Thursday, May 27, 2021

The 25 Contestants I Most Want to See on the Next Season of The Challenge: All-Stars

 

The Challenge: All-Stars has been the most nostalgia fun I have had in a long time and easily the best season since Johnny Bananas started popping up every season. The cast is a great mix of people you knew would show up (Mark, Katie), people who dominated early seasons but forgot about (Jissela, Teck) and people you completely forgot about but were glad to reminded of them (Kendal, Yes).  Word is, over 100 former cast mates have contacted Mark Long (which by my best guesstimate has to be around a third of all Real World or Road Rules members), who has been trying to get a Senior Tour off the ground for those that cannot commit to seasons that take multiple months to film.  In honor of the season finale today (though supposedly there is a reunion episode next week), here are some people I hope pop up for season two or beyond (and please let there be a season two and an inevitable Old School / New School season, teams can even fight over who gets CT and stuck with Anessa).


1.   Anyone From the First Real World Season

Original Season: New York

Challenge Seasons:  Eric (3), Norm (2) Becky (1), Heather B. (1)

Seasons Won: Eric (2)

Last Seen:  The Real World Homecoming: New York

While not as entertaining as old school Challenge, it was nice to see the original seven strangers get back together in the loft, unfortunately it got a little too unreal for Becky.  But one thing missing from the first season of The Senior Tour was anyone from the original feeder show.  It Is surprising that Julie never did one of these, hopefully she is game because from the Real World Reunion, she still got it.  Plus Eric got the short stiff due to COVID so it would nice to see him actually interact with his peers.


2.   Rachel Campos / Sean Duffy

Original Season: San Francisco and Boston respectively

Challenge Seasons: 1/2

Seasons Won: 1/2

Last Seen:  The View (2014) / Congress (2019)

This duo met on the very first season of The Challenge, before it was even call The Challenge and later got married.  Sean, famous at that point for being a log-rolling champion went on to be the first elected reality star in Washington.  He has since retired so it is not like he has anything better to do than relieve the glory day; well, unless he got a job as a lobbyist like most former Congressmen.

 

3. Neil Forrester

Original Season: London

Challenge Seasons: 1

Seasons Won:  0

Last Seen: Real World/Road Rules Challenge (1999)

One of the few foreigners ever cast (though would fit right in the modern era).  Provably most known for having the tip of his tongue bitten off while trying to kiss a heckler on stage.


4.  Anyone From the Original Road Rules Season (Aside from Mark)

Original Season:  The First Adventure

Challenge Seasons:  1 (Los)

Seasons Won:  1 (Los)

Last Seen: Challenge 2000 (2000)

Mark has been such a mainstay on the show it is somewhat surprising that he has appeared on the show more times that his four cast mates combined; it is just Los who appeared on one season.  Kit went on to ESPN and is now with Access Hollywood.  Can Mark persuade any of the OG OG’s to join him for the Senior Tour abbreviated schedule?  Hopefully.

 

5.   5.  Dan Renzi

Original Season:  Miami

Challenge Seasons: 3

Seasons Won: 1

Last Seen:  Inferno II (2005)

One of the great reaction generators in reality TV history (maybe second only behind Eliza of Survivor)


6.  Tim Beggy

Original Season: USA – The Second Adventure

Challenge Seasons: 4

Seasons Won: 1

Last Seen:  Inferno 3 (2007)

I believe Timmy was the first to ever retire on the show but there are plenty of people on this season of The Senior Tour who “retired.”  Timmy was always good for a cheesy dad joke back then; imagine how cheesy those joke will be now that he is old enough to be a dad.


7.  Genesis Moss

Original Season: Boston

Challenge Seasons: 2

Seasons Won:  0

Last Seen:  Battle of the Sexes (2005)

My first favorite lesbian.  Boston is also one of the rare seasons where each housemate went on to do at least one season of The Challenge.


8.  Tara McDaniel

Original Season: Northern Trail

Challenge Seasons:  1

Seasons Won; 0

Last Seen:  Battle of the Seasons (2002)

One of the surprises of first season was long forgotten one timer Kendal ended up being one of the stars of this season, maybe another of the Miz’s fling can have that sort of resurgence.


9.  Stephen Williams

Original Season:  Seattle

Challenge Seasons:  1

Seasons Won; 0

Last Seen:  Battle of the Seasons (2002)

Boning and then confessing your love to a producer would have been the most controversial moment of most seasons, but that moment just happened on the same season as Stephen running down Irene’s cab and slapping her as she left the show.  Stephen did this because Irene called him a homosexual.  A decade later, Stephen announced he was engaged to a dude.


10.  Susie Meister

Original Season:  Down Under

Challenge Seasons:  5

Seasons Won:  3

Last Seen:  Spring Break Challenge (2010)

This one is a big question mark since Susie has since written some dispersing remarks about the show and MTV and Viacom at large really have not cleaned up their act (the latest seasons of Are You the One for misconduct) but hopefully the more mature vibe of The Senior Tour can convince one of the most visible member of the first decade to return.


11.  Veronica Portillo

Original Season:  Semester at Sea

Challenge Seasons:  12

Seasons Won:  3

Last Seen:  Final Reckoning (2018)

One of the most surprising omissions of the first season with the third most seasons under her belt of the female.  She even showed up for three seasons in the past five years.  It has to be only a matter of time before we see her.


