Just over a month ago, the man who serves as the co-host of the definitive audio talk show for perhaps the most revered show for those of us who watch and worship this world of MTV programming, Scott Yager, tweeted that those of us who have grown up with a cable channel known historically as Music Television should expect 2021 to be an amazing year. This is, after all, the 40th anniversary of MTV, and we are smack dab in the midst of what's shaping up to be a memorable spring in this world of reality television's most-talked about shows.
Right now, we are in the midst of the serious business just beginning on The Challenge Double Agents as it winds its way towards thinning out the number of competitors left in Iceland before it contests the season-end marathon for $1 million. One of the figures still left in the running is also going about being part of the universe surrounding Cheyenne Floyd on Teen Mom OG as she awaits the arrival of her second baby and third in the group that represents Challenge Nation in that sorority. And in Montana, Season 4 of Floribama Shore is well underway with plenty of drama having gone down as the Bam is getting used to being in lockdown in the north.
Over twenty of those who have done either one of the two series that began the MTV Reality story three decades ago -- Real World or Road Rules, along with a Fresh Meat alum mixed in, will gather down in Argentina for another chance to scale the peaks of the Andes Mountains and the heights of this game to earn a shot at a half million dollars. And if what we've seen of late on the main Challenge series has been thrilling as far as the action goes, then we should be in for just as much when those who have not been on this series since a certain streaming competitor was just delivering movies through the mail take to the floor for a season unlike any other, though some things don't change down the years.
After the jump, DCBLOG takes our first look at The Challenge All-Stars as the OG's take center stage one more time. Thanks for joining us, Challenge Nation and welcome... we're glad you're here again.
WHAT TO EXPECT...
Of late, a complaint within The Challenge fandom has been of how those who they have grown up with have stepped aside from doing these shows, and where they are not feeling the new rookies despite all of the efforts we have made on this very website to introduce them in our seasonal "Who Are These Newbies?" introductory posts. With that in mind, last year this gave one of the true originals in this MTV community a bold idea to have a Challenge season devoted to giving him and those in the first two-to-three generations of competitors to have a season to their own.
In a way, The Challenge All-Stars will blend what we loved about watching the fifth major pro sport back then with what we expect from this show nowadays: the cutting-edge competition we expect from modern-day challenges will now be competed by those who are in their thirties, forties and even fifties in this spinoff from the main series. Even the show's title - which replaced the OG's concept when it was pitched last year by the Godfather - pays an ode to the very first season of The Challenge, when Jon, Sean, Rachel and Real World alumni stepped aboard an RV for Road Rules All-Stars in 1998... a miniseries of sorts with a much different concept compared to the show we're used to.
Lastly, there's the platform it is airing on: the way we're watching television has changed quite a bit from when most of us were born in the 80s and 90s, even some of you reading this who were born in the 2000's. We've evolved from watching shows on big TV's in your living room to high-definition, to mobile devices. And as many of you are being budget conscious about the way you watch television during these times where you've been having ample time to binge shows at home during this past year in lockdown, much attention in the past year has been on the world of streaming as the biggest media companies have pitched their hat into the crowded world of streaming.
Earlier this month, ViacomCBS launched its own offering of television goodies being offered through your high-speed internet connection with the launch of Paramount+. And when it launched on March 4, a reunion of the very first cast of The Real World in New York City headlined the small but growing and impressive slate of original programming that premiered with the launch of Paramount+. So far, we've been enjoying Eric, Heather B. and the rest of that pioneering group of seven strangers in that New York City loft coming together some thirty years after launching reality TV. And it's the appeal of targeting this older audience of sorts that gave ViacomCBS a chance to bring the first reality competition series of its kind to its fledging platform: a new original spinoff to join the dozens of past Challenge seasons and other MTV shows on the new streamer.
MEET THE ALL-STARS
As it has been to bring the rest of the reality TV world into the main Challenge series, the cast who comprise the group of All-Stars has something for everyone... only here, it's the Generation X and Y folks who will be delighted to seeing the following on this journey down memory lane during this time of nostalgia taking over TV land. And no doubt there'll be a lot of memories rolling back to a lot of you as this progresses along, and quite the opposite for those who joined Challenge Nation in the past decade.
