DC ExtraTime: The Backstory - Amo

BY DC CUEVA                        

■ @DC408DXTR  @ IG/YT/SC/TB

    Estimated Reading Time: 24 MINS.

2019 marked a major milestone in the growing acceptance of the LGBT community on mainstream television. For the first time, a romantic reality dating series had an entire cast consist solely of sexually-fluid contestants when Season 8 of MTV's Are You The One? gave the gay, lesbian, bisexual, trans and queer-plus community a chance to find love. Bachelor Nation welcomed a rarity to their franchise when 2019 Bachelor contestant Demi Burnett found love with a same-sex individual, Kristian Haggerty, on Bachelor in Paradise. And two LGBT-friendly series continued along in RuPaul's Drag Race and the second generation of Queer Eye, featuring Karamo Brown - himself an proud alum of The Real World and The Challenge and who competed on last fall's Dancing with the Stars. And it's in this backdrop that we spotlight another alum of both series here.

Two times each year in the spring and the fall, the members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints gather in Salt Lake City for their semi-annual General Conferences, and is often seen by outsiders as America's most controversial religion for its conservative outlook. It's in the home of the overarching body of the Mormon religion where the person we are spotlighting is one who was once a member of the LDS Church, but made the courageous journey across from when he spent his experience filming an MTV show hundreds of miles away to announce his breakaway from the cult.
   That eye-opening moment seen on The Real World -- coming about by a controversial action by members of his organization and captured by cameras of a show which has documented generations of the MTV audience going through life changing moments such as that -- is only part of the mesmerizing journey of a person who has experienced a lot during his life. He was well liked when he was a Challenge rookie where he gained everyone's support, and it came after another harrowing experience that came about after he was medically evacuated from South America, and one channeling an alarming trend in the showbiz industry that had the verdict of its most high-profile case handed down this week.
   We first got to look at the individual once known as Christopher Ammon-Hall and now known just as Amo on Season 31 of Real World - Go Big or Go Home in Las Vegas back in 2016, and then on The Challenge XXX: Dirty 30 a year later. But a lot has happened for him in between those two MTV shows and after he left that Challenge in an ambulance... including the new frontier that Amo is now embarking on: transitioning into a female, something that if you're a reality TV fan is something that is familiar. It's only part of this fascinating backstory.

DC ExtraTime Flashback: Outkast's Road Rules Invasion

BY DC CUEVA                        

■ @DC408DXTR  @ IG/YT/SC/TB

In many of our ExtraTime posts over the years, we've featured the times where MTV Reality and music have collided -- most recently when a former teen pop star who once hung out with a New Orleans Queen of The Challenge finally won a Grammy this winter. A few years ago, we told two stories of how two musical groups from different genres used guest cameos to boost their profiles before eventually taking over the charts.

In 2004, Florida punk-pop band Yellowcard played in the background of old-school challengers smashing hotel rooms on The Inferno and contributed music to that season's opening titles before the biggest year of their career. Five years later, the cast of Real World Cancun helped coordinate Spring Break appearances in Mexico by emerging dance music duo LMFAO before "Get Crazy" became synonymous with Jersey Shore and "Party Rock Anthem" took over 2011's playlists.

This latest tale of a music act appearing on an MTV Reality series doesn't involve an emerging artist getting their big break towards getting global recognition, but is a story that was lost in time and took until a return of two of its members to The Challenge a few years ago for us to dust off this story. As this flashback is being posted, it has been a decade & a half since one of the most-notable albums of the 21st century, which was released by one of the co-subjects of this post.

Here - and unlike Yellowcard, LMFAO and a then-unknown Lady Gaga who had Lauren and Whiten work on her stage outfit on a 2008 episode of The Hills, the artists featured here were more well known at the time than their later counterparts in the pop, rock and dance genres. This was before they released two albums in one that propelled them into the mainstream and brought the South to the forefront of hip-hop. And the cast who share top-billing on the marquee would ultimately produce four Challenge champions, including the only Challenger ever to win four straight titles.

When you have a renowned cast of a past and pioneering MTV Reality series get to perform in front of a group that was ready to become the biggest stars in the world, then you have the story of when OutKast Invaded Road Rules.

Inside MTV Reality: Cheyenne's Teen Mom OG Journey

BY DC CUEVA                        

■ @DC408DXTR  @ IG/YT/SC/TB

As we're now in March, it's springtime and the shows that began in the fall on the network side of things get more juicier at the ladder half of their seasons. And during what's been a most eventful first few months of 2020, reality TV is offering us some much need escapism: Season 40 of Survivor: Winners at War, Big Brother Canada north of the border, and the juicy drama down in Siesta Key which tonight wraps up the winter portion of season 3. And after we cover that on here this weekend, our focus will shift straight to The Challenge: Total Madness which begins in three weeks from now, and that will come as good news to a competitor on that season, which brings us to this...

