The return of the WYSW franchise brings us the only show that MTV has to offer that is worth watching. Which brings up another point: why does MTV have shows??? They apparently completely ditched music videos about 10 years from their main channel; MTV2 barely even plays them anymore, so how do they get away with calling themselves “Music TV”? Nonetheless, they did basically originate reality TV 17 years ago with “The Real World”, which inadvertently led to the show that is the center of this post. So for all of us who are hooked on such shows as “The Biggest Loser”, “Top Chef”, “The Cougar” (that’s for you Jeff, Happy Birthday buddy!), and “Rock of Love 16: Bret Turns 60 and Nails Chicks Who May Possibly Be His Granddaughters”, we thank you MTV! If this post gets you excited to watch this show, have no fear, the latest installment “RW/RR Challenge: The Duel” is on Wednesdays at 10. There have only been 4 episodes so far, so you can either read synopses online or wait for inevitable weekend marathon to see them all in order.
Ok, let’s start with the basic premise. These are former real worlders and road rulers who come back to compete in a variety of crazy games and head-to-head challenges to eliminate each other, in hopes of ultimately making it to the end to win large cash prizes. Some of the contestants (Mark, I’m looking at you) are from the days when you came on the reality show to be on the show and enjoy the experience, and possibly make some mall appearances. Nowadays, you go on a reality show to begin your career as a reality star. All of these people do numerous events and appearances and come on challenge after challenge. In all there have now been 17 Challenge seasons. Several people (according to Wikipedia) have been on 7 of them, including the craziest girls I can remember: Beth, Tonya, & Veronica (gee, can’t imagine why they keep inviting them back). These individuals have more or less turned their 15 minutes of fame into a career, and instead of making a living with real jobs continue to suck on the MTV teet. (Btw, if any of the contestants happen to read this for some reason, I’m a big fan, and would trade lives with you in a heartbeat J). All of this interaction leads to varying relationships of love and hate (mostly hate), and the drama typically ensues as one would expect.
Next reason to watch: the lifestyles. I am never one to judge other people’s drinking or partying, but other than the challenge events, that appears to be all that happens in this house. As one can imagine, this leads to lots of fights, nudity, and hookups. More on the fights to come, but as far as the nudity and such, let’s just say I would pay good money to get my hands on the non-blurred tapes of the numerous seasons. For some reason, group showers and hot tub orgies seem to be more the norm than the exception. Come to think it, really wished I hadn’t spent all that time doing schoolwork and had got on this gravy train before it was too late. There have been two hookups so far this season (not counting Brad & Tori who are engaged), and the latest one involved two ladies, one openly out the closet, the other bi-curious. The cameras were not able to get footage (how do they miss that???), but they did pick up some interesting sounds, as did the cast members that were listening right outside the window. And so as to not sound chauvinistic and crass, there is ample male eye-candy as well, and the producers often put them in Speedos for the challenges just to make sure of this.
Finally: the competition. It is fierce between cast members for two basic reasons a) unlike other reality shows, they all know each other and have alliances and dramas that go way back and b) as mentioned, most of them are broke and once you dangle 100 grand in front of them, they would basically stab their own mother in the back to get it. Then they would turn her around, stab her in the front, and spit in her face. While a few contestants stay above the fray, the rest maneuver, lie, backstab, align, and for some reason through it all, take every little slight as a personal attack (yes, I’m looking at you, Evan). How do you lie to everyone you can, and then act personally offended when someone comes after you? Many of these people, particularly the guys, have trained months for the show. A training that apparently will all be lost to the show as they just drink and party, and you never once see them workout, or if the big, beautiful house they live in even has a gym (as pointed out by the great Bill Simmons).
As a final tease to get you to watch, consider the events of the very first day of shooting. There is a big party (shocking!) with lots of drinking (really?), and at some point accusations start getting thrown around. Adam, one of the smallest guy on the show, gets into it with CT, and actually shoves him a little (a no-no on MTV shows). Now CT is….I mean, I’m not gay or anything…but he’s like….fine, he’s carved out of friggin’ stone, and he has a huge temper to boot. So not my first choice to pick I fight with, and he proceeds to pummel Adam with punches, and while the other guys hold back CT (pretty unsuccessfully), he completely destroys a door in the process. After a few more chase attempts and decent shots to Adam’s head, both of them are sent packing before the challenge even starts! So there you go, what else could we have in store for us, if that’s the first 30 minutes? I can’t wait to find out!
In the words of TJ Lavin, you killed this post Joe. Keep up the good work!
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