DC ExtraTime: Chase in Paradise

BY DC CUEVA                        

■ @DC408DXTR  @ IG/YT/SC/TB

If you ever hop by my house and join with my parents on the couch on a Monday or Tuesday night from January to September, it's for the one purpose that gets my parents interested in reality TV the same way I do: watching people fall in love. But unlike this fan who keeps his obsession with Are You The One and Ex On The Beach to a guilty pleasure level without them ever knowing about it, my mom & dad are completely obsessed with Bachelor Nation... and it seems I have also fallen into that spell for a few times this year in eavesdropping on my parents to watch some of the drama.

The engaged BIP 6 couples w/ Chris Harrison (ABC)

Two weeks ago, the 2019 finale of the year in roses & romance went down when Bachelor in Paradise concluded with its 3-hour finale, wrapping up a year that began with Colton Underwood jumping the fence on The Bachelor and continuing with Hannah Brown endure her final two suitors cheating on her on The Bachelorette. But those who give the fandom two nights of magic of begin the work week, they always seem to save the juicy drama for the last act of each annual cycle when the weather is at its hottest and when the focus shifts from the Villa in the Southern California hills and beyond to the Hotel by the sands down south of the border.
   In the wake of Jed Wyatt being caught in a back home relationship and Hannah turning to Tyler Cameron, Season 6 of BIP began in early August with those rejected by her, Colton and other leading men & ladies for another shot at love and roses. There were rumors about goings on with some of the suitors when they went to country music's own Coachella, Stagecoach after the main event in Palm Springs before they went to Mexico. There was L.A. recruiter Dean Unglert leaving paradise in mid-August, only to shockingly return two weeks later to ask model Caelynn Miller-Keyes to take the first flight out of town with him... and there was the one & only John Paul Jones and him with Tayshia Adams.
   Of course, no battle for love would be complete without any sort of physical activity: bad blood still boiling from batting to score Becca Kaufin saw Jordan Kimball and NY actor Christian Estrada get together next to a pinata and then proceeded to get into fisticuffs in the Mexican night, and both had their hotel keys swiped away from them. Blake Horstmann encountered a tangled web with him, Caelynn, Tayshia and Kentucky dental assistant Kristina Schulman and led him to also quit. And yes, Hannah B. came by to the villa for a brief visit before going onto Dancing with the Stars.

In the end, three couples made it all the way to the engagement phase by the beach: San Diego tech entrepreneur Dylan Barbour & Alabama model Hannah Godwin, and Chicago entrepreneur Chris Bukowski & L.A. medical sales representative Katie Morton joined Chris Harrison to cap off the summer with engagement rings adorning their fingers... so did another couple that helped to highlight this breakthrough year for the LGBT community.
   For only the second time on BIP, a non Bachelor/Bachelorette alum made their way to paradise when L.A. video production assistant Kristian Haggerty joined the villa in week 3 in Mexico in having had a relationship with Dallas interior designer Demi Burnett. Their relationship marked the first time a same-sex relationship had been seen on the original U.S. version of The Bachelor franchise during the same summer that Are You The One? embraced the LGBT crowd, and Demi & Kristian joined the other two couples in getting engaged to wrap up 2019 in Bachelor Nation. And on the reunion, Bachelorette 15 suitor Peter Weber was named the next leading Bachelor star for 2020.

DC ExtraTime: Siesta Key Invades Ridiculousness

BY DC CUEVA                        

■ @DC408DXTR  @ IG/YT/SC/TB

Twitter @ChloeTrautman

If you've been browsing through those story feeds on Instagram and SnapChat, you know where your MTV Reality favorites are doing in between episodes and seasons airing. But if you are part of the increasing section of this community who wishes that they'd be in Florida right now or will be traveling there soon, then there should reason for you to be excited.

A while back, we focused on castmates from two of MTV's boldest new additions to the lineup in the past few years coming together to attend the 2019 Video Music Awards. All but one of the Southern hotties of Floribama Shore and four of the cast from Siesta Key got to experience the big show in Newark, New Jersey. And during this month of September, they've made an additional trip back up to the Big Apple for promo and promotional material related to Season 3 of their shows to come our way in the fall & winter... and both shows know they got a lot of live up to after the first two seasons of their shows, both born out of the spirit paved by Jersey Shore and The Hills.

Over the weekend, a staple of the end of our week, Ridiculousness with lifelong MTV'er Rob Dyrdek, welcomed the one girl of the Key who loves to spy on goings-on with her clique, Chloe, as she joined Chanel West Coast and Steelo Brim on the couch where, instead of gossip, she got to dissect all that viral video on MTV's own America's Funniest Videos. She captioned on Instagram below, "Yooo this shit is ridiculous! Thanks so much for having me, I had too much fun!❤️🤪"  Two of her castmates chimed in with simple reactions, with Juliette saying simply, "AHHH👏🏼👏🏼😍🔥" and Madisson adding, "OMG OMG OMGGGGG!"

