The Challenge Historian

I'm earning my stripes as a true Challenge Historian by rewatching and recapping every single season of The Challenge from start to finish. Today we are on to season 11, The Gauntlet 2, aka the first TJ Lavin hosted season! A lot to cover, we do so with the following topics: State of the Challenge, Basics of the Season, Evolutions & History Made (04:22). Storylines of the Season including: TJ...

The Challenge USA launches next week and I of course have to do a full preview! The problem? I don't know who any of these Big Brother, Survivor, Amazing Race, or Love Island people are!?!? Luckily, I've got a heavy hitter within the Challenge universe here to help me out, as the Queen of Challenge Tik Tok and the host of Most Likely Two podcast, Paige, is here to help me sort through what we know...

It’s finally time for TJ’s Final! Plus: Nehemiah EARNS him some stars, Kailah gets caught cheating, Wes is carb loading like a mad man, everyone's headed to a private island to run the final in that hot hot Panama heat, and Jonna and Wes use their legs and their brains to earn them the early leads! It’s The Challenge All Stars 3 Episode 9 recap, topics include: Introduction and programming notes (...

The penultimate episode of All Stars 3 is here and I am breaking it all down. Derrick's decision, Nia's search for confidence, Wes' call to Bananas, the late game obsession over stars, and everything else of consequence from this episode is discussed via the following segments: Introduction and programming notes (00:50). Cliffnotes recap of everything that happened (03:32). A not-so-quick rant abo...

I'm earning my stripes as a true Challenge Historian by rewatching and recapping every single season! We are on to season 10, The Inferno 2, our second straight sequel and a possibly all-time great season of The Challenge. Loads to get into, topics for the day include: The State of the Challenge at the time, basics of the season, evolutions in the show and history made on this season (04:59). Brea...

Trivia time! TJ can't hide it and neither can we, this entire episode revolves around the best daily challenge of the season! Full All Stars 3 episode 7 recap, topics including: Cliffnotes recap of everything that went down (02:53). Breaking down the major storylines including Trivia day, my top 5 best wrong answers during trivia, grading of strategic decisions made, and Jordan gets sent home (05:...

I'm earning my stripes as a true Challenge Historian by rewatching and recapping every single season! We are on to season 9, Battle of the Sexes 2! Our first ever sequel! Loads to talk about as always, topics covered on the full season recap include: State of the Challenge at this time, the basics of the season, evolutions that took place and history that was made (04:17). Breaking down of the mai...

Is Nia a professional Pool Player? Because what a freaking shot! Plus: Brad and MJ keep on beefing, KellyAnne takes aim at the Treehouse, it’s Nehemiah’s birthday… ok well close enough, puzzle reputations and curses alike are put on full display, and thank the Challenge gods that they have finally given these people a device to do a scratch off based challenge with that is not their fingernails! I...

A lot of news and announcements have been happening in The Challenge universe and I've got to get some opinions about them off of my chest, so here we go! Topics covered include: The Challenge USA: the recent promo, possible productions struggles, and I have inside info!?! (06:24). Flagship season 38: the two people who didn't get cast and I'm livid over, the theme should be cool but leaves me col...

Here one episode gone the next, Beth, we barely knew ya! Plus: a mid-season format shake up, majority alliances flex their numbers, the least fun club night in history, a genius game move disguised as a vow of friendship, and an elimination match that the entire season has built to thus far! It’s the Challenge All Stars 3 Episode 5 recap! Topics Include: Cliffnotes Recap of the entire plotline for...

Big bad Beth is back in the building annnd… she’s already quit! Plus: Brad and Kailah stay winning, MJ stays being targeted, Darrell stays being afraid of heights, Wes stays scheming, Veronica and Beth stay disliking each other, Kendal stays being the sweetest and best human, and Jordan stays the elimination king! It’s the All Stars 3 episode 4 recap! Topics covered include: Introduction (00:40)....

I'm earning my stripes as a true Challenge Historian by rewatching and recapping every single season! We are on to season 8, The Inferno! Iconic and memorable moments abound as we head to Acapulco to watch 20 Real World and Road Rules alum battle it out for glory. Topics covered on the full season recap are: State of the Challenge franchise at the time, Basics of the Season, and Evolutions & H...