⭐ ACE AMERSON (Real World: Paris) - 4 Apps.: Hailing from outside Savannah, GA, Ace embodies that Southern lifestyle as one who loves going outdooring and adventuring while also having time to enjoy his pets and watching American Horror Story. We've also seen him on four Challenges where, after early exits in his first three starts made his way to the final as part of Team Good Guys though he wasn't blessed with the big prize. If what we got to enjoy on Real World Paris is proof, Ace is one of those who everyone likes, and he's anxious to see how he fares.
⭐ ALTON WILLIAMS (Real World: Las Vegas) - 4 Apps. & 1 Title: Nine years ago, Alton was part of the split Las Vegas team on Battle of the Seasons, but it was how he acted in Turkey that turned off some people. But you can't overlook how he beasted the first two Gauntlet seasons and Inferno 3 in being that complete challenger who excels at every aspect... none more so than when he captained the Rookies on Gauntlet II to a dominant season and the title at season's end. Chances should be good that the Alton of old will be on full display here.
⭐ ANEESA FERREIRA (Real World: Chicago) - 14 Apps.: To most who've been watching the regular series the past few years, Aneesa seems to be that one vet who's been holding it down for the OG's... after all, it's been thirty seasons since she first did Battle of the Sexes. Her losing last week will make her eager to try and get her first crown this time around, but she does have some history with some of the other originals. And with being the only female OG from the 2000's still going at it on the main show, Aneesa should have no problem fitting into this spinoff...
⭐ ARISSA HILL (Real World: Las Vegas) - 1 App.: As a chef, Arissa is one who really takes serious both a healthy lifestyle and who loves to experiment with hemp and pot. But next year will be 20 years since Arissa walked into the Palms for The Real World Las Vegas, and there was a time where she then competed on The Challenge on Battle of the Sexes 2 where she finished runner-up after a solid rookie season but where she also ruffled feathers with her Vegas suitemates.
⭐ BETH STOLARCYZK (Real World: Los Angeles) - 7 Apps.: There's no doubt that Beth is one of the most notorious Challengers ever: her being able to embrace the title of the very first villain in Challenge history is all you really need to know. Two times she's done that no-no of quitting, she's the first to get DQ'd in an elimination, and she's had many blowups on the show... and this doesn't bring into focus her pioneering role off-camera for the reality community since we first saw her on Real World L.A. We're all anxious to see what Beth can bring to us in the 2020's...
⭐ DARRELL TAYLOR (Road Rules: Campus Crawl) - 9 Apps. & 4 Titles + CVP: We've seen what just went down on Double Agents, but like is the case with Aneesa we're fortunate to have Darrell's company in back-to-back seasons. There's no denying he's one of the greats in Challenge history: four titles in his first four seasons, MVP in Season 1 of the Champs vs. Stars trilogy, and a reputation as one of the most feared and respected Challengers ever. Needless to say, Darrell will be motivated competing with more familiar competitors than when he started his comeback on Invasion.
⭐ DERRICK KOSINSKI (Road Rules: X-Treme) - 10 Apps. & 3 Titles: When prospective candidates for All-Stars began to take shape, you pretty much knew the Bulldog would be part of the discussion... and whether you've watched him for a long time or were just introduced to him through Challenge Mania, you know who Derrick is. Three titles, ten seasons, a beast of a competitor, a strong social game and the respect he has around Challenge Nation is all you need to know about Derrick... and you would rather want not want to face him in elimination.
⭐ ERIC "BIG EASY" BANKS (The Challenge: Fresh Meat) - 6 Apps.: For the lone All-Star outside of the Real World or Road Rules spectrum, Big Easy represents the Fresh Meat group. We most know him as the reason why those chosen to go on a Challenge train hard before competing: it was him being overweight that cost the Veterans their Gauntlet III title, and forced him to lose the weight, and we saw the results on Cutthroat and Battle of the Seasons II. Him being on All-Stars caps off an eventful month for Big Easy, as he's long been a staple of Spring Break in South Padre.
⭐ JEMMYE CARROLL (Real World: Back to NOLA) - 7 Apps.: Whenever we've had the chance to enjoy her company on MTV, we know that Jemmye will be one who you will hear loud and clear - both in the house and on the social feeds. And as she returns for her tenth overall series, that should be the case once again as she comes into All-Stars as a relative rookie of sorts compared with everyone else in the group... that might pull the cards in her favor, which will satisfy the stans...
