The Challenge Historian

The next season of The Challenge All Stars should be Real World vs Road Rules and I won't hear otherwise! With All Stars Rivals being such a hit, and with Mark Long himself tweeting about it, my longtime desire for All Stars to do a Real World vs Road Rules team season resurfaced in a big way. It was the theme that started it all, and the options for casting are vast (and realistic)! Today, I'm br...

Challenge Masterclass is back in session! Plus: Amber finally has a friend, Shane & Da’Vonne finally get some screen time, Sam & Frank sort of continue the win streak, Steve and Adam DON’T have to do an elimination, and OG schemers Veronica and Katie have the house in complete panic mode doing exactly what they want! It’s The Challenge All Stars Rivals Episode 6 Recap, topics include: Cold...

Four in a row, these OGs can not be stopped! Plus: TJ puts everyone’s true feelings on blast, Sam and Frank take complete control, Corey and Adam have a lil beef, Devin and Dario have a big beef, some nasty stuff gets drunk, and a star is now officially being held hostage! It’s The Challenge All Stars Rivals Episode 5 Recap, topics include: Cold Open (00:00) Intro & Agenda (00:37) Calls Home,...

Throwing in Ashley and Aneesa? What are we doing team I am rooting for??? Plus: romance strikes the Rivals house, Katie’s masterclass is in session, not the most graceful of flyers in this group, two very different calls home to significant others, and Steve and Adam continue their potentially historic elimination run! It’s The Challenge All Stars 5 Rivals, Episode 4 recap, topics include: Cold Op...

The Challenge 41 filming is underway in Chile! I’m breaking down all the vet casting picks in detail, all the rookie casting picks in not so much detail, telling you who I would have called in my own fantasy casting, and breaking down best case formats for this season of The Challenge. Cold Open (00:00) Intro & Agenda (00:37) Vet Cast Breakdown (05:10) Rookie Cast Breakdown (20:35) Who I Would...

Sylvia and KellyAnne complete the fastest Rivals season arc ever! Plus: Adam - and maybe some others - are VERY sick, some fears and insecurities are faced and overcome, Devin thinks he’s masterminding while Frank actually masterminds, and the inevitable blow up between Aneesa and Ashley begins it’s countdown! It’s the Challenge All Stars 5 Rivals, Episode 3 recap, topics include: Cold Open (00:00...

TJ is in the house doing group votes and I couldn’t be happier! Plus: Beth’s got jeans from Gauntlet 2, Leroy’s got poop jokes, no one wants to do the daily challenge, Amber is still good but maybe still too nice, Frank is getting busy, Adam and Steve are old but game, and Sylvia and KellyAnne remind the house that this is in fact a Rivals season! It’s The Challenge All Stars 5 Rivals, episode 2 r...

Six months ago the monumental 40th season of The Challenge kicked off. Now, a few weeks after it has ended, and as we watch a new All Stars season commence, we take one final look back at how things shook out for Battle of the Eras. Before getting to the season recap and awards, I dive into The State of The Challenge (or kind of the state of my fandom and all Challenge fandom really) and cover why...

The Challenge is SO BACK! Plus: TJ has a sick bike, Ashley gets leading lady honors, Frank is trying very hard to remain chill, Turbo eats berries and doesn’t speak, Dario is very much considering life as a step dad, and oh so many actual juicy real raw rivalries and emotions are at play and this season is going to rule!! It’s The Challenge All Stars 5: Rivals, premiere episode recap, topics inclu...

One week out from the first ever MTV version of All Stars, the first ever themed version of All Stars, the return of the GOAT Challenge format - Rivals, the return of legends Ashley and Frank, a true mix of OGs to downright newbies, and hopefully - fingers crossed - the return of an over the top dramatic and chaotic Challenge season because this thing has a lot of potential! We are power ranking,...

Three Champions are crowned (yes, three) as The Challenge 40 Battle of the Eras comes to a close. The Karma Vote plays a major role, Jordan dominates from start to finish, Jenny mostly does as well, Derek and Michele shine in second, Rachel moves all the way up, Bananas gets some solo R&R on the beach, Tori gets some solo singing time, and a whole bunch more in the second part of the final. It...

Swimming, swimming, and then some more swimming! Plus: gorgeous sunsets, a white whale sighting, simple puzzles but the details matter, some more swimming - not sure if I mentioned that - and the karma points twist partially revealed and it’s as bad as we thought it might be! It’s The Challenge Battle of the Eras Episode 18, yes 18, recap, topics include: Cold Open (00:00) Intro & Agenda (00:3...

We’ve got plankton eating people, Jordan solidifying his favorite to win status, Michele confirming her puzzle queen status, a short but significant location change, last second birthday parties, new friends, old foes, and one long night in the water for two legends of the game battling for that final finals spot! It’s the Challenge Battle of the Eras Episode 17 Recap, topics include: Cold Open (0...

