BY DC CUEVA
Meanwhile as the two arena sports here and the action on the pitch overseas are into the business halves of their seasons that began back last year, the one thing dubbed by many of you as America's fifth major pro sport is about to begin its year this close to summertime. MTV's The Challenge is kicking off the first of a couple seasons in 2022 at least that will sure have us buzzing over the course of most of the rest of this year. Last year, we saw one of the greats in this game notch his fourth and fifth Challenge titles when CT went back-to-back on Double Agents and Spies, Lies and Allies, and Big Brother alumni joined him in the winner's circle in Amber B. and Kaycee.
However, there was that other show with The Challenge name that had so many of you buzzing last year -- maybe more than the show airing on MTV: an idea brought by a fan two years ago to the ultimate OG in Challenge Nation became a reality with the launch of Paramount+. Since then, All-Stars has been nothing short of a massive success in helping bring fans to ViacomCBS/Paramount's streaming service and to their array of entertainment and more on there with Star Trek, Halo, Nickelodeon and beyond... and it has also seen plenty of throwbacks for those of us who have watched the show over the past quarter-century just by seeing those familiar faces. It has also crowned some worthy champions as well -- but the true winner in all of this is us the fans, as well as one Mark Long too.
So, what could possibly be better than both Seasons 1 and 2 of The Challenge: All Stars? Well, how about a Season 3 of this show you love. But maybe more than that, it's of who is being invited to the big party this time: the twenty-four competitors chosen to suit up this time are those who have one thing in common: making it all the way to the very last act of any season of this show in competing for the money. If recent seasons of the regular show gave the competitors a dare to win an elimination, then this season makes the prerequisite of competing in a final just to make it to the starting line of this season... thus, the statement that this is the most anticipated Challenge season in years is no understatement.
This year, 2022 in The Challenge kicks off with Season 3 of All-Stars... and after the break, we at DCBLOG take our first look at all that awaits us come a few days from now in South America. Glad you have joined us, Challenge Nation...
FIRST THOUGHTS...
Something we have seen over the years up until recently has been of players just skating to the end by without going into elimination... then those skulls were introduced, which became the only ticket to get into the final challenge. While the past years trilogy has very few ties if any to this season, competing for the cash is the one and only requirement to get into this season's elite.
With that in mind, All-Stars Season 3 will sure be the most buzzed about season yet of this young series: just the most intense competitors will get the invite to meet up with TJ Lavin come Wednesday (or late Tuesday night depending on how long you plan to stay up to watch this). The host lets us know in the trailer below that, "This season, I've upped the ante and have only invited the most elite group of competitors," and when you see the cast list below there's so much more validity to that sentence.
Thus, this season has the most-stacked lineup yet from every era of the show who have made it to the very end, either hoisting the crown at seasons end or falling short... and even one player on this cast actually got disqualified during one of those finals. The shows presser notes that this season will help to fan the flames of old rivalries of years gone by and will sure ignite new ones as everything we love and come to know and expect from this show will go down, all with $500,000 going to the last one standing.
MEET THE ALL-STARS
The first two All-Star seasons have seen something for everyone... well, at least those who grew up on the show in the first three or so generations. This time around, those who have come onto the franchise in the past decade are making their debut on this spinoff, making this a true All-Stars season that has every generation of competitors represented.
⭐ BRAD FIORENZA (RW San Diego/'04) - 10 Apps., 3 Finals & 1 Win: There's no gut-wrenching spot on this show than losing in elimination in what we call here semifinal week before the final. That's what happened to Brad this winter... which marks the latest in a string of heartbreaks he's endured both on this show and even out of it thanks to the soap opera involving his kids and their mom. Not making the AS2 final will be on Fonzi's mind as he goes about trying to go one better on Season 3.
