| The Challenge | |
|---|---|
| Genre | Reality competition |
| Created by | Mary-Ellis Bunim Jonathan Murray |
| Presented by | T.J. Lavin (2005-present) |
| Country of origin | United States |
| Language(s) | English |
| No. of seasons | 22 |
| Production | |
| Running time |
30 minutes (1998-2007); 1 hour (2008-present) |
| Broadcast | |
| Original channel | MTV |
| Original run | June 1, 1998 – present |
| Chronology | |
| Preceded by | The Real World Road Rules |
The Challenge (originally Real World/Road Rules Challenge) is a reality television game show on MTV that is both dependent on and spun off from the network's two flagship reality shows, The Real World and the now cancelled series, Road Rules. It is currently hosted by T.J. Lavin.
The title of the show was originally Road Rules: All Stars, before it was changed to Real World/Road Rules Challenge in the show's second season, and later shortened to The Challenge in the 19th season. The series initially had no hosts but instead had a former cast member who had been kicked off his or her season provide assignments as Mr. or Ms. Big. Puck Rainey, David Edwards, and Gladys Sanabria served this role. Later, the series began to use hosts: Eric Nies and Mark Long co-hosted a season, and Jonny Moseley and Dave Mirra hosted various seasons before Lavin became host. Lavin has hosted the show since its eleventh season. After the second season, the show began using subtitles, such as Battle of the Seasons. Some seasons have had sequels, such as The Inferno which is tied to The Inferno II and The Inferno III. The 22nd season, entitled Battle of the Exes, will premiere on January 25, 2012.[1]
Contents |
Each Challenge puts numerous cast members from past seasons of Real World and Road Rules against each other (only the Fresh Meat, Fresh Meat II and Cutthroat Challenges have introduced new cast members that have never appeared on either The Real World or Road Rules), dividing them into two separate teams according to different criteria, such as by gender, which of the two shows they first appeared on, whether or not they're veterans or rookies on the show, etc. The two teams compete in numerous missions in order to win prizes and advance in the overall game. Following each mission, two cast members from each team are voted into an elimination round, in which they must compete against one another to determine which one is eliminated from the overall game and must leave the show. Determining which two cast members will be sent into the elimination round frequently leads to drama and contestants playing the game dirty.[2] Like that of The Real World, sporadically throughout the course of each episode, various contestants are seen privately giving confessionals about the events taking place on the show. Some seasons, however, have used entirely different formats from the typical; The Island is one Challenge in particular that adopted many features atypical to Real World/Road Rules Challenge, instead taking concepts like that of another reality television game show, Survivor. As another example, the first season (Road Rules: All Stars) ironically only included contestants from The Real World and consisted of a much smaller cast before the show was completely reconstructed by its second season. Except for season one, a monetary prize has always been the award for winning the final mission.
Each distinct title of a season has indicated the general gameplay format used, i.e. The Inferno II and The Inferno 3 are similar in format to the original Inferno, while new titles such as Cutthroat indicate new formats, in this case a three-team competition.
For details, see the articles for each individual season.
During the filming of The Real World: Boston and Road Rules: Islands, the two casts met while the Real World cast was vacationing in San Juan, Puerto Rico. Producers set up a face-off where both teams would compete for a cash prize. The intensely competitive challenge brought in high ratings and this set ideas in motion to produce yet another spin-off series. After another face-off called AquaGames, hosted by Kit Hoover and Mark Long, between The Real World: Seattle and Road Rules: Down Under in 1997, a year followed until 1998, when the Challenge series was born with Road Rules: All Stars, and featured cast members from five different seasons of The Real World.
After All Stars, producers decided to include former castmembers of the Real World in the series as well. In the next season, two six-member teams were sent around the world in a competition to see which show could best the other in head-to-head competition. The series followed the format for three years and brought in hugely successful ratings.
Following the hugely successful boom of reality television in the new millennium, producers decided to add new elements to the series. In 2001, production began on Battle of the Seasons. This season, the first to depart from the previous six-member structure, brought in a large group of former cast members to compete in one location. During the filming of this season, it was heavily rumored that the Challenge would borrow heavily from the hugely popular reality television show, Survivor. Cast members were "voted off the island" and for a short time during production, it was rumored that the cast was sleeping outside in tents. (This later proved to be false as the cast stayed in a five-star resort.)
Beginning with the Battle of the Seasons, MTV added a fantasy challenge game to their website. Players "draft" cast members, a la fantasy baseball and cast members are given points for performing certain tasks, such as cursing or "hooking up."