All time daily challenge showdown! Plus: Team Young Buck trio makes an appearance, Rachel continues to dominate, Johnny says sorry, Karl and Dave are besties now, and Cory gets his dream elimination leaving poor Josh absolutely no shot. It’s The Challenge Battle of the Eras Episode 14 recap, topics include: Cold Open (00:00) Intro & Agenda (00:34) Off Show Beefs (02:42) Opening House Segment (...

I did not sign up for this much foot content, ok? Plus: group meditations, new alliances, best friends facing off, Rachel takes over the Angels, Josh finally picks a side, and Bananas keeps doing what Bananas knows best, stirring the pot! It’s The Challenge Battle of the Eras Episode 13 recap, topics include: Cold Open (00:00) Intro & Agenda (00:33) Feet Come Into Focus (02:12) Daily Challenge...

One minute they put you on Mount Rushmore the next minute you’re quitting because it’s too hot, how embarrassing! Plus: ice baths, GOAT talk, mini finals, purge, angels going down, devils rising up, toenails clipped, threat levels confirmed, and TJ brings a bit of Vegas to Vietnam! It’s The Challenge Battle of the Eras Episode 12 recap, topics include: Cold Open (00:00) Intro & Agenda (00:38)...

Please open a theme park where I can play the daily challenges already! Plus: Tori fights back, those in the shadows get a light shone on them, the ladies of leisure put in some hard labor, Kyland adds another win, Rachel adds another secret number, and for the second week in a row, the tour de force known as classic pot stirring shit talking all eyes on me or else Johnny Bananas is here to burn i...

Johnny Bananas aka Captain Save-a-Show reports for duty! Plus: Devin is still here (kinda), the ladies of leisure have a rough day in the sun, Ryan gets last but in an impressive way, and the game has changed and the smart and savvy players have quickly picked up on the new way to play! It’s The Challenge Battle of the Eras Episode 10 recap, topics include: Cold Open (00:00) Intro & Agenda (00...

Down goes the vacation alliance and Challenge fans everyone - ok mostly everywhere - rejoice! Plus: one of the best players ever is better off playing by themselves - who saw that coming, Laurel has never gotten a math question wrong in her life, Josh’s close friends don’t seem to treat him as well as his peripheral friends, and is Kyland that fast or did Devin just perform like ass? It’s The Chal...

The greatest Warrior in Challenge history puts on a show! Plus: Kaycee finally speaks and couldn’t be more wrong, Gladiator promo goes crazy, no adjustments made for Era 1 to have any chance, Cory gets heated, Theo averts the blame, Rachel has a nasty right hook, and I honestly can’t believe they didn’t sneak in any more uses of Are You Not Entertained! It’s The Challenge Battle of the Eras Episod...

I’ve said it before I’ll say it again, ain’t no party like a true Challenge house party! Plus: Teck is OG of the week, Devin is truly smitten and firing from the hip because of it, they finally get to jump off that tall building they kept showing us, a lot of deal making in the shadows, and the collapse of Era 1 continues in every conceivable way! It’s The Challenge Battle of the Eras Episode 7 Re...

(Note: Sorry about the audio quality, your boy accidentally had it set to the wrong microphone, whoops) Bananas the pot stirring villain is officially back! Plus: a vacation alliance handshake, the biggest strangest balloons I’ve ever seen, Derrick maybe breaks his leg, Devin and Michele face their first relationship hurdle, Laurel somehow is just skating by, Cory and Rachel get big elimination wi...

The newest chapter of reality tv’s longest running toxic relationship! Plus: Devin and Michele boo up, Emily desperately searches for positive energy anywhere in the house, Josh gets called out and steps up, Jonna tries to duck, Era 1 remains a complete mess, Nehemiah gets caught deal making then takes out a GOAT, and Tina Tool Time Barta has been to Home Depot way too many times NOT to dominate t...

Challenge trivia jeopardy style? What is this Christmas? Plus: CT goes down hard, Jordan is being shifty, Josh bails on his word, date night for Brad and Emily, Laurel is going to do what Laurel wants to do and Johnny is going to go along with it, Aneesa with the near upset over my winner pick Jenny, and Derrick slays another elimination beast in controversial fashion! It’s The Challenge Battle of...

Tony what the hell are you doing?!? Plus: a great team daily, Era 1 is all over the place, Nia is living her best life, Averey is kicking some ass, Darrell hopefully didn’t actually throw his back, Devin proves his brain bonafides, Josh breaks up with Tori, and cue the old school montage because there is a TOGA PARTYYY!!! It’s The Challenge Battle of the Eras Episode 3 Recap, topics include: Cold...