⭐ JISELA DELGADO (Road Rules: The Quest) - 3 Apps.: Two decades ago, she found herself in a house with prospective Real World & Road Rules candidates before being the first chosen to be on the 2001 seasons of those much to her surprise, ultimately going on the ladder. But Jisela has the enigma of being the first voted off the RV... and on her three Challenges she was the 4th one voted out. If we've been entertained by the various characters of recent seasons, then wait until you see the kind of fiesty and smart personal Jisela has.
⭐ JONNA MANNION (Real World: Cancun) - 5 Apps.: In what might be a big surprise, Jonna returns for All-Stars after having done five regular Challenges starting with the rookie crash of the Rivals bash 10 years ago, but whose reality journey began on Discovery Channel's Endurance in 2009. It's that experience winning that first go that's seen her make deep runs on The Challenge falling short of the final, and who surprised us in giving more than enough. She's now a mom to two kids since we saw her on Exes 2, but we should expect that same determination to come through playing for family.
⭐ KATIE DOYLE (Road Rules: The Quest) - 9 Apps. & 1 Title: When Jisela was sent home from The Quest, Katie was there waiting to hop into the RV... and so began a legendary Challenge career of nine seasons with a title on The Inferno I, several blowups and the famous plunger moment -- think she was to the OG generation what Amanda is to the recent seasons. She's settled down to become a mom with a ring on her fingers, and who is now focused on housework in real estate and interior design... and we may expect more than just a new Katie coming into All-Stars.
⭐ KELLYANNE JUDD (Real World: Sydney) - 4 Apps.: Officially, All-Stars is KellyAnne's fifth overall Challenge though if you are in the know, there would've been more to her credit than just The Island, The Ruins, Bloodlines and Rivals III. But the Real World Sydney sweetheart will return here aiming to get to where she excelled in her first two starts: taking down Robin and Rachel in South America and going to the final in Thailand. We should expect the competitor KellyAnne to show up in Argentina than the one who we loved back then...
⭐ KENDAL SHEPPARD (Road Rules: Campus Crawl) - 1 App. & 1 Title: A year ago this weekend, this site featured this her having her house being examined for possible ghost sightings for a TV show. But even that wouldn't totally satisfy those who've anticipated Kendal returning to finally defend her title on The Inferno... and judging by how everyone has been following her socially this is the comeback we're all anticipating. And Kendal is already a champion in being a nurse who's been working hard to keep us all safe during these tough times.
⭐ LATERRIAN WALLACE (Road Rules: Maximum Velocity Tour) - 3 Apps.: In 2000, Road Rules took to the extreme for the cross-country Maximum Velocity Tour, and one man who took to the RV for that futuristic season was Laterrian. He loves the outdoors and being active in heading to the beach, going for a bike ride and hiking to keep himself busy... and All-Stars hopes to boost spirits for T after seeing his beloved Tar Heels go out early in the tournament. He'll also have to get used to this new kind of Challenge that he'll have to contend with compared to when he competed back then.
⭐ MARK LONG (Road Rules: First Adventure) - 6 Apps. & 2 Titles: In more ways than you can count, he's why we have this thing in the first place... and like you I have my memories of the Godfather having watched his original Road Rules season back in 1995. You pretty much know his resume -- two titles, making deep runs in all of his seasons only missing the final two times at semifinal week, and many other things outside of the MTV spectrum. No wonder why Mark is held in such high regard, and we expect nothing less on this highly-anticipated return.
⭐ NEHEMIAH CLARK (Real World: Austin) - 4 Apps. & 1 Title: Representing the legendary Austin RW cast Nehemiah wears a Challenge title ring, but it's having had an otherwise unlucky career on here that has him motivated... we remember what went down on the two Duel seasons and Rivals I more than that gift he got on Gauntlet III. Nehemiah has been an underrated competitor who's given 110% on his four starts and has always tried to play this game differently... and he wants to prove that he's worthy of All-Star status.
⭐ RUTHIE ALCAIDE (Real World: Hawaii) - 4 Apps.: In many ways, Ruthie just might be the morning line favorite on the ladies' side - and proof lies in her topping Allan Aguirre's power rankings. She's done four of these Challenges at a time where the show was starting to make the competitions more tougher, and her being able to master those challenges early on may give her an edge despite being smaller in size but making up for it in fearlessness & being smart. Those who have followed her from the start know about beating a greater opponent: drug & alcohol abuse on her RW Hawaii season.