⭐ CYNTHIA ROBERTS (RW Miami/'96) NEWCOMER - 2 Apps. & 1 Win: Our first newcomer is one I remember from watching our Bay Area MTV: the California Music Channel in addition to Real World Miami, Cynthia was on the very first Challenge back in 1999 -- Road Rules All-Stars: technically she is a champ, thus making her eligible. Those who saw her last on Battle of the Sexes 2 saw her be both honest and funny... but coming into this after a long layoff might affect her a bit here.
⭐ DARRELL TAYLOR (RR Campus Crawl/'02) - 9 Apps., 6 Finals & 4 Wins: Darrell knows what it's like to win here: first four-time champ, won Champs vs. Pros... but even when you finish runner-up on this spinoff its not bad of a result for him. As we've talked about before, everyone respects him, fear him both in the dailies and in the arena, and has all the things necessary to win one of these. Were sure Don Juan will be hungry to make the realization that third time is the charm indeed.
⭐ DERRICK KOSINSKI (RR X-Treme/'04) - 10 Apps., 5 Finals & 3 Wins: Mr. Challenge Mania is back once again on this, and this time he is on a mission. When Brad beat him in the third elimination last winter, this was the earliest that Derrick exited on any of these seasons... and it came after he finished dead last in the All-Stars 1 final. Quite obviously, the Bulldog will be more than motivated by those shortcomings and we know he will more than do what he can to get the win.
⭐ JEMMYE CARROLL (RW NOLA II/'10) - 7 Apps. & 1 Final: If you've gotten to see any of her ten shows, you know Jemmye is one who loves to spill the tea and tell it like it is both on camera and in your app. She's on here by way of her Rivals II finals berth, and she made it to the end on All-Stars 1, where she trained very hard for it and got rewarded with that season. Jem will come into her second stint here with more allies... which might as well mean a sure spot at the end -- we'll see about that.
⭐ JONNA MANNION (RW Cancun/'09) - 5 Apps. & DEFENDING CHAMP: Like a few on this cast, Jonna has been on all three of these All-Star seasons... and where after she flew under the radar into the final on the first one, went all the way to the end last time out and won the whole thing this winter with MJ. This time as she defends the crown, she will be all alone compared to having her Cancun crew last year, but the competitive side of her will still be on display as she goes for back to back.
⭐ JORDAN WISELEY (RW PDX/'13) NEWCOMER - 6 Apps, 4 Finals & 3 Wins: Last we saw Jordan on here was two long years ago -- both competitively when he endured his first early exit on Total Madness by way of an unfair disadvantage, and personally after his split from his ex. From the start, he has been one of those that you'd probably love to hate if you're a passionate fan of this show, and every time Jordan's shut down the doubters winning those rings... he'd love to do it again.
⭐ KAILAH CASILLAS (RW Vegas III/'16) NEWCOMER - 5 Apps. & 1 Final: Our thought when you saw Kailah cast on All-Stars 3, it's likely you revolted... but when you're one who wanted a fresh face here, then you've been served. When we saw her debut on Invasion, she was that scrappy rookie who really came into her own during the '17-18 trilogy... and who became Cara Maria's equal during that span. But will Kailah finally shine this time around?
⭐ KELLYANNE JUDD (RW Sydney/'07) - 4 Apps. & AS2 Final: KellyAnne has always been both a perfect character for this show and just as good a competitor. Yes, there's been her many on-air romances and confessionals over her five total appearances even during some relatively dull regular seasons, but being able to make the All-Stars 1 final last spring proved that she can compete... the fact that she led the female field in the AS1 final adds more to that too.
⭐ KENDAL DARNELL (RR Campus Crawl/'02) - 1 App. & Win: From when she signed on Twitter right up until now as she prepares to do this third All-Stars season, it's safe to say that we have all embraced Kendal as the sweetheart of Challenge Nation. In getting to see what we've seen from her in both these starts, she has proved to be a strong competitor but who has been heartbroken in not making the final. And we hope that the Nurse will finally get a shot at the money once again.