View this post on Instagram

Yooo this shit is ridiculous! Catch me on the new episode of @ridiculousness tonight on @mtv at 8/7c. Thanks so much for having me, I had too much fun!❤️🤪

A post shared by Chloe Trautman (@chloetrautman) on Sep 29, 2019 at 2:24pm PDT

View this post on Instagram

@chloetrautman KILLED it on @ridiculousness lastnight! did you tune in? #SiestaKey

A post shared by SIESTA KEY - REALITY SHOW (@allaboutsiestakey) on Sep 30, 2019 at 9:31am PDT

- I AM DC
#DCBLOG

DC ExtraTime: Flex On My Ex with Mr. Chocolate

A Follow-Up to: A 6-Hour Date

BY DC CUEVA                        

■ @DC408DXTR  @ IG/YT/SC/TB

Look over the list of the hundreds of those who've been on MTV Reality shows over the years and have covered in the 1000+ posts we've devoted to this genre, and chances are a majority of them have appeared in two or more projects with our favorite channel. In most instances now, those who've appeared for the first time on a Real World or Are You The One season will likely pop up on The Challenge... and that has since extended to Ex On The Beach and now pretty much any reality TV show who can join the fifth major pro sport.

One of those who is on that list is Derrick Henry, who at this time three years ago was readying to head out to the Dominican Republic for AYTO Season 5. Since then, we've seen him on two seasons of The Challenge, the first season of EOTB USA, and earlier this year on the American adaptation of European format Game of Clones... and that's just MTV matters. In April, he was on a non-MTV dating series, 6-Hour Match for YouTube channel Daily Stream... and the two videos that comprised his appearance on that series ranks as the channel's two most-watched videos at 4 million total views.

While he might not be the best Challenger on Dirty 30 and Final Reckoning, there's no doubt that romantic reality television loves Mr. Chocolate and he loves the genre back. All this comes despite him being on the only losing AYTO cast, a girl he let get away being part of a current Challenge power couple, and another ex who will have her relationship with a good friend of his examined on Dr. Phil this week. And this weekend, Derrick added yet another show to his illustrious resume of finding love on our screens.


Last year, MTV Studios launched not only to premiere the most recent season of The Real World and the immensely popular docu-series featuring Tana Mongeau, but also short-form digital-only projects seen just on MTV's YouTube channel. There, we've seen Kwasi and Daniel from last year's Are You The One? season on the digital revival of 90's original hit Singled Out, and then Kareem from AYTO Season 6 become a decoy for a couple to figure out who they're kissing on Lip Locked. And this fall, MTV YouTube adds another love-filled new series where, once again, exes are front & center.

Have you ever thought to yourself that you would wish you would find out what the one you are dating is really like before you begin to make your move on them? Well, MTV is getting to answer this question to ordinary people (and the subject who is more well known that others) who are looking for love, but also adding a twist to it also. Instead of having fellow family members or close friends to chime in on the one who's they want to date, they're bringing exes along for the ride.

It is called, appropriately enough, Flex On My Ex, hosted by comedian and Bay Area native Jasmin "Jazzy" Brown, who starred last night on BET's original movie Always A Bridesmaid alongside Yvette Nicole Brown. Flex On My Ex offers hopeful singles a chance to get to know more about three potential suitors, all as their exes are sitting directly behind them on the panel table. The series' YouTube synopsis adds, "As the three suitors try to woo a new boo, their former flames can call them out on their BS, reveal the truth about their relationship, and more. Much more."

As evidenced by the stories he posts on his social channels, Derrick is no doubt the life of the party wherever he goes, and this time he's ready to give it another shot at finding his "+1 for life." The three ladies looking to win his heart are 26-year-old Myeshia (with her ex Nino), 25-year-old Katie (with her ex Steven), and 26-year-old Brandee (with her ex Hensley).

Who does Mr. Chocolate choose? Find out below... and if you enjoy it, check out Flex On My Ex on MTV's YouTube each Saturday at Noon ET and 9AM PT.

