytime soap operas with eye-catching cinematography and a catchy musical soundtrack. Not to mention, there's that group of hotties who bring on the drama and who have brought their own brand of it, following in the footsteps of Lauren Conrad, Kristin Cavailari, Spencer & Heidi and those who starred with them on their two shows out in California.

But you probably not know that, for a couple members of the original seven as well as one other bit-part player in the drama, Siesta Key isn't their first time being on camera... as they appeared in an independent drama film just before they and their friends were discovered by MTV. In a strange twist to this, you won't believe which role an unlikely outlet has in helping give three future castmates their first taste of being in front of the camera. And at the same time, it's also helped to serve an important purpose, as you're about to find out in this installment of Before They Were MTV Stars.

MTV Reality WRAP: Siesta Key - The Season 3 Summer's Penultimate Week

BY DC CUEVA                        

■ @DC408DXTR  @ IG/YT/SC/TB

IG @GBaby00

Hello there friends, we're glad that you've joined us... on this fourth weekend of August we're now in what's called in meteorology circles "golden hour" - that last hour of sunlight before sunset, of this summer 2020 as far as those in Siesta Key know it, just two weeks prior to summer's unofficial end on Labor Day. But if the first two seasons of MTV's modern-day Laguna Beach are an indication, than this third installment will not go down without some drama before the sun officially sets.

Get-togethers and group-bonding exercises that have brought the clique together have been a weekly occurrence all throughout Season 3 dating back to when this began back in January, and last week saw them ring in this lost year down in Miami, with the help of Juliette's new crush Sam who rented a house for the big party. The queen went down to South Florida not just to party, but also to take advantage of her new career opportunity, which strikes jealousy with Kelsey. When they kicked 2019 to the curb, Brandon also brought the drama with him into the new year when him being spotted with Amanda saw Camilla argue with him... while Madisson and Ish clashed while going house hunting.

Will that new swimsuit line Jules is putting together see her friendship with Kels go out the window? Plus, there's yet another party as it's the resident fitness hunk's turn to gather everybody in the clique - but will his new product launch go off without drama? See you after the jump as we bring you the DCBLOG WRAP of the penultimate week in Siesta Key...

DC SocialPulse Xtra: A Double Shot At Love - Welcome to Miami!

*** 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. ***

BY DC CUEVA                        

■ @DC408DXTR  @ IG/YT/SC/TB

After a small break, we welcome you on back to Miami Week in MTV Reality as, over the weekend we brought you the cool kids of Siesta Key invading South Florida to ring in the year that has turn out to be a lost one, but at least they've been keeping us entertained here in 2020. Now, it's time for the other half of this doubleheader as another group is ready to take over: the crew of A Double Shot at Love led by two men who know this part of the country well in DJ Pauly D. and Vinny.

Last week came the news of the group being told to pack their bags and to get set to go to Miami through a few subtle clues and them living the good life riding in that private jet. But before that, there was some relationship drama to take care of to make sure that stays in Vegas before they arrive back on the East Coast. That included Suzi's drama with the ECBC crew after the events of what went down after their night at Chippendale's, as well as Nikki and Pauly reexploring things again.

Miami has been, of course, a second home for the Jersey Shore franchise, from that memorable Season 2 in 2010 to their Family Vacation comeback two years ago. Over this time, the group has worked at a local ice cream shop, J-Woww & Sammi throwing things down, the bromance riding in a jet ski together, and of course Pauly's most proudest prank of all of bringing Angelina to Florida. Not to mention, this was where Mike the Situation invited Lauren down here to officially propose to her.

Now, What will happen next? You'll find out after the break as we bring you this Pulse Xtra of A Double Shot at Love Takes Miami as Pauly takes on his biggest gig yet and Vinny encounters some rough waters... and we'll also head across the pond to join MTV Reality's newest baby daddy. We're glad you've joined us...

DC ExtraTime: A Real World'er "Says Yes to the Dress"

 FOLLOW-UP  Triplets, Dresses & A Situation
BY DC CUEVA                             

■ @DC408DXTR  @ IG/YT/SC/TB

As most of us who planned on having an elaborate wedding this year now are revising those plans to have it take place once COVID finally leaves the room, a lot of you have been looking to a popular program on cable for a way to think about what to war on the big day. And it's 99% likely that you have more than enough time to make those choices as everything has been getting out of control in our world, with the hope that things get back to normal once COVID finally leaves the building.