⭐ LATERRIAN WALLACE (RR Max. Vel. Tour/'00) - 3 Apps.: The epitome of what an All-Star is in being one who's been off the radar both on the show and even from the digital world, but then when they go onto this it's a totally different affair. That's what we have with Laterrrian: him showing what he's made of in this game has seen him rule Pole Wrestle and has brought energy to this. One thing is missing from T's resume here: an All-Stars final trip... and he's more than anxious.
⭐ MARK LONG (RR USA #1/'95) - 6 Apps. & 2 Finals/Wins: For the one that started this whole thing in the first place, what is left for Mark to accomplish? As we write this, he is on the newest season of Food Network's Worst Cooks in America... and last we saw him on TV it was on Season 1 of All-Stars where he made it to the final and still proved that he is indeed the Godfather. He has just about everything a player needs when it comes to this game... all Mark wants now is a title.
⭐ MELINDA COLLINS (RW Austin/'05) - 4 Apps. + AS2 Final: If you've been an MTV fan for a long time, then you know Melinda as one of its most-likable people... but no one expected that she would overcome personal trauma to win our respect in making it to the All-Stars 2 final and taking part 1 of that. It was certainly something no one expected after what we've seen in her past starts, and with an additional Austin ally with her here things can only go up from here.
⭐ MJ GARRETT (RW Philadelphia) - 3 Apps. + DEFENDING CHAMP: A facet of this show has been inviting those who we thought were retired getting to compete on here: MJ is one of those who went from being a college wideout to becoming one of the first dads to compete on a Challenge. Him getting to come back to a totally different game and then coming away with the big prize was something we didn't expect, and now MJ has a huge task ahead to outsmart a deep field to a repeat.
⭐ NEHEMIAH CLARK (RW Austin/'05) - 4 Apps. & 1 Win: It may be Season 3, but the Kingdom is still in full effect thanks to the return once again of one Nehemiah. Thanks to this spinoff, he has gone from being in the background most of the time in his four appearances to now being front & center as a main man here... and had it not been for what happened late than we would've been seeing him & Mel as champs. All Nehemiah wants is another chance... luckily, he's got one more ally here.
⭐ NIA MOORE (RW PDX/'13) NEWCOMER - 2 Apps. & 1 Final: To me, this is definitely the biggest of these All-Star surprises: to think Hurricane Nia would reform and make landfall here was surely not in the plans... and not me would have expected it. But after what we saw last time out of getting DQ'd in the middle of the Exes 2 final, then the saying that everyone deserves a second chance is valid and then some. Well, Nia has gotten this chance at redemption now - and we hope she's changed.
⭐ RONI CHANCE (RR North/'98) NEWCOMER - 2 Apps. & 2 Wins: Our other old-time returnee comes to us from a Road Rules season: remember Northern Territory in the late '90s? That's where it began for Roni who was a college dancer, a magazine photo editor for a decade, and who boasts a first: the first female to win two Challenges -- Season 2 in '99 and The Gauntlet I. Those shows were different beasts back then, and how she handles the modern game will be something to watch for.
⭐ SYLVIA ELSRODE (Season/Year) NEWCOMER - 3 Apps. & 1 Final: Also from the new generation is one who we last featured selling a house on HGTV: we're talking about Sylvia. She came onto Invasion, left as part of the Lavender Lady alliance... and then made it to the Final Reckoning final - hence, her being here. But after sharing quarters with Ashley, Shane and Amanda there, All-Stars will be a totally different thing for Syl... and she would like to shut down the doubters.
⭐ SYRUS YARBROUGH (RW Boston/97) - 5 Apps. & 1 Win: Last year, he helped to throw a 50th birthday party where many of these All-Stars celebrated with him and another fellow Star... but the way Syrus' campaign ended on AS1 going out before the final has given the big guy a reason to come back once again. Seeing his social stories, he's been training hard to get into his very best shape for perhaps one last dance... and Sy would love to go out on top a winner.
