Real World San Diego has its highest rated premiere since Brooklyn

Last Wednesday's episode of The Real World: San Diego had the highest rated premiere since the 2009 Brooklyn season.

1.9 million viewers tuned in and met Alexandra, Ashley, Frank, Nate, Priscilla, Sam, and Zach. The episode was up 17 percent from the Las Vegas premiere last season, but the episode with Dustin Zito's revelation is still the highest rated episode in a while.

Last Wednesday's episode had elements of drunken revelry, but the cast actually stayed in for their first night in the house (gasp!). Well, technically, they decided to stay in because Priscilla was underage, but then later somehow ended up at a bar. The episode had actual elements of interest and shows promise in future developments. The Ashley/Zach storyline was set up quite well with obvious references to the fact that they will hook up this season. While Priscilla, Nate and Sam seem to be developing separate individual storylines on their respective pasts.

The breakout star of the show, or at least the person the first episode focused most on, was Frank. Frank identifies as bisexual, yet is irked by the manner in which Sam brazenly shares her sexuality with the roommates. Nonetheless, in the first episode, Frank freely admits that he's bisexual, but falls hard for Alexandra. Alexandra seemed to respond to his direct advances by flirting back with him, but later shot Frank down while drinking in a bar. Then, we essentially saw Frank basically freak out. And this was only the first episode.

The Challenge is renewed for a 22nd Season

CT and Johnny get ready to face-off in one of the most memorable eliminations ever. 

Immediately after the success of the season finale of Rivals, MTV issued a press release stating that they have renewed the Challenge for the 22nd season! Thus, we get to see our favorite competitors once again battle each other in a test of wits, athleticism, and tenacity for at least one more season! With that news, we decided to write five tips to the producers, telling them what to focus on for next season.

1. Focus more on character development, not fights and hook-ups: Part of the reason why Rivals worked so well, was that each of the teams had some history that made good TV. While some teams didn't really hate each other, others provided season-long storylines that encouraged viewers to come back week-after-week. In this season, the fighting and hook-ups were NOT started under a night of drinking and revelry (OK... sometimes they were), but the game forced the castmembers to face their differences because of the game.

2. Don't recycle old, tired formats: I'm not sure why producers choose to do a second and third Inferno or Gauntlet. While Rivals worked extremely well, I don't want to see another season of Rivals right away. Also, it's kind of a cop-out to just recycle old formulas.

3. Keep the rules simple: One of the biggest flaws of the Challenges is that the rules are always so unnecessarily complicated. Remember the Island's wildly weird key-holder, two-round elimination voting process? That season was a cheap imitation of Survivor and should've just copied the full format with one-person, one-vote. Who would've loved to see a weekly Tribal Council headed by TJ Lavin? For the next Challenge, I would love to see girls compete against guys, with a one-person, one-vote elimination.

4. Make sure the rules discourage the veteran alliances: Part of the problem with a one-person, one-vote elimination, which they have done in the past, is that the veteran alliances seem to have the game on-lock from Day 1. For some reason, the Challenges haven't instituted any kind of immunity, at least in recent seasons. It's the worst when the Challengers we see less of are sent home first.

5. Bring back some castmembers who haven't done the last eight Challenges: Going back to character development, fans want to be updated on those castmembers we haven't seen in a while. And I'm not talking about bringing back castmembers from New York and Los Angeles. Although that would be great, I can't see Julie (New York) and Aaron (Los Angeles) agreeing to come back for these Challenges, put some new blood on these casts.

What are your tips? Leave a comment and tell us what you'd like to see in the next season of the Challenge.

Challenge Rivals Ends the Season on a Ratings High

Paula and Evelyn embrace as they win the Challenge. 

The season finale of the Challenge: Rivals ended on a ratings high as the Challenge brought in 2.4 million viewers, a season high. Last Wednesday's episode revealed the winners of the Challenge and fans tuned in to see one of the toughest final Challenges yet. This is up 71% since last season's Cutthroat finale, the best rated season since The Duel II, and the most watched episode since the season finale of the Gauntlet III. MTV also hit a high note amongst 12-34 year-olds, coming in at #1 for that demographic for the entire night. Congratulations Bunim-Murray and MTV!