Back in March during Ex On The Beach: Peak of Love, we focused on two MTV family members - one of the singles from that winter-themed season and a member of the Jersey Shore cast as they got to walk into the New York home base of TLC's hit series Say Yes to the Dress. For Real World & Challenge alum Nicole Zanatta, she joined with her triplet sisters Ashley and Samantha as they and their mom helped the ladder choose her outfit for the big day. And for Mike The Situation, he and the Sorrentino crew joined sister Melissa as they, too, also went wedding dress shopping a year before he tied the knot with his fiance Lauren prior to his prison sentence.

And as it stands now, there will be not one, but two instances this summer & fall where more MTV alumni will be making a trip into Kleinfeld Bridal's wedding dress saloon along West 20th Street in Manhattan. The second one features a married Total Madness rookie couple where one-half of them is back where it all began for her, and we'll be featuring the couple known as Swayleigh - Chris "Swaggy C" Williams & Bayleigh Dayton when they walk into Kleinfeld's then. This takes place while she's again taking up residency in the BB All Stars house with fellow 2-time houseguest & Challenger Da'Vonne Rogers.

The first aired last Saturday night on the lucky date of 8/8, and where someone who is now a radio host and who helps those get their day started in one of America's great cities make the trek down from New England to help out with her wedding dress planning. But a decade ago this summer, she was living down in The Real World right by the Bayou.

MTV Reality WRAP: Siesta Key - We're Going to Miami!

BY DC CUEVA                             

■ @DC408DXTR  @ IG/YT/SC/TB

IG @ChloeTrautman

Hey there friends, we've made it to the third weekend of August, and as we speak to you this blogger based out here in California is getting basked by a good-old summer heatwave. It's with this in mind that we welcome you to Miami Week in MTV Reality as the two shows of our most interest outside of Big Brother and in this Challenge postseason are headed to the beaches, the clubs and the sultry heat of South Florida. And we begin with the ones who call the Sunshine State their home: Siesta Key.

Last week, the Key clique's summer of celebrations continued with them celebrating, in August of all things, the spirit and joy of Christmas. We got to catch up with the various relationships in this clique - from the deteriorating one of Chloe & Madisson, to Brandon & his girlfriend Camilla with their newest addition in a pet cat. Even Ish returned to Maddy's life as he had time to return to Florida to spend some quality time and ask if she's willing to leave Siesta for LA. And the new man in Juliette's life, Sam, threw a holiday party that turned sour when the group discovered Garrett has lately been more than just the personal trainer of Carli.

For a historical pointer, last year Alex invited everyone to Miami with most everyone taking either that short 1-hour flight or the 3.5-hour drive down I-75. But the drama also came along for the ride too: before that famous revelation that caused Chloe to take those famous sips of that wine Madisson was dating her friend Ben as he came along with them to Miami. But the fun vibes the group had when they arrived on South Beach faded like the sunset when Garrett came along with his girl (and Alex's ex) Cara in tow, and not surprisingly it had Jules up in arms with them, just as she did going after G-Baby in defending Kelsey last week.

Now, the gang is headed back to Miami as they say farewell to the old year and hello to the new -- at least the year they thought it was gonna big. We'll WRAP this week in Siesta Key just ahead, along with news of another MTV baby. Thanks for joining us...

DC ExtraTime: A Couple AYTO 6 Musical Notes...

BY DC CUEVA                        

■ @DC408DXTR  @ IG/YT/SC/TB

The global pandemic that's been wrecking the best laid plans we had for 2020 has certainly been hitting the production side of television. Some productions such as the All-Star 22nd season of Big Brother with a couple Challengers having just begun, the summer turned fall cycle of The Bachelorette continues filming, and others like Season 2 of Love Island U.S. will soon follow. For those of us who follow MTV Reality, then the hybrid love fest/Jersey Shore spinoff A Double Shot at Love will have to do when it comes to our usual fix of reality romance for the time being, as things are up in the air for when the next seasons of Are You The One and Ex On The Beach will go down.

If there is something of a debate going around the fandom of which of the eight seasons of AYTO is the most memorable, then it's anyone's game. Season 1 has the trendsetters and the perfect match of Amber & Ethan, Season 3 has the crossover appeal of doing many MTV series since, Season 5 having notable figures who've managed to get over losing $800,000, and last year's Season 8 who proved that you can love anyone and not be limited to just the opposite gender. But if there's one cast who have made a huge case in this question, then it's the AYTO Season 6 cast from three years ago.