In the midst of Women's History Month, next Tuesday Teen Mom OG returns as the franchise enters its second decade in its various forms, dating back to when the two generations of women the show has featured the past ten years were first introduced on predecessor series 16 and Pregnant in summer 2009. The first group of moms -- Amber Portwood, Catelynn Lowell & Maci Bookout -- will welcome back the MTV cameras once again as they navigate parenthood and life as adults in their mid-20's, ten years after their debut when they were at the rightful age of sweet 16 and as teenagers. Also joining them is Teen Mom 3's MacKenzie McKee, who joined this sorority last season, and where this spring we'll be seeing her deal with family tragedy as her grandmother Angie Doughit passed away over the holidays after a valiant and courageous battle with brain cancer.

But there is one reason why many of those who identify themselves as part of Challenge Nation -- and viewers of the shows they're connected to -- have joined the Teen Mom audience: It's for that Cheyenne Floyd is part of the OG cast now, having joined as one of the two replacements for Farrah Abraham along with politician's daughter Bristol Palin (who MacKenzie replaced after she left last year). Cheyenne started on Are You The One? in 2015 as part of its legendary Season 3 class, went onto The Challenge the next year and met the man who now shares custody of their baby girl Ryder. And many times Challenger and Real World alum Cory Wharton has become just as part of her world despite not being together, as now he will now be a dad to two baby girls as his Ex On The Beach girlfriend Taylor Selfridge awaits her first kid in the midst of a busy spring for Cory.

With our almost total focus on The Challenge and other matters revolving around that show and related series, other than being featured occasionally in our episode coverage we've not covered Teen Mom since our introductory post prior to Cheyenne's October 2018 debut... it's OK since the franchise already receives extensive press coverage anyway. But if we got the chance to cover it more often (and with our deep respect to the other castmates who are special in their own way), then it's on just one condition that we only cover Cheyenne's universe. And after the jump, we'll have a look back at some of her journey (and Cory & Taylor's too), before it begins St. Patrick's Day next week.

Inside MTV Reality: The Siesta Key WRAP - Openings, Crashes & Meetings

BY DC CUEVA                        

■ @DC408DXTR  @ IG/YT/SC/TB

Welcome back... our winter's escape from the madness & imperfectness of our world in the sultry, summertime drama of Siesta Key is wrapping up for now at least... perhaps there's more to come later this year if the social proof has its way -- including the biggest bombshell of all to rock the biggest pop stars in this small town of 6,500. But for now, our third Summer in the Key (and our Florida season on here) is in its late afternoon glow as we now bring you part 2 of a special Double Shot.

When we were last in Central Florida earlier tonight, Alex and most of the group made their way up to Southern Georgia to celebrate the 4th of July at the parents' retreat of his girlfriend Alyssa. And while the Floribama Shore crew's activities became a wild festival in itself, their Siesta neighbors' wish to have the drama stay back home backfired when the king bringing up Chloe's allegiance to Juliette saw them have a big blowup. And Ish returned to town to ask Madisson if she can move in with him in LA... but it ended with them breaking up after her family expressed some skepticism.

As we return to town, Juliette's job at neighborhood boutique Blend is about to throw its grand opening bash... but will the shadow of her old and new exes rain over her parade? And will a snap, emergency meeting of the original group around the campfire try to resolve things and bring the group back together out before summer wraps up? The answers to those questions are ahead.

Inside MTV Reality: The Siesta Key WRAP - A 4th of July Party Up North

BY DC CUEVA                        

■ @DC408DXTR  @ IG/YT/SC/TB

And so, we welcome you to the first Sunday of March, and it's been quite a week in our world... but if you are one of the many who need a respite from it, we at DCBLOG are here for you. This week in MTV Reality, the countdown began in earnest for Season 35 of The Challenge: Total Madness, and we'll kick off our coverage of that the week after next as we ramp up towards April 1st. But for both this & next week, our focus is on the summer fast approaching its sunset down in Siesta Key.

Lately in Central Florida - save for all the exes drama, the spotlight has been on Jared: he celebrated his birthday in Episode 7, and as the only one in the clique who has been married at one time, last week his ex-wife Jessica flew into town for a visit. Meanwhile, Chloe & Alex reopened a beloved neighborhood bar, and then proceeded to get into what went down with him & Juliette, which forced him to own up to Alyssa, all while Brandon got into it with Amanda and ex JJ at that reopening gala.

This week, something we here like to call a Double Shot: back-to-back episodes, which offered a much-needed viewing alternative from Super Tuesday politics. First up, the King & his crew are headed up to Georgia to celebrate the 4th of July but will the drama bug follow them up the road? And Madisson's producer boyfriend returns to town with a big question to ask her. See you after the jump for the first half of this doubleheader...

DC ExtraTime: A War of the Worlds Girls' Only Weekend

BY DC CUEVA                        

■ @DC408DXTR  @ IG/YT/SC/TB

This first week of March in MTV Reality has seen excitement spill over in several parts of this vast community of ours. For the first time since the season 2 birthday brawl, on Super Tuesday Siesta Key played host to a Double Shot of back-to-back episodes (which we'll cover tomorrow & for the first time as our sole, main focus). Last night saw Mike The Situation was finally released from prison on Jersey Shore much to everyone's relief, along with the premiere of the newest rookie series to land the prized slot of being launched out of MTV's biggest shows in The Busch Family Brewed.
   Wednesday, however, was the big day as far of a lot of us was concerned - especially if you visit this site regularly. There, the month-long countdown to April Fool's Day began in full swing when the title, format and all-star cast, and the accompanying first look, was revealed for for Season 35 of the industry's original reality competition series: The Challenge: Total Madness. We'll be saving our first look at it for later this month when we'll offer our thoughts and insight in our traditional preview and introduction to this season's class of newbies. But to get you in the mood for what goes down in a few weeks' time, here's something a bit more fun to begin our ramp-up to day 1 of 4/20 Month.

