Thursday, October 1, 2020

DC ExtraTime: Someone You Should Know - The Biggest MTV Fan of All

BY DC CUEVA                      
■ @DC408DXTR  @ IG/YT/SC/TB

All the way back in summer 1999 when I watched The Real World Hawaii, it marked the first season of an MTV series that I watched with the kind of vested interest I do for other series now. It has been quite a past two decades of getting to follow on a regular basis television's most-talked about reality programming and those who have graced our screens either for a brief time or for as long as a handful of those who've been at this as long as I have followed this world. And in the decade of the 2010's, the relationship I've had with this section of the genre has only gotten stronger as I've only gotten up there in age.
   On a summer's night in June of 2012, I signed on Twitter on the night of a most relaxed season ever of Real World debuting down in the Virgin Islands, which gave me the opportunity to directly interact with the same people who I get to watch each week. Less than a year later, I started up this very site and ultimately made this passion of MTV Reality my principal beat - which has since become the standard bearer in the written part in covering the shows you love to watch and discuss, with all the social reaction to the big moments, compelling original storytelling and everything else we offer.

It was eight years ago that I began befriending just about every single castmate who's been on our screens on the dozens of shows that's emerged onto the scene, starting with that RW St. Thomas season, followed by the first of the modern-day seasons of The Challenge that I've watched live. And in a way, these cast members feel like they're the high school friends you never had but wish you gotten to know, and we've gotten to know them very well. But I've also been able to get to know new people who share this passion of watching not just those two shows, but also Are You The One, Ex On The Beach, the Shore franchise, Siesta Key and many others along the way.
   They are those who I have never met personally, but thanks to this world have become good friends of mine through this thing call social media and who share a passion for the shows that get us talking - too many of which to mention. And occasionally, we've showcased those who are not cast members or those from pop culture who we've featured regularly, but who are those who are touched by the people and shows they get to worship now on a daily basis in this social media age. There's the several posts we've done on the MTV-inspired Caucus Challenge on YouTube, or the young cancer survivor & soccer goalkeeper who got to meet her favorite Challenger in a now 7-time champ.

But there is no fan who is more devoted to this part of cable entertainment than one who, if the Guinness Book of World Records decided to add the title of "Meeting the Most MTV Personalities" to their large library of incredible feats, the subject of this post would not only be the first person to achieve that title but will likely keep that mark for a very long time. And in this installment of Someone You Should Know, we'd like you to meet the Biggest MTV Fan of All.

When you open your Instagram app and type in any hashtag that pertains to The Challenge, AYTO, Real World or EOTB - or most other MTV Reality show for that matter, you might find a few photos at the top of the most popular pictures list in that hashtag that belong to those posted by David Olmann, aka @BigTymers228. He calls New York City his home, is like yours truly an avid entertainment and sports fan, and who has achieved an incredible few years' resume on that social media platform that might as well be the envy of everyone else.
   I first got to know Dave in the social verse almost from when I joined Twitter, first discovering him as a regular caller to the audio podcasts of Andrew Kirk when he was a prominent MTV podcast host during Derrick Kosinski's absence from the audio universe before Challenge Mania. Big Dave's experience of talking to castmates when they talk to my longtime pen pal on this journey inspired the New Yorker to go around town to whatever event is going on in the capital of the world of sorts and meet anyone in pop culture. And who else in this world can say that they have met some of the biggest stars in all of sports and showbiz? Big Dave has gotten to do just that.
   And he has gotten to hang with a who's who of the sports world when they make the trek up to New York: Kobe Bryant, Ronda Rousey, Usain Bolt, Hope Solo, Odell Beckham, Carli Lloyd, Megan Riapone, Mike Tyson, Victor Cruz, Carmelo Anthony, Anthony Davis, Damian Lillard, John Cena, Tito Ortiz, Ray Allen, Joe Namath, Pete Rose, Andre Agassi, Dennis Rodman, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Mia Hamm, PK Subban, Stephen A. Smith, Dolph Ziggler, Jerry West and a whole host of fighters, wrestlers, footballers and up-and-coming NBA draft picks. When one mentions all those names in the same sentence, then you're pretty much in elite company in the sports world.
   And in entertainment, brace yourself for the long list of those Dave's met: Kevin Hart, Will Smith, Neil Patrick Harris, Jamie Foxx, Bella and Gigi Hadid, Ciara, Lil' Kim, Chris Evans, Heidi Klum, T.I., Michael B. Jordan, Katie Couric, Jay Leno, Fat Joe, Alfonso Ribero, Common, Cameron Diaz, Alessia Cara, Jordin Sparks, Keanu Reeves, Jermaine Dupri, Irv Gotti, Kenan Thompson & Kel Thompson, Tracy Morgan, Ken Jeong, David Spade, Mya, Anthony Anderson, Kevin Costner, Burt Reynolds, D.L. Hughley, Eve, Run of Run DMC, Ice-T, Drew Barrymore, Spike Lee, Remy Ma, Hugh Jackman, Fat Joe, Dr. Oz, Jerry Springer, Henry Wrinkler, Seth Green, Susan Lucci, Sally Field, Hoda Kotb, Dennis Leary, Tara Reid, Vanilla Ice, Kelly Rowland, Tyson Beckford, Jessica Simpson, Vivica A. Fox, Nicky Hilton and a pre-deposed Lori Laughin & Jussie Smollett.