Obviously, this year began on a tragic note when a beloved member of that cast Alexis Eddy passed away too soon, but a serendipity to what's otherwise been a lost year of 2020 is that there have been some good things happening for her "Sexy Season 6" alumni, and she would certainly feel so proud of them. There's been parenthood for Anthony Martin & AYTO 5's Shannon Duffy, a girl dancing on Let's Make A Deal, and engagements for lovebirds Clinton Moxam & Uche Nwosu and fitness heartthrob Michael Dean. But the two members of this cast who have had enjoyed this year are no doubt the two subjects featured here.

DC SocialPulse Xtra: A Double Shot at Love - "P.S. I Love Pauly"

*** 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. ***

BY DC CUEVA                        

■ @DC408DXTR  @ IG/YT/SC/TB

We bring you back to the blog and to this journey Inside MTV Reality, and as this post goes out to everyone, Las Vegas is experiencing its season weather pattern: it being located in the middle of a desert oasis in Southern Nevada has it reaching 100° in the afternoon. If you come there this time of year, it's best to be in two places: one anywhere indoors, the other by a pool -- and that's where the crew of A Double Shot at Love is doing for their day job as Season 2 rolls along on the Strip.

The past two weeks have seen Mike the Situation & wife Lauren fly out to join DJ Pauly D. & Vinny in the desert almost out of his stay in that not-so luxurious place of state prison to witness the former throw the party of the summer at the Drai's nightclub at Cromwell. And last week, it was the Keto Torpedo's turn to host everyone for his night gig at Chippendale's at the Rio - and it was a night that was even too much for the Sitch to see V of MVP reveal all. It was also a night that was too hot to handle for Suzi as she let it all on the ECBC alliance.

Now comes the consequences for the L.A. girl to have to deal with after what went down with her, Derynn, B-Lashes & Marissa... and one of the romances with the stars of the show gets explored a little bit more. Join us after the jump as we bring you this Pulse of Episode 9 of Double Shot, all ahead of a visit out east to come soon enough.

DC ExtraTime: A Big Brother All-Star's Brother Meets Toddy Rockstar

BY DC CUEVA                        

■ @DC408DXTR  @ IG/YT/SC/TB

Wednesday night, after five months of a season that had much go on in and outside its world and culminated with more history, The Challenge gave way to another show that has gone from strength to strength to dominate our summers. After three members of the same cast made it all the way to the final of Total Madness and became spectators to Johnny Bananas and Jenny West reign victorious at the top of Mount Olympus, it was the turn of the show that introduced them to America to take over our attention for the end of this summer and the first few months of the autumn.

Twenty years ago, the fortunes of a CBS network which fell into the cellar during the 90's put their chips into the reality category to regain its glory days. Survivor debuted in May and it was at this time in August that the country watched in increasing numbers that first season and leading to nearly 50 million watching the finale. At the same time, Big Brother debuted as the network put its hopes behind a format that, like Survivor, did so well in Europe that they hoped would emulate their success overseas here. It didn't necessarily translate into that kind of success they hoped for, but thanks to retooling the format it would eventually become a powerhouse that dominates both TV and social.

This week saw the kickoff of the twenty-second season of Big Brother in America, but this time instead of casting a whole new group of newbies, it's past alumni who have joined for another shot on Big Brother All Stars. BB22 is of most interest to Challenge Naton for two reasons: straight off of her finals appearance one-half of the Swayleigh express, Bayleigh Dayton, is back to where she first became a TV star on BB20 two years ago. Also returning to the fold after a two-season sojourn to The Challenge is Final Reckoning and War of the Worlds cult favorite Da'Vonne Rogers, who was a houseguest on two seasons: BB17 in 2015 and Season 18 a year later. They are the two players that stand out to us in a summer that began with the live move-in on Wednesday and continues this weekend, with episode 2 airing later on Sunday due to golf's PGA Championship in San Francisco.

There is one other person of note in that BB All-Stars house who shares the same blood with one who also knows what it's like to be scrutinized for 100 days in that famed summer house, and this past week the one who proceeded him as a houseguest got to meet up with a multi-talented superstar who is also an icon to two communities. Todrick Hall turned 35 years young back in April having already solidified himself as a quadruple threat, but whose journey to stardom began back on the ninth season of American Idol, where the native of the Lubbock area auditioned in Dallas, made it to Hollywood and was eliminated in the semifinals missing out on the final 12 & the live shows.