After switching to the "vote off" format, the series would alternate between "Battle" seasons, including two seasons of Battle of the Sexes and themed Challenges which included the Gauntlet and Inferno seasons. Both the Gauntlet and Inferno seasons contained "showdown" matches between members of the two opposing teams. The cast member who lost the showdown would be sent home. The Gauntlet seasons featured an intra-cast dynamic as teams were forced to vote off cast members within their own groups into the showdown, while the Inferno seasons featured an inter-cast dynamic as teams were forced to vote off cast members from the other group into the showdown.
In 2005, Bunim-Murray Productions decided to invite new people to the Challenges who were never a part of either Real World or Road Rules. This decision was forced, in part, because of the status of Road Rules at the time. While Road Rules had stopped production until further notice after its thirteenth season, Real World had just finished wrapping its sixteenth season in Austin, Texas.
Like its predecessor show (The Real World), a trademark of Real Word/Road Rules Challenge is ending each season with an hour-long show entitled The Reunion Special. This season finale show consists of all the winners of that season, along with the season's most controversial competitors who were just short of winning—all seated before a small audience on a sofa. Across from them is always a popular MTV host (such as Vanessa Minnillo, Susie Castillo, Carlos Santos, Lyndsey Rodrigues or Maria Menounos) to conduct the session. The host interrogates each of the competitors on the most controversial choices they made over the season, leaving the Challenge members to give their reasoning behind those choices. The Reunion focuses on notable situations that took place, clearing up of any misconceptions, heated discussions, revealing of juicy moments that weren't shown on television, and generally getting everything out in the open (such as backstabbing, gossip, and conspiracies unknown to certain Challenge members). Because MTV alternates between showing seasons of The Real World and Real World/Road Rules Challenge, a preview of the upcoming Real World season always ends Real World/Road Rules Challenge Reunion Specials.[3]
Two terms commonly used on Real World/Road Rules Challenge are "veterans" (or vets) and "rookies". Veterans are particularly thought of as players that have won at least one Challenge season, but the term has also been applied to players who have appeared on several seasons of the show, or have appeared in the final stages of a Challenge. Rookies are thought of as players that haven't done either. The most vulnerable rookies are those who have just recently completed their season on The Real World or Road Rules and are participating in the game for their very first time; often they are the first to be singled out and targeted by everyone else and end up being unsuccessful overall in the game.
Although most of the participants originally appeared on either The Real World or Road Rules, the Real World/Road Rules Challenge has introduced new participants as well. A dozen cast members made their first appearance on Real World/Road Rules Challenge, all of whom debuted on the Fresh Meat Challenge or The Challenge: Fresh Meat II.
| Order | Title | Year aired | Location | Winners | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Road Rules: All Stars | 1998 | Began in Lake Placid, New York, ended in Key West, Florida | Cynthia, Eric N., Jon, Rachel C. and Sean | |
| 2 | Real World/Road Rules Challenge | 1999 | Began in San Francisco, ended in Universal City, California | Road Rules (Anne, Kalle, Kefla, Mark L., Noah and Roni) |
|
| 3 | Real World/Road Rules Challenge 2000 | 2000 | Began in Las Vegas, Nevada, ended in Miami | Road Rules (Dan S., Holly, Carlos "Los" J., Piggy, Veronica and Yes) |
|
| 4 | Real World/Road Rules Extreme Challenge | 2001 | Began in Maine, went through Europe, ended in California | Real World (Dan R., Jamie M., Julie S., Kameelah, Rebecca and Syrus) |
|
| 5 | Battle of the Seasons | 2002 | Cabo San Lucas, Mexico | Real World (Mike M. & Coral, Sean & Elka, Danny R. & Kelley) |
|