But, David and I got to know each other in the first place because of the common passion we have in watching MTV Reality, even though we've still not as of yet crossed paths in person. He was there right at I started my Twitter journey in that summer of 2012, and eight years later is still an avid MTV fan like me. But a huge advantage he's had over most others in this MTV fandom has been that he calls New York home, which is also where MTV and its parent company ViacomCBS calls home. That's also where Team MTV have also ventured over frequently to do show-related material such as season-ending reunions and show promotion.
   Big Dave has always made it a point to get to meet up with the MTV family whenever they're in the Big Apple, and he's had countless opportunities during the time we've known each other in the social sphere. Obviously, the COVID pandemic that has gripped the Tri-State Area the past half-year has seen much fewer opportunities for him to meet up with his favorite castmates this year. But truth be told, he has amassed a record that will be not be approachable for the foreseeable future: if my count is correct, it would be at around 150 people from the MTV family that he's gotten to meet up with and take pictures with that's he's posted on his Instagram.
   It will be a tough task for anyone to get even close to that number that David has notched in eight years of those he's met from this large community of ours. And yes, it would be impossible to post each and every single picture of those that Dave has been able to cross paths with because he's gotten to meet most everyone in the modern MTV Reality family. So, we've compiled what we hope is a full list of those he's met up with, and a few handful of pictures with them will follow below (it would be impossible to provide hyperlinks to all of the pics, but by searching for them you'll get the idea).

● The Challenge: TJ Lavin, Derrick K., Camila, Cara Maria, Diem Brown, Veronica, Darrell, Nicole R., Jozea, Joss, Natalie, Josh
● Champs vs. Stars: Justina Valentine (Wild N Out), Brooke Hogan, CM Punk, Louie Vito
● Real World - Earlier Seasons: Aneesa, Brad, CT, Johnny Bananas, CJ, Leroy, Devyn, Ashley K., Jamie Chung, Preston, Emily, Syrus, Karamo, Mike "The Miz"
● Real World - since 2012: Marie, Latoya, Jordan, Ashley M., Cory, Jay, Jenna, Thomas, Bruno, Nicole, Sylvia, Tony, Violetta, Briah (Bruno's skeleton), Shane, Kailah, Ammo, Jennifer
● AYTO Seasons 1-2: Brittany, Dre, Scali, Simone, Dario, Jessica, Tyler A.
● AYTO Season 3: Amanda, Britni, Devin, Hunter, Melanie, Mike, Nelson, Kayla
● AYTO Season 4: Asaf, Francesca, Giovanni, Mikala, Morgan, Prosper, Tori
● AYTO Season 5: Alicia, Casandra, Edward, Derrick, Kam, Kathryn, Kari, Jaylan, Joey, Taylor, Tyler, Tyranny
● AYTO Season 6: Ethan, Diandra, Nurys, Geles, Kareem, Alivia, Audrey, Jada, Joe, Zoe, Keyana, Nicole, Malcolm, Uche, Alexis, Keith, Michael
● AYTO Season 7: Andrew, Brett, Bria, Daniel, Jasmine, Kenya, Kwasi, Maria, Nutsa, Samantha, Tevin, Zak
● AYTO Season 8: Kari, Terrence J. (host)
● EOTB Seasons 1-2: Angela, Faith, Paulie, Victoria, Chelsko, Marco, Farrah, Monte, Morgan, Janelle, Maya, Sha, Romeo Miller
● Shore franchise: Entire Floribama Cast - Aimee, Candace, Codi, Gus, Kirk, Jeremiah, Kortni, Nilsa; Jersey - Vinny, Angelina; Double Shot: Derynn, Holly, Marissa, B-Lashes, Elle
● Laguna Beach/The Hills: Lauren Conrad, Whitney Port
● Other Shows: Jenelle (Teen Mom), DC Young Fly (TRL/Wild N Out), Chris Distefano (Guy Code), Lisa Ramos (Guy/Girl Code), Melanie Iglesias (Girl Code), Young City (Making the Band), Sway (MTV News/TRL), Nicole Byer (Girl Code), Vanessa Lachey (TRL), Jessica Simpson, Ashlee Simpson, LaLa, Carmen Electra, Bill Bellamy, Vanessa Simmons, Hilary Burton




















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Aside From The Fact That Are You The One Season 7 Has Officially Come To An End Last Night, I Want To Take The Time To Congratulate The Cast Of Are You The One Season 7 For Winning The Money. It Was A Very Fun & Entertaining Season. I Enjoyed Every Minute Of Watching This Season. Prior To This Season I Actually Had The Opportunity Of Formally Meeting Some Of The Cast & All Of Them Are Really Awesome & Nice Probably One Of The Nicest Cast That I've Ever Seen & Met. It's Bittersweet That Are You The One Has Come To End But This Season Will Definitely Be Considered As One Of My All Time Favorite Seasons In Are You The One History. Congratulations Again & Good Luck To All Of Them On Their Future Endeavors. #MTV #AreYouTheOne #AYTO #AreUThe1 #AreYouTheOneSeason7 #AYTO7 #SavageSeason7 #SaucySeason7 #SexySeason7

A post shared by Dave(David)Olmann AKA Big Dave (@bigtymers228) on







Most of those who are mentioned in that list above might be at odds with one another or have had long histories dating back years & years, but they do have few things in common. And one of those is having had a chance to meet up with Big Dave while in the Big Apple, and they agree that he is one of the most avid fans anywhere in the MTV fandom. He represents an embodiment of the strong connection viewers have with TV's most-talked about reality shows and the channel itself, none more so than when he was featured on The Challenge's social channels before Season 30 premiered, for which he got to work out with most of the cast before it began. Simply put, there's no one quite like Big Dave.







- I AM DC
 #DCBLOG
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