- I AM DC
#DCBLOG

DC SocialPulse: Ex On The Beach Season 3 - "Thruple Trouble"

*** Advisory: DC SocialPulse contains adult language, objectionable content & spoilers for some readers. Viewer Discretion is Advised. Due to its length, take frequent eye breaks if you're reading this top to bottom. ***

BY DC CUEVA                        

■ @DC408DXTR  @ IG/YT/SC/TB

Welcome on back, and as the television season as those in broadcast network land see it, things are now fairly calm when it comes to romantic reality television goes, with Bachelor Nation now taking  a breather after this year's trilogy and just ahead of next month's big return of Temptation Island. But for those in need of some love in reality TV, you have some company now until then with MTV's Ex On The Beach, as we now bring you the Pulse of it here now.

Last week in Malibu, those in the house who moved in when this all began in July were put on pins and needles as their exes turned the table on them for the mid-season Cut ceremony that would send one of the originals home. But while most of the attention has been on Cameron and his treatment of Ariana and Alexis, he can thank those lucky stars that he wasn't the one who got sent home. Instead, it was her getting flowers from her man back home that gave the exes reason to send one-half of the Kaplan twins home when they voted off Allie.

Summer is fast approaching its end in Ex land, and this week sees turning points for two couples: two originals who went on the last Crush date are finding themselves at a crossroads for their relationship and another pair who went outside the house earlier this summer may also head that way with one of them pursuing a relationship with a new ex. The summer's last Crush Date will be handed out, but that doesn't mean that one of the couples this week will be given a free pass. And we're headed back to the beginning... the beginning of this century, that is... for a Y2K house party.

After the jump, join in for the Pulse of Episode 11 of Ex On The Beach 3, plus a castmate heads to the Emmy Awards, more reaction from this week's Challenge and a look ahead to what will be THE hot topic item for MTV Reality fans in the next seven days. Welcome, lovebirds...

DC SocialPulse: The Challenge War of the Worlds 2 - "In Paulie We Trust"

*** Advisory: DC SocialPulse contains adult language, objectionable content & spoilers for some readers. Viewer Discretion is Advised. Due to its length, take frequent eye breaks if you're reading this top to bottom. ***

BY DC CUEVA                        

■ @DC408DXTR  @ IG/YT/SC/TB

After the madness of the last week of the 2018-19 broadcast TV season, reality fans got a similar dose as the '19-20 calendar began: a most eventful ending to season 21 of Big Brother, the start of year 20 of Survivor, a new season of The Voice, the first cut being made on Dancing with the Stars and season 2 of The Masked Singer. And as you all continue to recover from the controversy of the BB21 finale - and as those from that cast are joining the rest of the reality family in Las Vegas this weekend, we here at DCBLOG bring you back to our humble abode for the week that was Inside MTV Reality, as we take the Pulse of this week on The Challenge: War of the Worlds 2.

Last week in Thailand was anything but your typical week: there was turmoil in an American side that, though they managed to win the first three challenges, finally had their "0" let go by the Brits in a running of the relics. The ensuing nominations brought to light the twisted history of Cara Maria and Laurel - rivals to begin with and even more so now, after their blowup in night court. But we were not prepared for what happened at the proving ground when the one who won nine eliminations to start her career, and who lost her most recent one as a competitor in Thailand. Her duel with Ninja Natalie had just about everything: a close battle, a premature over-the-top celebration and a shocking conclusion that capped off an incredible 72 hours for the American Ninja Warrior fandom.

Undoubtedly, everyone was shook by that shock result... and along with Wes getting sent home by Bear the previous week and everything that went down last season it proved anything can happen. And this week, the attention turns to the latest in the line of Challenge villains and the one who has emerged as the new big dog of the next wave of competitors, as after what's happened in his first two appearances we can only wonder what Mr. Paulie will do next. Swimming will once again take center stage as the players look to prove themselves in the sea for the second time this fall... and there will be many who will struggle. And if you love the sight of gamblers going crazy at the craps table and who also figure out math as well... wait until you see who faces who in elimination.

Understandably, this Challenge season shares a night with two of the aforementioned reality titans above... and we know that a lot of you in the reality fandom had a choice on Wednesday of whether to watch this week's episode or watch CBS for that Survivor/Big Brother doubleheader and this week's Challenge will obviously get lost in the buzz of the biggest night in reality TV. But if you're just caught up on it, join us here after the jump as we bring you all the action, reaction and interaction from Week 5 of War of the Worlds 2. And thanks for spending part of your Saturday night with us as we bring you the MTV Reality SocialPulse on DCBLOG...