| 6 | Battle of the Sexes | 2003 | Montego Bay, Jamaica | Guys (Mark L., Colin, Jamie M.) |
|
| 7 | The Gauntlet | 2003–2004 | Telluride, Colorado | Road Rules (Adam L., Cara, Dave, Darrell, Rachel R., Roni, Sarah G., Theo V., and Veronica) |
|
| 8 | The Inferno | 2004 | Acapulco, Mexico | Road Rules (Abram, Christena, Darrell, Holly, Katie, Kendal, Timmy and Veronica) |
|
| 9 | Battle of the Sexes 2 | 2004–2005 | Santa Fe, New Mexico | Guys (Dan S., Eric N., Theo V.) |
|
| 10 | The Inferno II | 2005 | Manzanillo, Mexico | Good Guys (Darrell, Jamie C., Landon and Mike M.) |
|
| 11 | The Gauntlet 2 | 2005–2006 | Tobago, Trinidad and Tobago | Rookies (Alton, Ibis, Jamie M., Jodi, Kina, Landon, MJ, Randy and Susie) |
|
| 12 | Fresh Meat | 2006 | Gold Coast, Australia | Darrell & Aviv | |
| 13 | The Duel | 2006–2007 | Búzios, Brazil | Wes | |
| Jodi | |||||
| 14 | The Inferno 3 | 2007 | Cape Town, South Africa | Bad Asses (Abram, Derrick, Evelyn, Janelle, Kenny and Tonya) |
|
| 15 | The Gauntlet III | 2008 | Puerto Vallarta, Mexico | Rookies (Frank, Jillian, Johanna, Nehemiah, Rachel M. and Tori) |
|
| 16 | The Island | 2008 | Bocas del Toro, Panama | Red Boat (Derrick, Evelyn, Kenny, and Johnny) |
|
| 17 | The Duel II | 2009 | Queenstown, New Zealand | Rachel R. | |
| Evan | |||||
| 18 | The Ruins | 2009 | Phuket, Thailand | Champions (Derrick, Evan, Johnny, Kenny and Susie) |
|
| 19 | Fresh Meat II | 2010 | Whistler, Canada | Landon & Carley | |
| 20 | Cutthroat | 2010 | Prague, Czech Republic | Red Team (Brad, Dunbar, Tori and Tyler) |
|
| 21 | Rivals | 2011 | Dominical, Costa Rica | Evelyn & Paula | |
| Johnny & Tyler | |||||
| 22 | Battle of the Exes[1] | 2012[1] | Cabarete, Dominican Republic[1] | TBD | |
In March 2010, prior to the airing of the Fresh Meat II season, MTV aired a special Spring Break edition of The Challenge in Acapulco, Mexico.[4] Challenge alum coached teams of college-aged friends in various challenges of old and new, while Fresh Meat alumnus Evan Starkman and The Real World: Key West alumna Paula Meronek served as broadcasters, with T.J. Lavin as the host. Camila Nakagawa, a contestant of the winning team, went on to appear on future challenges.
As of Battle of the Exes
| # | Cast member | Original season | Challenge seasons | Challenge seasons won |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 9 | Derrick Kosinski | Road Rules: X-Treme | Battle of the Sexes 2, The Inferno II, The Gauntlet 2, Fresh Meat, The Duel, The Inferno 3, The Island, The Ruins, Cutthroat | The Inferno 3, The Island, The Ruins |
| 9 | Katie Doyle | Road Rules: The Quest | The Gauntlet, The Inferno, Battle of the Sexes 2, The Gauntlet 2, Fresh Meat, The Gauntlet III, The Duel 2, The Ruins, Cutthroat | The Inferno |
| 9 | Paula Meronek | The Real World: Key West | The Duel, The Inferno 3, The Gauntlet III, The Island, The Duel 2, Fresh Meat II, Cutthroat, Rivals, Battle of the Exes | Rivals |
| 9 | Robin Hibbard | The Real World: San Diego | Battle of the Sexes 2, The Inferno II, The Gauntlet 2, The Duel, The Gauntlet III, The Island, The Duel 2, Rivals, Battle of the Exes | |
| 8 | Abram Boise | Road Rules: South Pacific | The Gauntlet, The Inferno, Battle of the Sexes 2, The Inferno II, The Inferno 3, The Island, Cutthroat, Battle of the Exes | The Inferno, The Inferno 3 |
| 8 | Aneesa Ferreira | The Real World: Chicago | Battle of the Sexes, Battle of the Sexes 2, The Gauntlet 2, The Duel, The Inferno 3, The Duel 2, Rivals, Battle of the Exes | |
| 8 | Brad Fiorenza | The Real World: San Diego | Battle of the Sexes 2, The Inferno II, The Gauntlet 2, The Duel, The Gauntlet III, The Duel 2, The Ruins, Cutthroat | Cutthroat |
| 8 | Chris "CT" Tamburello | The Real World: Paris | The Inferno, The Inferno II, The Duel, The Inferno 3, The Gauntlet III, The Duel 2, Rivals, Battle of the Exes | |
| 8 | Johnny Devenanzio | The Real World: Key West | The Duel, The Inferno 3, The Gauntlet III, The Island, The Ruins, Cutthroat, Rivals, Battle of the Exes | The Island, The Ruins, Rivals |
| 8 | Kenny Santucci | Fresh Meat | Fresh Meat, The Duel, The Inferno 3, The Gauntlet III, The Island, The Ruins, Fresh Meat II, Rivals | The Inferno 3, The Island, The Ruins |