⭐ SYRUS YARBROUGH (Real World: Boston) - 5 Apps. & 1 Title: As we've alluded to so many times here, Syrus has relished the role of ambassador for Team MTV for a long time: being a jack of all trades and an influencer has kept him in the spotlight since we saw him on Real World Boston 25 years ago next year. He was part of Team Real World's breakthrough win on Extreme Challenge in the first of his five starts, though it's what happened with him getting into it with TJ Lavin on The Gauntlet II that is remembered the most.
⭐ TECK HOLMES (Real World: Hawaii) - 1 App.: My first experience watching The Real World came in Hawaii, which began with Teck going skinny-dipping after arriving at the house. He then made his way to The Challenge where, in the original RW/RR format, his team finished runner-up. To others, Teck is known for cameoing in National Lampoon's Van Wilder and other TV shows as well as hosting an MTV hip-hop show... he shouldn't have any problem socializing in Argentina.
⭐ TRISHELLE CANAATELLA (Real World: Las Vegas) - 4 Apps.: Of all the OG's here, Trishelle takes the cake for being the most tabloid-friendly: posing for Playboy, appearing on many other reality shows outside MTV (including Punk'd and last year on Married at First Sight), and of course becoming the star of Real World Vegas. We all know what happened the last time she was in a Challenge house when a fight she had with Aneesa led to her bolting away and screwing over Sarah... but you can't help that Trishelle should once again bring the entertainment to All-Stars.
⭐ YES DUFFY (Road Rules: Semester at Sea) - 3 Apps. & 1 Title: When I watched my first Challenge back in 2000, Yes was part of the Road Rules team who beat out Team Real World in their coast to coast battle. He was also on the first iterations of Battle of the Seasons and Sexes, and that came after he spanned the globe on the Semester at Sea yacht where he became a heartthrob with his looks and charm. Possessing a Cal Berkeley master's degree and teaching credentials, Yes is also an architect with his own design firm... and with a ring & two kids back home he's back to prove himself again.
The poster for this season entitles this to be "The Biggest Event in Challenge History," and with good reason. While I'm a relative newcomer to following The Challenge extensively a decade ago, I did follow this show off and on before joining full time on Battle of the Seasons II... and I have my memories of watching most of these people when they made their MTV debuts back then. And this will no doubt be a treat for all of us to catch this Challenge like no other go down in the world of streaming. Though the captions that accompanied their Instagram posts to announce this season, it's best that we leave the last word for this preview to most of those making their returns...
⭐ ACE @aceamerson11: "It has been the absolute honor of my life being a part of this Bunim/Murray family. I never got the chance to meet Mary- Ellis Bunim. She had passed away while my season in Paris was filming. But I swear I can feel her soul all around us every time I’m on one of these challenges. I’m so thankful to her and Jonathon Murray for their vision to create one of the greatest Social experiments of all time. Being chosen for Real World has been the single best thing I have ever been apart of but it wasn’t because of any place I lived or anything I did. It was because of the people I met and the friends I made. I got the chance to meet people from all over the world who were so unlike myself but so much the same. I’m so unbelievably thankful to have gotten the opportunity to learn how much more alike we all are than different. I will never forget, From this life to the next."
⭐ ANEESA @AneesaMTV: "We’re back!!!!!! An all new challenge is coming full of some faces that haven’t graced your screens in a while. Stay tuned for one crazy season on @paramountplus April 1 (4/1) #mtvallstars"
⭐ ARISSA @MissArissa: "So I did a thing. It was amazing. You couldn’t script better entertainment, so buckle up and watch yours truly, and your most favorite faces you haven’t seen in a while and catch this 🌊 & See me and some of your other favorite Challenge legends on the new original series, #TheChallengeAllStars. Streaming exclusively on #ParamountPlus on April 1 @paramountplus @ChallengeMTV"
⭐ DARRELL @darrell_taylor_lb4lb: "Oh you thought I was done?! 😤 Catch me on #TheChallengeAllStars competing with some of your favorite Challenge Legends streaming exclusively on #paramountplus on April 1st @paramountplus @challengemtv"
⭐ DERRICK @DerrickMTV: "GUESS WHO’S BACK @challengemtv?!! APRIL 1ST @paramountplus!! COMIN BACK for all 3 of my Titles-The BMF Title, the Hardcore Belt, and the Challenge Championship, damn it!! 💥🪃"
⭐ ERIC "BIG EASY" @ThatGuyEasy: "So excited to share this news with you guys! I’ll be part of the new, original series. Catch me and some of your other favorite Challenge legends on the new original series, #TheChallengeAllStars. Streaming exclusively on #ParamountPlus on April 1 @paramountplus @ChallengeMTV"