At this time last year, War of the Worlds was helping The Challenge get over the long, dragged-out trilogy of Dirty 30, Vendettas and Final Reckoning with a season to remember. New blood from all around the wide world of reality television joined some of our favorite vets and new gen players for the first of two seasons of global warfare. We were introduced to more of the Brits who have made a big impact on our shores, while former houseguests of Big Brother translated their summer game to a whole new stage. And in the end, the toughest final ever contested in the Namibian desert saw Turabi "Turbo" Camkiran of the global Survivor franchise emerge $750,000 victorious as a popular winner.
   Since Invasion a few years ago, The Challenge has also seen some new worthy female Challengers emerge on the scene: Ashley M., Da'Vonne, Kam, Kailah, Kayleigh, Melissa, Ninja, Sylvia and Tori... the first one of this list has won two Challenge titles, in fact. Three of these people will get another crack at the cash this spring & summer, along with the first girl eliminated last season in Big T., British fitness star Jenny and some new rookie girls we'll be getting to know more about as we start this journey. We may even see one of them help sell a house on national TV later this year, also.

Our focus for this post is on three of those who competed with them on last year's two War of the Worlds seasons: an Australian who will come to Total Madness as a defending champion, an alum of Britain's Love Island who's also on another U.K. original, and a girl from the South who's made this Challenge offseason more manageable for us thanks to joining her friend by the Shore. And they're joined by a pair of Big Brother twins and a slew of guest stars here, including one of the most hilarious actresses today who, thanks to some inside connections, became part of her Girl Gang.

DC SocialPulse: Ex On The Beach Peak of Love - The Finale

*** 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 back... if you love reality TV and romance, this winter has been a treat. You've likely had some rosé in being glued to Peter Weber's drama on The Bachelor including last night's pre-reunion, while two MTV alumni in TRL alum Vanessa Minillo & her 98 Degrees husband Nick Lachey (of Newlyweds fame) have made Netflix viewers go crazy over Love Is Blind. And as the weather gets warmer this month, we are now headed for the conclusion of the fourth season of Ex On The Beach in America, and a special winter version of the summer series at the Peak of Love.

Previously in Queenstown, New Zealand, the end of season activities began with the one sign that the end is near: the sight of a lie detector. We got to see who was telling the truth which awaited all of the singles and the remaining exes and it no doubt caused everyone to be on edge. There were surprise outcomes that may bring to an end a budding relationship with Staten Islander's own Challenge star and a Real World ex, as well as getting down to the nitty gritty of other connections. But as far as one couple is concerned, they are not worried about it at all: they have eyes on bigger things to come.

Being rooted in The Challenge on here, and last year there were three instances where winners of a final got to enjoy love's biggest moment: Tony and Jordan got down on one knee & popped out a ring to propose to their girlfriends (in the ladder's case, to AYTO alum Tori), and CT getting married. That offers the context for our last week at the Peak, where the lovebirds of the Chalet will finally have their moment. But before that, there's other business to take care of in which couples will leave with their Ex, Next or go alone, and the Truth Ceremony results may play a role in some of their choices.

After the jump, the final SocialPulse of the 2019-20 winter cycle as we bring you the last week at the Peak of Love on Ex On The Beach. Thanks for joining us...

Inside MTV Reality: The Siesta Key WRAP - A Vet & His Ex Walk Into The King's Bar...

BY DC CUEVA                        

■ @DC408DXTR  @ IG/YT/SC/TB

Welcome to the month of March, which means we're now into the springtime as meteorology sees it, and that means for many of you the mayhem of Spring Break is right around the corner. A place that will be a hub for most of the next month's extracurricular activities is the state of Florida, and a town outside Sarasota is also the venue for the intoxicating drama that is MTV's Siesta Key, as Season 3 rolls along.

Previously the summer of parties in the Key continued on, and this time it was Jared who was feted -- coming ironically at where he made his dramatic entrance: Alex's family mansion where they got into a brawl last year. It was Jared's birthday as they celebrated him and he also had his party interrupted by a call from a skeleton from his past... but it was also where Juliette came to the house uninvited and proceeded to push her ex into the pool. And there was also a pregnancy scare when Madisson thought she was knocked up by her ex-producer boyfriend Ish, but it turned out to be negative.

At that same party there, we also found that Jared is the only member of the entire Siesta Key family who knows what it's like to have a wedding ring... and now his ex is about to come to town the same week that two friends who were reunited for business sake turn their attention to reopening a new bar. Dive in with us for our WRAP of Episode 8 before a special Double Shot comes our way tonight... fittingly enough on 3/3 and offering a perfect viewing alternative on this Super Tuesday.