| 8 | Tonya Cooley | The Real World: Chicago | Battle of the Sexes, The Gauntlet, Battle of the Sexes 2, The Inferno II, Fresh Meat, The Inferno 3, The Island, The Ruins | The Inferno 3 |
| 8 | Veronica Portillo | Road Rules: Semester at Sea | Challenge 2000, Battle of the Seasons, Battle of the Sexes, The Gauntlet, The Inferno, Battle of the Sexes 2, The Inferno II, The Ruins | Challenge 2000, The Gauntlet, The Inferno |
| 7 | Beth Stolarczyk | The Real World: Los Angeles | The RW/RR Challenge, Battle of the Seasons, Battle of the Sexes, The Inferno II, The Gauntlet 2, The Duel, The Gauntlet III | |
| 7 | Evelyn Smith | Fresh Meat | Fresh Meat, The Inferno 3, The Gauntlet III, The Island, The Ruins, Fresh Meat II, Rivals | The Inferno 3, The Island, Rivals |
| 7 | Rachel Robinson | Road Rules: Campus Crawl | Battle of the Sexes, The Gauntlet, Battle of the Sexes 2, The Inferno II, The Island, The Duel 2, Battle of the Exes | The Gauntlet, The Duel 2 |
| 6 | Adam King | The Real World: Paris | Battle of the Sexes 2, The Gauntlet 2, The Gauntlet III, The Duel 2, The Ruins, Rivals | |
| 6 | Coral Smith | The Real World: Back to New York | Battle of the Seasons, The Gauntlet, The Inferno, Battle of the Sexes 2, Fresh Meat, The Gauntlet III | Battle of the Seasons |
| 6 | Darrell Taylor | Road Rules: Campus Crawl | The Gauntlet, The Inferno, The Inferno II, Fresh Meat, The Ruins, Fresh Meat II | The Gauntlet, The Inferno, The Inferno II, Fresh Meat |
| 6 | Diem Brown | Fresh Meat | Fresh Meat, The Duel, The Gauntlet III, The Duel 2, The Ruins, Battle of the Exes | |
| 6 | Evan Starkman | Fresh Meat | Fresh Meat, The Duel, The Gauntlet III, The Duel 2, The Ruins, Rivals | The Duel 2, The Ruins |
| 6 | Jenn Grijalva | The Real World: Denver | The Inferno 3, The Island, The Duel 2, Fresh Meat II, Cutthroat, Rivals | |
| 6 | Mark Long | Road Rules: USA - The First Adventure | The RW/RR Challenge, Battle of the Sexes, Battle of the Sexes 2, The Gauntlet 2, The Duel 2, Battle of the Exes | The RW/RR Challenge, Battle of the Sexes |
| 6 | Wes Bergmann | The Real World: Austin | Fresh Meat, The Duel, The Ruins, Fresh Meat II, Rivals, Battle of the Exes | The Duel |
| 5 | Danny Jamieson | The Real World: Austin | Fresh Meat, The Inferno 3, The Gauntlet III, The Ruins, Fresh Meat II | |
| 5 | Dunbar Flinn | The Real World: Sydney | The Island, The Duel 2, The Ruins, Cutthroat, Battle of the Exes | Cutthroat |
| 5 | Eric Banks | Fresh Meat | Fresh Meat, The Duel, The Gauntlet III, The Duel 2, Cutthroat | |
| 5 | Julie Stoffer | The Real World: New Orleans | Extreme Challenge, Battle of the Sexes, The Inferno, The Inferno II, The Gauntlet 2 | Extreme Challenge |
| 5 | Mike Mizanin | The Real World: Back to New York | Battle of the Seasons, The Gauntlet, The Inferno, Battle of the Sexes 2, The Inferno II | Battle of the Seasons, The Inferno II |
| 5 | Ryan Kehoe | Fresh Meat | Fresh Meat, The Gauntlet III, The Island, The Duel 2, Fresh Meat II | |
| 5 | Sarah Rice | The Real World: Brooklyn | The Ruins, Fresh Meat 2, Cutthroat, Rivals, Battle of the Exes | |
| 5 | Syrus Yarbrough | The Real World: Boston | Extreme Challenge, Battle of the Sexes, The Inferno, The Gauntlet 2, The Ruins | Extreme Challenge |
| 5 | Tina Barta | Road Rules: South Pacific | The Gauntlet, Battle of the Sexes 2, The Inferno II, Fresh Meat, The Duel | |
| 5 | Tyrie Ballard | The Real World: Denver | The Inferno 3, The Gauntlet III, The Island, Rivals, Battle of the Exes |
The Challenge has been shot in many different countries around the world, as well as some taking place in the United States. During seasons 1, 4 and 21, the cast traveled between several different countries.
| Continent | Locations (Season number) |
|---|---|
| Africa | South Africa (14) |
| Asia | Thailand (18) |
| Caribbean | Jamaica (6), Trinidad and Tobago (11), Dominican Republic (22) |
| Central America | Panama (16), Costa Rica (21) |
| Europe | United Kingdom (4), Germany (4), Czech Republic (4, 20) |
| North America | United States (1, 2, 3, 4, 7, & 9), Mexico (5, 8, 10, & 15), Canada (19) |
| Oceania | New Zealand (1 & 17), Australia (12) |
| South America | Brazil (13), Argentina (21) |
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