But that was only the start of a journey that has seen Todrick vault into the stratosphere in the social media age: over 3.5 million subscribe to his YouTube channel which has garnered 775 million views with his many music videos plus parodies and skits. He is also a choreographer having also helped teach many contestants dance moves on RuPaul's Drag Race and has appeared in many Broadway plays. And a few years ago, he let MTV in on how he makes the magic for the 2015 docuseries Todrick, and where he gets to do all the work by himself and with his friends at his side.

But above all, Toddy has become a role model to the LGBTQ community and people of color, having come out when he was aged 15. It was this fact in mind that last year, his good friend Taylor Swift appointed him to direct the video for her second single off Lover, "You Need to Calm Down," which has become an anthem to the gay & lesbian community. The two-time VMA winning video itself not only features Hall, but also Karamo Brown and his Queer Eye fab five, RuPaul, Ellen DeGeneres, Ryan Reynolds, Laverne Cox, Adam Lambert, Ciara and, of course, Katy Perry.

The fandom who adore Todrick are affectionately called the Toddlerz, and one of them who got to run into the main man himself happens to be the brother of one of the new Big Brother All-Stars. And one who also was on Mama Day's second stint in the BB house is Paulie Califiore, who made waves during that summer of 2016, and who would ultimately become a new face and villain to Challenge fans in making two finals and scoring Cara Maria, and who made a pit stop on the first season of Ex On The Beach U.S. en route to Final Reckoning.

MTV Reality WRAP: Siesta Key - Holiday Cheer in the Air, and #Kristephen Reunited

BY DC CUEVA                        

■ @DC408DXTR  @ IG/YT/SC/TB

IG clockwise from top: @Amanda_Marie_Miller,
@JuliettePorter & @JaredKelderman

Hello again and welcome to the second August's weekend, and it's hard to think that summer is now approaching its late afternoon glow. But as you take advantage of whatever we have left of this lost summer, the focus of DCBLOG's trip Inside MTV Reality is now down to two shows thanks to The Challenge turning things over to Big Brother and two Challengers returning to their roots, plus Miami is on the mind for the kids of A Double Shot at Love. But before all that, Season 3 of Siesta Key continues up the way from where the Jersey Shore crew's comeback began there in Florida.

Last week, we got to know the guy who Juliette hopes to rebound from after her two roller-coaster romances, and she might have prove that third time is the charm with Sam. And he invited her and some of the girls for a ride on his yacht, all as the rest of them were with Alyssa & Alex to celebrate the first public rites of pregnancy: a gender reveal at the Kompo Kingdom as they saw pink smoke fuming out of a plane, signifying a baby girl. And we also had drama with Chloe and Jared's girlfriend co-worker Ashley, Jake meeting Kelsey, and Amanda & JJ being dunzo.

And the parties just keep on going, as the attention now turns to celebrating something the Key Crew hasn't had a chance to celebrate with the cameras in tow, and interpersonal relationships of all kinds are explored amidst the spirit of Christmas coming down from the North Pole to the Sunshine State. Join us after the jump for some Holiday Cheer in the Air in Siesta Key, plus the 15-year reunion that had all of us buzzing this past week out west. And thanks for joining us everyone...

DC ExtraTime Special: The Many Sides of Johnny Bananas - Part 2

 FOLLOW-UP  The Many Sides... Pt. 1
BY DC CUEVA                      

■ @DC408DXTR  @ IG/YT/SC/TB

Last month, Johnny "Bananas" Devenanzio marked his twentieth season competing on MTV's The Challenge with adding another jewel in the crown with his record seventh title on Total Madness. Him besting the men's field of crossover MTV star Cory Wharton, defending champion Rogan O'Connor and Big Brother 20's Fessy saw Johnny cross the $1.5 million mark in career winnings - more than another challenger. And this win also places him in the top-tier of some of the biggest names in the entire reality television genre, not just the MTV section of it.