Watch The Real World San Diego Trailer

On the heels of the season finale of Rivals, MTV released the latest trailer for the 26th season of The Real World, headed to San Diego (again):

MTV Shows

The trailer shows serious drama as some castmembers are interested in hooking-up and others are interested in fighting. This cast also has a gay castmember (Samantha) and a bi-sexual castmember (Frank). Two seasons have previously had this combination with Philadelphia (Karamo and Willie) and Hawaii (Ruthie and Justin). This new season premieres September 28!

Real World Hollywood's Joey poses naked for Playgirl in the September issue

Joey (Hollywood) joins the ranks of former castmembers who have gone on to pose nude. While Joey is the first castmember to make it to Playgirl, several other castmembers have posed for Playboy. Beth S. (Los Angeles), Flora (Miami), Veronica (Semester at Sea) and Jisela (The Quest) posed in a joint shoot for Playboy. Cara (South Pacific) actually is a Playboy Playmate. And others have posed for smaller shoots: Trishelle (Las Vegas), Arissa (Las Vegas), Tonya (Chicago), Mary Beth (South Pacific) have all posed naked for the cameras at one point or another. As for Joey, check out the pictures of Joey in Playgirl.

Season Finale of the Challenge Rivals airs; Spoilers ahead

Tonight, the final episode of the Challenge: Rivals airs. Six teams are competing for the final grand prize and four teams will go home with nothing. To find out who wins the Challenge, check out our previous post.

CT gives an interview to the Boston Herald and says he will be back for more Challenges

Recently eliminated Rivals contestant CT (Paris) gave an interview to the Boston Herald recently, reflecting upon his time on the show. The article doesn't go into too much detail, however, the article mentions that CT is still trying to be friends with Adam (Paris), his status on whether or not he's dating someone from the show (he's not), and whether or not he'll do another Challenge in the near future.

Challenge ratings dips for the first episode of the final Challenge

Last Wednesday's episode of the Rivals took a slight dip with 1,987,000 people tuning into view CT (Paris) and Adam (Paris) be sent home. This comes after the Challenge hit a record with the the highest Challenge ratings since the Duel II.

Derrick interviews Tyler for his Challenge podcast

Rivals castmember Tyler (Key West) sits down with Derrick (Extreme) in his
podcast this week to get the lowdown on some great inside scoop. The interview with Tyler mostly focuses on why Tyler was so angry about other teams voting for him and Johnny (Key West) to face CT (Paris) in the final Jungle. He also gives a little perspective on what he thinks about Cara Maria (Fresh Meat 2) and his perspective on Paula (Key West). He also promises an awesome reunion, which will be coming up in two weeks.

Rivals Recap: You're Not Going to Have Carbs?

The episode began where the last week's left off in the club. CT (Paris) defended Adam (Paris) against attacks from the Mob. While everyone thought CT would throw a punch, getting him sent home, CT vigorously defended Adam. We also got flashbacks of Paris and various Challenges, showing various stages of their friendship. While Adam wants to be a good teammate, he can't help but remember being pushed around in Paris, had a beer dropped on his head in the Inferno 3, and being punched in the face on the Duel 2.

Before the Final Jungle, Laurel (Fresh Meat 2) talks about her and CT. While she didn't expect to like anyone on these Challenges, she's definitely developed a bond with CT. She brings him breakfast in the morning. The final Challenge is called "T-bone" where the teams have to exchange balls through a 2-way intersected pit. The first two players to completely exchange all their balls wins. CT is excited to finally hit people in the Challenge. The Challenge doesn't end up being about the physicality, but more about speed. Adam messes up by not picking up the correct balls in the beginning, but it eventually comes down to one ball for both Adam and Tyler. Adam is unable to climb up the hill, stumbling, giving Tyler the win.


Upon returning to the house, Laurel is despondent over the departure of CT. The teams then learn that they're going to Patagonia for the final Challenge. Approaching the final Challenge, Cara Maria (Fresh Meat 2) and Wes (Austin) get into yet another argument. Wes seems to be going after Cara Maria. The argument actually provides closure for Cara Maria as she finally confronts Wes.


The morning of the final, both Tyler (Key West) and Jenn (Denver) wake up with food poisoning. The medic actually recommends that Tyler can't go on, but he ignores the medic. TJ introduces the final challenge, as having a water portion, followed by a kayak race, followed by a footrace. The girls go first, with Jenn and Mandi (Fresh Meat 2) immediately fall behind on the kayak. Evelyn and Paula make it out of the water first, but Laurel and Cara Maria are right behind them. The guys end the episode trying to figure out the kayaks.

Check out yesterday's post, to find out who wins the Challenge Rivals [SPOILER].