12.  Julie Stoffer

Original Season:  New Orleans

Challenge Seasons; 5

Seasons Won:  1

Last Seen:  The Gauntlet 2 (2006)

Long before The Book of Mormon or one became a presidential nominee, Julie was America’s favorite Mormon.  And this was even after she almost murdered Veronica by messing with her harness while going between two buildings.


13.  David Broom

Original Season:  New Orleans

Challenge Seasons: 2

Seasons Won: 0

Last Seen:  The Gauntlet (2004)

New Orleans another rare season where everyone did at least one season of The Challenge and really most would be worthy of returning.  They should just bring David back to record the Theme Song.


14.  Theo Von

Original Season: Maximum Velocity Tour

Challenge Seasons: 4

Seasons Won: 2

Last Seen:  Last Comic Standing (2006)

Theo went on to a comedy career and has not looked back.  Maybe the shorter season could entice him back.


15.  Coral Smith

Original Season: Back to New York

Challenge Seasons:  6

Seasons Won:  1

Last Seen:  The Gauntlet (2004)

Along with Veronica, the most shocking omission of The Senior Tour.  So many great Coral moments.


16.  Rachel Robinson

Original Season: Campus Crawl

Challenge Seasons:  7

Challenge Wins:  2

Last Seen:  Battle of the Exes (2012)

Another early mainstay who was conspicuously absent from the Senior Tour.  Though there were two of her cast mates (Darrell and Kendal) and three from the Real World Season that year (Arissa, Alton, Trishelle).  Pretty strong year for MTV that year.


17.  Tina Barta

Original Season: South Pacific

Challenge Season:  5

Seasons Won: 0

Last Seen:  Cutthroat (2010)

Reportedly Tina came down with the COVID which is why she was not on the Senior Tour.  She was last seen as a ringer for an elimination that is best known for CT wearing Johnny as a backpack.  The last time she was an official cast member was 2006’s The Duel.


18.  Cara Zavaleta

Original Season:  South Pacific

Challenge Seasons:  3

Seasons Won:  1

Last Seen:  Inferno III (2007)

After Road Rules, Cara went on to be a Miss November 2004 and still came back for three seasons of The Challenge.


19.  Adam King

Original Season:  Paris

Challenge Seasons:  6

Seasons Won:  0

Last Seen:  Rivals (2011)

Most memorable by getting punched by CT while wearing a onesie.  But that relationship came full circle in his last season where he teamed up with CT.


20.  Casey Cooper

Original Season:  Fresh Meat

Challenge Seasons: 4

Seasons Won:  0

Last Seen:  The Ruins (2009)

Only three seasons, but Casey was pretty memorable for being one of the least athletic contestants ever but still managed to get third place in her first season and was eliminated right before the final on her last.  Sadly she was reportedly an alternative for this season but was sent home.  Hopefully that puts her first in line for the second one.


21.  Jenn Grijalva

Original Season: Denver

Challenge Seasons:  6

Seasons Won:  0

Last Seen:  Rivals (2011)

Honestly, I most want to see her return just because Bill Simmons and David Jacoby (who coined calling The Challenge the fifth major American sport) are obsessed she spelled her name with two “N’s.”


22.  Brooke LaBarbera

Original Season:  2

Seasons Won: 0

Last Seen:  The Duel II (2008)

One of my favorite Real Worlder of all time who unfortunately did not have the greatest runs of The Challenge (out on episode three both times).  I would just like an update.


23.  Tori Hall

Original Season: Viewers Revenge

Challenge Seasons:  3

Seasons Won:  2

Last Seen:  Cutthroat (2010)

Most famous for marrying Brad, baring two of his before divorcing him.  Brad returned to the Challenge and hooking up with one of the trashier contestants for all the world to see.  Weirdly Tori kept on showing up on spoiler cast list for a couple seasons straight and now I kind of want to see her again.


24.  Nany González

Original Season:  Las Vegas (2011)

Challenge Seasons:  10

Seasons Won:  0

Last Seen:  Double Agents (2021)

My favorite Challengers of all time.  Maybe my favorite reality star ever.  But she just made it to the finals for the second time in ten tries and the person she started her Real World career with, LeRoy just “retired.”  It has been a decade Nany, it is time to go to the Senior Tour.   There she would have been the same age as Jemmye who I believe was the youngest this season.


25.  Frank Sweeney

Original Season:  San Diego (2011)

Challenge Seasons:  3

Seasons Won:  1

Last Seen:  Free Agents (2014)

Frank had a memorable confrontation with Nany in their first season which made it seem that the series would have two very strong contestants for the second decade.  Unfortunately Frank disappeared after three seasons.  But I will always remember the time he started streaming how he would not made to look crazy on television while looking crazy on television.  Maybe that is why he went M.I.A.

 

Honorable mentions to David (Los Angeles) and Puck (San Francisco), Camilla (Spring Break Challenge), I am not sure they would bring back people who got banned, but maybe they will now that they are older and wiser.   Also The Miz (Back to New York), Jacinda (London), David Giuntoli (South Pacific), Jamie Chung (San Diego) who are probably all to busy even to take a couple weeks off for the show.  One more honorable mention to Tonya who will likely never go on the show again for… various reasons.


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