How does Wes pull this off? That is one of many questions we've got to ask and answer regarding episode 3 of All Stars 3. An inflection point episode in the season, with so much to talk about. Of course, it is all covered in deep detail, topics including: Introduction (00:47). Cliffnotes recap of everything that happened in episode 3 (03:44). Storyline breakdown: the Treehouse alliance (08:09). St...

TJ is in his bag! A full blown roast of Tina combined with maybe his best fake out of all time? Plus: Poolside photoshoots for the boys, Kailah is eager to get political, a puzzle nearly takes out my top ranked female, Mark checks in with his mother as well as his Mark doll, our first medical DQ of the season, an elimination battle of wills, and this Yes vs Wes thing is going to be really hard to...

All Stars is back! So much goes down this episode! We've got Tina and Veronica reunited, players old and slightly less old coming in and sizing each other up, a jungle themed house party, TJ dropping twists already, a personal favorite being eliminated, a whole bunch of sweat, and a whole bunch of Wes! We cover it all via the following topics: House keeping notes and introduction to the season (00...

I'm earning my stripes as a true Challenge Historian by rewatching and recapping every single season! We are on to season 7, The Gauntlet, a personal all-time favorite of mine! Very excited for this deep dive today, topics that are covered: The state of The Challenge franchise heading into The Gauntlet and the monumental evolutions in show and game that would take place this season (05:43). A rund...

All Stars 3 arrives on May 11th and your dedicated Historian is here to preview it all! So much to cover, so little time, here's how it goes down: Open, housekeeping, and agenda (00:11). State of the Challenge franchise (07:26). All Stars 3 basics: what we know and a brief trailer breakdown (20:41). Breaking down the entire cast's total stats (39:25). Player by player cast bios including their ori...

I'm earning my stripes as a true Challenge Historian by rewatching and recapping every single season! We are on to season 6, Battle of the Sexes, a season with the most cast members, most episodes, most controversy, and most weddings (yes, weddings) in the series to date! Topics that are covered: The state of The Challenge franchise heading into season 6 and the evolutions in show and game that wo...

I'm earning my stripes as a true Challenge Historian by rewatching and recapping every single season! We are on to season 5, Battle of the Seasons, a monumental season in Challenge history as so much evolution takes place and so many Challenge legends begin making their mark! On the pod I cover: The state of The Challenge franchise heading into season 5 and the evolutions in show and game that wou...

I'm earning my stripes as a true Challenge Historian by rewatching and recapping every single season! We are on to season 4 today, Extreme Challenge, a wonderful season with lots to love. On the pod we cover: The State of the Challenge going into the season and Evolutions made during it (02:49). Discussion of the main storylines of the season including: Ayanna being sent home, Real World dominatin...

I'm earning my stripes as a true Challenge Historian by rewatching and recapping every single season! We are on to season 3 today, Real World Road Rules Challenge 2000, a wonderful season with lots to love. On the pod we cover: State of the Challenge going into the season and evolutionary moments for the franchise (01:03). Basic facts and stats (12:12). Main storylines of the season (20:36). What...

I'm earning my stripes as a true Challenge Historian by rewatching and recapping every single season! We are on to season 2 today, Real World Road Rules Challenge, which some may consider the actual first season. On the pod we cover: State of the Challenge going into the season (06:14). Basic facts and stats (11:28). Storyline of the Season plus some secondary (19:48). What aged the best and the w...

I'm earning my stripes as a true Challenge Historian by rewatching and recapping every single season! It all starts today with the origin of the franchise we all love, the first ever season, 1998's Road Rules All Stars! Intro and programming notes (00:11). State of the Challenge at the time (08:38). Grading the season and high level pros/cons (21:20). What's aged the best/worst (33:37). Awards for...

The Challenge Historian Podcast is back from it's winter break to cover the groundbreaking news dropped on the Challenge world last week that a brand new version of the show would be coming to CBS in the very near future. On today's show we break down everything about this news as well as announce our newest project here at The Challenge Historian: The 2022 Challenge Series Rewatch! The 2022 Chall...

All Stars 2 is in the books! We take one final (and long) look back at another fantastic season, breaking it all down, handing out some awards, and diving into the controversy surrounding the final. Intro and programming notes (00:10). Explaining and discussing the controversy surrounding this seasons Final and what we've learned about it from Janelle's podcast interview and the EW interviews othe...