⭐ TINA BARTA (RR South Pacific/'03) - 5 Apps.: From the moment we saw her on All-Stars 2 last year, we knew how much we missed watching Tina... the energy she brought to last winter was something else. The way she went out in elimination by just quitting might've ruffled some feathers a bit especially when you do it in front of the host, but she wouldn't want it any other way to go out. But this time, Tina should be coming here to win it... she does have a huge ally and finals cred too.
⭐ TYLER DUCKWORTH (RW Key West) - 4 Apps. & 2 Wins: For Challenge Nation's resident Olympic superfan, Tyler returns once again for All-Stars III. The last two appearances prior to this saw him come away victorious on Cutthroat and Rivals I, but after getting handled in Pole Wrestle last season he's not only back for another try, but also with something to prove in having long been one of this show's most underrated competitors... something he'd like to reverse here.
⭐ VERONICA PORTILLO (RR Semester at Sea/'99) NEWCOMER - 11 Apps. & 3 Wins: From when this All-Stars idea was first thought of, Veronica was on most of our lists to be on that first cast, but it's just now for this to come to pass. She's a true original as the first three-time female Challenge champ, and just seeing what we saw a few years ago and that power move on D30 proved that V can still hang with the big names. Don't be surprised if she comes away with the W.
⭐ WES BERGMANN (RW Austin/'05) NEWCOMER - 14 Apps. & 2 Wins: Well now, we have our biggest name yet on here: if you love Wes, then it was inevitable that he'd be on a second Challenge spinoff with the status he enjoys. If you hate the gingerman, it's because you didn't want him to break what's not broken about this concept simply by the way he changes this game. But whatever you say, you can't deny Wes' impact -- the politics, elimination beast and everything else says so much.
⭐ YES DUFFY (RR Semester at Sea/'99) - 3 Apps. & 1 Win + ALL-STARS 1 CHAMP: For the other All-Stars champion, Yes came into Season 1 having not done this show in a long time, but who proved that the long absence didn't hurt him. Being a master of what every player needs for a final in a good cardio, he beat Darrell for the $500 grand... and he also skated his way to the end too. This time though, it may take for earning his stripes for Yes to make it two rings.
All we can say here is, bring it on... and we leave the last word to the Stars.
⭐ ⭐ ⭐
As we got to do back in the winter, DCBLOG will be devoting full coverage of The Challenge All-Stars this spring & summer, with our trademark SocialPulse offering of all the Twitter reaction to the episodes as it streams on Paramount+, our take on traditional episode coverage with recaps and more when necessary, and the signature ExtraTime series which delves more into this world through storytelling... and we have done stories on most of these Stars on here with more of those to come during this season. We will be busy covering that, Ex On The Beach and Siesta Key at the same time, plus all that's ahead of us the coming months with the return of Are You The One?, new spinoffs and so much more.
It's with that in mind that we invite you to bookmark this site for all of that, like, share and comment on our posts, and spread the word of what we do around here by sharing our posts on the social media platforms of your choosing. That way, you can help to introduce our quality, high-caliber content to more & more fans and, in turn, will boost our site's exposure & presence while turning those fans of the show into regular visitors of this site. This is most especially important, as this is DCBLOG's tenth anniversary season as we mark a decade of bringing you Inside MTV Reality like no one else does... and if you like it all, tell a friend -- they will no doubt enjoy our view of this world on here.
And if you got thoughts, just send me a Twitter follow to @DC408Dxtr, where in addition to getting to live watch episodes and tweeting out random thoughts and occasional odd moments, I post links to each & every one of my DCBLOG posts plus videos I've posted on YouTube including the just completed DC Vegas XI vlog series plus new content there coming this summer. Enjoy this week's premiere, for which I'll be up after midnight to live tweet it on the other Twitter hub (#DCNOW @DC408DxNow) when it is posted on Paramount+, and join us next weekend for our Challenge premiere coverage. Enjoy the week ahead, Challenge Nation... and Happy Mother's Day.
- I AM DC
#DCBLOG