Johnny has been an omnipresent staple of most every Challenge season since he debuted on The Duel in 2006 after he first came into our lives when Key West, Florida welcomed The Real World, and a Challenge doesn't really begin until he proposes a toast to begin the proceedings after the challengers move in. And it was four years ago this week that he pulled out the most talked about Challenge moment ever: him stealing all of the money of partner Sarah Rice on Rivals III - which brought him much notoriety ever since... although he didn't have to deal with much hate being spilled his way after conquering the Czech Republic for #7.

But along with being part of Team MTV, in the past two years he has also had a very good side gig of being the host of 1ST LOOK TV, NBC's weekend lifestyle & travel show that enjoys the coveted spot of airing after Saturday Night Live. This has allowed him to get out of his comfort zone of being around The Challenge community 24/7 to log in even more frequent flier miles around the globe to go on unique adventures that allows us to venture along with him like what we see on his Instagram stories whenever he's not competing or training.

In Part 1 of this ExtraTime Special yesterday, we looked at most of Johnny's first season of 1st Look that brought him to Scotland, the Desert, Coney Island and to Alaska to explore what this world really is about when you get to live freely as he does. And now here in Part 2, we join him for even more of these nice adventures, including traveling to the Caribbean for fun in the sun, a venture to one of the world's most guarded borders, and more special guests that you may be familiar with. That includes the precursor to the Total Madness ice-breaker with that gingerman from the Midwest.

DC ExtraTime Special: The Many Sides of Johnny Bananas - Part 1

 FOLLOW-UP  A 1st Look at Bananas

BY DC CUEVA                      

■ @DC408DXTR  @ IG/YT/SC/TB

Three weeks ago tonight, Johnny "Bananas" Devenanzio plowed his way through the snow in the Czech Republic to stamp his place as the "Greatest of All Time" in the annals of MTV's The Challenge in upping his record number of titles to an untouchable seven in winning Season 35 of Total Madness. It feels only fitting that in his twentieth regular season on the fifth major pro sport that he returned to his rightful place on the throne at season's end, reclaiming the overall money lead with over $1.5 million in career earnings. And just as we did after his last title four years ago and after the chaos that surrounded that subsided when we spotlighted his friendship with #1 fan & cancer survivor Kasey Harvey, Bananas is the subject of his own postseason DCBLOG ExtraTime post -- make that, two posts.

By the time we reach the end of this summer, it will have been fifteen years since Johnny found himself in a similar situation so many of us have been through while watching this Challenge: in lockdown and stranded in a hotel room waiting to enter The Real World Key West house during Hurricane Katrina. It was a more than chaotic start to his MTV journey where, as he basks in the glow of another Challenge championship, he has now become of a household name in more homes than those of us who have followed him for at least part of this ride. And the reasoning for this rise in his stock comes in two shows that air outside the MTV channel, reflecting the fame and notoriety he's garnered since he infamously stole Sarah's money on Rivals III four years & two days ago in the first Wednesday of August in 2016.

This spring, Bananas competed on the sixth celebrity installment of Food Network's Worst Cooks in America, where he joined Full House's Dave Coulier, Mike Tyson's ex Robin Givens and New York Real Housewife Sonja Morgan in the kitchen. He made it all the way to the final two, where in the end he finished runner up to Bachelor Nation's Wells Adams of JoJo Fletcher's Bachelorette class (the one with Ex On The Beach alums Chase, Chad & Daniel and Juliette's Siesta Key ex Robby Hayes). It's also the same show that the man who was eliminated first on Total Madness, AYTO alum Asaf Goren, also competed on as has Gina from 2017's Stranded with a Million Dollars.

The other show is the one that gave him his mainstream big break: in May 2018 while the last non-Bananas Challenge was airing (Champs vs. Stars 2), NBC's weekend late night series which airs after Saturday Night Live, 1ST LOOK TV, dedicated an entire episode to Bananas as they handed the hosting reigns for one week to him on the free to everyone universe of local broadcast television. From sumo wrestling to gentlemanly matters to dressing up in drag, those who didn't hear of him got the opportunity to see another side of a person who is known for just about everything that we love and hate about The Challenge, and showed another side of this unique man.

Execs at the Peacock loved him so much after that guest episode aired, that they gave him something that another proud Real World alum, CVS host Mike "The Miz" Mizanin also has: duel citizenship from different networks, just as they have with the WWE champ in the Miz having both his own USA reality show with his wife & baby, and hosting its new competition series Cannonball. And starting with the 2018-19 season, Bananas has become full-time host of 1ST LOOK... and he relaxes with Challenge title #7, we'd like to share with you his adventures around this wide world of ours as only he can, with plenty of fun and special guests joining him on this two-part ExtraTime.