DC ExtraTime: A Challenge "Pro" Comes to American Horror Story

BY DC CUEVA                        

■ @DC408DXTR  @ IG/YT/SC/TB

Two years ago, two trilogies of The Challenge that ran parallel to each other began: the long, dragged-out one of the regular series worth $2.5 million, and the shorter, more lighter version whose true winners were the charities its competitors competed for. The ladder was Champs vs. Stars/Pros and saw champions & so-called champs take on formidable opposition from the sports and entertainment worlds for charity. And in a team of pro athletes that included CM Punk, Candace Wiggins, two NFL defensemen and eventual breakout star Louise Hazel, Team USA was well represented on the first season of that trilogy, Champs vs. Pros... and a few weeks ago we focused on Olympic snowboarder Lindsay Jacobellis and Tokyo 2020 hopeful, surfer Tia Blanco.

But the one Olympic athlete with the biggest profile that spring 2017 was none other than Gus Kenworthy. As a freestyle skier who was part of only the third American medal sweep at a Winter Olympics in claiming silver in the men's slopestyle in Russia, Gus became a star figure back home in the U.S.  But it was after the afterglow of Sochi 2014 faded that he became the first action sports athlete to come out, and the latest in a long line of Olympians who, in addition to flying their national flag, also boasted the pride flag... symbol of the gay and lesbian community. And he was the subject of an In-Depth post that looked back on his time on Champs vs. Pros which appeared before he competed in the 2018 Winter Games in Pyeongchang, where he made it to the gold medal final but didn't make it to the podium.

Last week, while the attention of Challenge fans were fixated on an eventful night on War of the Worlds 2 including that most memorable elimination, the newest season of a cable staple premiered its newest season, one that will see Gus bring his talents to a whole new world and audience in time for Halloween, part of the continuing rise of LGBT representation on mainstream TV.

DC ExtraTime: The Kaplans Go Flipping with the Kardashians and Go Ketchup Crazy

BY DC CUEVA                        

■ @DC408DXTR  @ IG/YT/SC/TB

Last week on Ex On The Beach, something revealing took place when the house found out some valuable tea involving one of the singles. There, one-half of The Kaplan Twins was caught having a boyfriend back home - and spies on the forums & Reddit found out about this particular fact before we saw it last week, all thanks to an Instagram photo that of Allie Kaplan and her man being on a trip to nearby Catalina Island off the Southern California coast before she moved up to Malibu.

It was when the exes found about this news that, during the annual week where they had power in sending home whichever single they wanted for the week's Cut Ceremony, they chose Allie to go to her room and pack. That result also had Twitter fuming in the fans wanting to have Cameron Armstrong get sent home for his actions against exes Alexis and Ariana, though the difference in him staying and Allie going was just one vote.

That unfavorable outcome in the Cut twist will have Allie's twin sister Lexi spend the rest of her time by the beach alone until season's end. But not everything in the land of the Kaplans was all bad this past week, as they got to sit front row at New York Fashion Week, and making a cameo on the latest spinoff show of reality TV's royal family... and it also links to both the ongoing public fascination with the Kardashians and a story brewing in the past week of the feud between pop star brothers whose ex appears on that latest spinoff.

DC SocialPulse: Ex On The Beach Season 3 - "Roses Are Red, Exes Make You Blue"

*** Advisory: DC SocialPulse contains adult language, objectionable content & spoilers for some readers. Viewer Discretion is Advised. Due to its length, take frequent eye breaks if you're reading this top to bottom. ***

BY DC CUEVA                        

■ @DC408DXTR  @ IG/YT/SC/TB

As you all get to wrap up what's been an amazing TV week on this Emmys Sunday, welcome back here to the Blog as we continue to pinch ourselves after bringing you how those of you reacted to last week's madness that was Week 4 of The Challenge: War of the Worlds 2... so much so that we needed a bit more time to rest after we brought you the Pulse of that back on Saturday night. Meanwhile, the drama has continued to intensify over in Malibu as we press on with Ex On The Beach 3.

Last week, there were hearts on offer for the latest crush date, which saw one of those we featured yesterday in our ExtraTime story on Hearts of Reality, Mark, being brought on a getaway date with Aubrey and her ex Coffey, which saw them share some moments in bed... yes, a threesome for you. There was more drama surrounding Cameron as the house began to join viewers at home in turning on him... and we had Halloween arrive early when the circus came to town.

If you've been watching the first two seasons of EOTB, it's always tense when the message in a bottle comes up like those dollars in those '90s magic Coke cans. This week, the tables are turned when Cut week arrives as, this time, it's the Singles who are feeling the heat as the Exes have power in who they want to send home. This comes at a most opportune time for them when they find out some big tea from back home... and the man who dated a Kardashian's ex will finally see the spotlight turn to him as the endless summer rolls along.

All the action, reaction and interaction of Episode 10 of Ex On The Beach 3 is ahead, but after the jump: more of the buzz surrounding last week's game-changing Challenge. Thanks for joining us...