https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pDYu-ov8x2k
Ok, get your “is this show still on?” jokes out of the way now, because yes, yes, it is. And EthologyNerd and I will be here all season to recap all the episodes. But I know you either don’t watch or haven’t watched in several years, so I’m going to give you a little background/insight to what this season will be about.
Originally The Challenge series started as straight Road Rules cast members versus Real World members. When Road Rules went the way of the dodo bird, they changed it up a bit. They still had Challenge Vets (which include both RW and RR cast members), but then they also just picked some randoms to throw into the group. Here is a list of the full cast, but my favorites to end up in the Top 3 (of each gender) are:
Males:
1. CT – He was part of the Real World: Paris cast and has been on just about every Challenge series since. He’s a buff and tough guy. He had serious relationship with former fellow cast member Diem and their on-again/off-again romance has been a part of his storyline whenever she is part of the cast. She is not around to distract him from his end goal this season. He won last year’s The Challenge: Rivals II and I would look for him to be victorious again.
2. Zach – Part of the Real World: San Diego (2011) cast. His nickname was Thor and for good reason. The dude is stacked. Along with his fellow San Diego castmate Frank, he won The Challenge: Battle of The Seasons in 2012.
3. Johnny a.k.a. Johnny Bananas – Originally featured on Real World: Key West and like CT, he’s a perennial favorite of mine. He’s been on 10 Challenges, was a finalist on 6 seasons and won 4 of them. Johnny Bananas is definitely a force to be reckoned with.
Females:
1. Aneesa – First featured on Real World: Chicago where she walked around naked. Though she has appeared on 10 other Challenge shows, she’s only been a finalist on 2 and has never won. For me she is a favorite to win because she not only has the physical toughness these games require, but also is a favorite with other cast members – which is important when it comes to needing to form alliances. IMHO, Aneesa is a Tough Bitch.
2. Nia – Also known as Hurricane Nia, she was a replacement roommate on Real World: Portland. Nia showed up and basically turned that house upside down. This is her first Challenge appearance, so she will likely have a target on her back as the vets like to pick on the newbies, but after her RW show, I would not be surprised to see her go far.
3. Laurel – Laurel is one of 5 Challenge participants that was not featured on a season of Real World. She was originally seen on Fresh Meat II with fellow Free Agents castmates Brandon, Cara Maria and Theresa (Camilla was on Spring Break Challenge). After her initial season, Laurel appeared on 3 other Challenges and has a total of 3 trips to the finals. She hasn’t been on a Challenge since 2011 (which is an eternity in reality television and probably why I don’t really remember her), so I’m excited to see what she’s bringing to the table this year.
Questionables (Some people who could end up in the finals despite their lack of either brains or brawn): Frank, Camilla and Cara Maria. Frank is a big dude, but I don’t know if I would say he’s “strong”, but he’s quite bitchy. Both Camilla and Cara Maria are too whiny for me, but their physical strength sometimes surprises me and them.
While past seasons have had contestant pairings based on the casts previous relationships with each other (i.e. Rivals, Battle of the Seasons, Exes), this season The Challenge is totally every man for himself on the way to the $350,000 prize that is waiting for the winner at the end. While I’m sure there will be some alliances that will form, there will be no inherent teammate for each person to rely on.
Each week there’s a challenge. The incentive to win the challenge is that you get to keep your spot and advance to the next one. The contestant that loses the challenge will have to fight another in order to keep his/her spot. In previous Challenges, the teams have voted on who the loser of the challenge will face in the elimination challenge. This season is different in that there will be a “Random Draw” for the other spot in the elimination challenge. No voting, just the draw of a card to decide your fate for the week. Of course, if you lose the elimination challenge, you get to pack your bags and leave Uruguay (where this season takes place).
The Challenge: Free Agents premiers this Thursday, April 10th at 10/9p Central. Be sure to check it out and then check out my recaps with EthologyNerd here sometime after that.
Image via MTV