DC SocialPulse Xtra: A Double Shot at Love - A Night with the Chippendales

*** 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. ***

BY DC CUEVA                        

■ @DC408DXTR  @ IG/YT/SC/TB

We are into a new week around here, but unless you're needed at wherever you work at chances are you're spending your summer just laying back. But once we are out of this wildness, we're sure you might be thinking of going to Las Vegas... well, thanks in part to what is now the big attraction for the rest of the summer in MTV Reality that is the case for A Double Shot at Love.

And it's not officially a Jersey Shore-related series until an alum makes a visit to the stars of the show: Mike the Situation and wife Lauren joined Pauly D. and Vinny in time for a day in the honor of the one with the blowout... and last week was THE party of the summer in Sin City as they hosted a blow-out pool party at Drai's at the Cromwell. And just as it was when the Floribama Shore cast and their parents got to party down in South Carolina earlier this year, there was nothing but a good vibe - and there were plenty of hookups - none moreso than Maria and Nikki kissing their exes and Derynn doing the same with Pretty Ricky.

And after they got to see Pauly in his own element on the ones & twos in the daytime, it's time to see the Keto King do his thing after dark, and with his shirt off with that bow tie around his neck. After the jump, you're invited to join the Double Shot cast, and the Sitch & Lauren, for A Night with the Chippendales... plus, a Laguna Beach gender reveal. We know you're not gonna miss this.

DC SocialPulse: The Challenge Total Madness Reunion - Part 2

*** 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. ***

BY DC CUEVA                        

■ @DC408DXTR  @ IG/YT/SC/TB

Hello again and welcome back... It feels long ago back on March 4 that I was out & about on a midweek work gig that I was interrupted by my Twitter feed being abuzz about the start of a new season on The Challenge. Well here we are, 151 days later on the first day of August where a whole lot has gone down in five months since then, and we here at DCBLOG are about to bring you our last Pulse post for Season 35 of Total Madness.

In the aftermath of Johnny Bananas garnering title #7 and Jenny beating him and everyone else to get to the finish line first to win for the women, last week was the first part of the reunion of this season, which because of the pandemic going on has moved from an in-person one in the studio to a virtual one in the comforts of home. And this week, it's part two - and there's plenty more tea for the cast to spill with host, NFL wide-out Vernon Davis.

After the jump, it's the 'Pulse of Part 2 of The Challenge: Total Madness reunion as, once again, we'll be offering embedded Twitter highlights of the last act of this season... and we'll also hear from the one that they call, the puppet master. Thanks for joining us...

MTV Reality WRAP: Siesta Key - Relationships, A Yacht Ride, and a Gender Reveal

BY DC CUEVA                        

■ @DC408DXTR  @ IG/YT/SC/TB

(Clockwise top left) IG: @JJMizell, @MaddisonHaus,
@AlexKompo, @ChloeTrautman

Hello and welcome to a new month, and it was on early Saturday morning, August 1st, 1981 that MTV signed on the air with a rocket, a moonman and "Video Killed the Radio Star" by The Buggles. And thirty-nine years later, it is still rocking as the pioneer of reality TV, as we at DCBLOG now bring you Inside MTV Reality where the Madness of this year's Challenge is wrapping up while the heat is on in Vegas for A Double Shot at Love. Those two things and other things are ahead, but we begin with the drama going down in Siesta Key.

What the kids love to do there in the Sarasota suburb is throw parties and spend quality time with each other -- last week was no exception as once again, the crew got to celebrate Thanksgiving with both friends and family. Madisson joined Alyssa & her boyfriend's family at the Kompo compound for a traditional get-together around the turkey, while everyone else bundled up and gathered on a table outdoors by the sands for what was not your ordinary mid-autumn's Thursday night: plenty of drama unfolded with Amanda & JJ, Kelsey & her exes, and Alyssa's parents grilling the baby daddy.

And we are not done quite yet with all of the parties taking place here in paradise: another big one is taking place at the Kingdom: the mommy-elect is about to find out if it's a boy or a girl... and we're about to get to know more Juliette's crush. We'll see you after the jump as we WRAP Episode 7 of the Siesta Key summer, plus we'll venture inside the big gender reveal... and welcome to the weekend.