⭐ JEMMYE @JustJemm_: "I had no intention of ever putting the @challengemtv jersey back on...But when you get the call to do #thechallengeallstars you have to come back for one last dance. It was a complete honor to play the game with so many legends.. This was truly the most fun challenge experience I’ve ever had. OGs over everybody babyyy. & @themarklong, you truly are The Godfather. Stepping onto the bus that day & watching your dream become a reality was one of the dopest things I’ve ever been a part of... What a beautiful ride with the most beautiful people... Catch #thechallengeallstars streaming exclusively on @paramountplus stating April 1st. 💜"
⭐ JISELA @withlovejisela: "What an extraordinary adventure my life has really turned out to be. I had the distinguished honor to play alongside of some of the best. I am so grateful to my friend @themarklong for making this happen for all of us. To the people whom have watched over the years and stuck by my side, this is for you! #TheChallengeAllStars, streaming exclusively on #ParamountPlus starting April 1! @paramountplus @ChallengeMTV"
⭐ JONNA @JonnaMannion: "When this #momoftwo got the call to do another challenge 7 years later I almost fell out of my chair. Then I was asked, can you leave in 3 weeks? Thanks to my amazing supportive husband who said, “Jonna you know how cool this is.. you have to do it” and my amazing mother-in-law who said she’d help with the kids I was able to embark on this journey. #7monthspostpartum #momoftwo #challenger #thechallengeallstars #paramountplus"
⭐ KENDAL @kendalsheppard: "Those who know me know the weird journey I've been on. I've gone from being a regular mom to a mom with bizarre health issues, to unexpectedly becoming a sister, to owner of a haunted home, to a Hospice nurse during a pandemic, to a rediscovered self.. and all of it lead me to THIS big adventure! It absolutely could not have happened without the support of my parents and in-laws, my manager who was cautiously supportive, my amazing superhuman husband and my brave brave kids. I've dreamed of going back on the Challenge but never thought the logistics could work out to facilitate it. And yet 2020 surprised me again. So now.. here I am.. a 40 yr old wife and mom of 3 who does not love roller-coasters.. galavanting around the world, joyous and mask free just like I did in my 20s. Life is funny. 😄 Tune in to @paramountplus streaming on April 1st to see what else could possibly happen in this unpredictable journey. 😃💜 #paramountplus #mtv #thechallenge #bmp #lifeisgood #wewantogs"
⭐ LATERRIAN @iamlaterrian: "Soooo I did a thing. Super excited to share with you guys I’ll be a part of the new original series #thechallangeallstars streaming exclusively on #ParamountPlus April 1. @paramountplus @challengemtv"
⭐ NEHEMIAH @nehemiahlclark: "I’m baaaaaaaack! Did you miss me??? Catch me and some of your other favorite Challenge legends on the new original series, #TheChallengeAllStars. Streaming exclusively on #paramountplus on April 1st. @paramountplus @challengemtv"
⭐ YES @yesoneverything: "So I did a thing. It’s been 19 years since I got voted off the last MTV show, so here goes nothing. I’m baaaack! And this time you’re not just messing with ME, you’re messing with my FAMILY. Such an honor to roll with some of the best in the game!!"
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DCBLOG will be featuring extensive coverage of The Challenge All-Stars throughout the spring and summer, with social media reaction, our take on the traditional episode recaps and much more... and that is all in addition to covering the regular show itself in Double Agents as it heads towards its final, and the drama already going down on Floribama Shore as well as on Real World Homecoming in New York. Be sure to bookmark this site for all of that, share and comment on our posts, and spread the word of what we do around here by sharing our content on the social media platforms of your choosing.
Typically, we would follow up our Challenge preview with our seasonal introduction to the newcomers of every new season entitled, "Who Are These Newbies?". But as most of you are familiar with them, instead we will be focusing our non-episode related efforts during All-Stars on our ExtraTime storytelling franchise. A handful of these All-Stars have been featured in the many stories we've done that utilize our skills of passionately and gracefully telling the stories of the people of the world of MTV Reality, and there are some other stories on some of the other challengers of this season that we're working on and will offer as the season goes along.
Enjoy this week's premiere, and we hope to see you at some point this long Easter holiday weekend for as begin a big spring 2021 Inside MTV Reality @ DCBLOG...
- I AM DC
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