Longest Breaks between Origin Show and Debut on The Challenge for MTV Alumni ⏳
At long last the drought is over.
Finally, MTV has officially announced Season 35 of The Challenge, entitled “Total Madness” (formerly known as Battle for Independence, formerly known as Apocalypse).
And this cast actually has debuts on it I know, in contrast to the newbies on War of the Worlds 2 and half of the Prospects on WotW1. Instead of random YouTube alumni, telenovela extras, and first-night boots, we have huge personalities from well-established and much-watched shows.
This includes four stars from Big Brother 20 — Kaycee, Fessy, Bayleigh, and Swaggy C — and our first crossover from US Survivor (by way of Ex on the Beach 2), Jay Starrett.
BB20 is considered the best recent US season, and Survivor has absolutely massive viewership, so these are slam dunks in terms of casting — and I can’t wait for future stars that they have opened the door for. I 100% expect Haleigh Broucher soon and am hoping hard for Brett Robinson— both from BB20. Survivor is brimming with talent ripe for the picking too, like Cydney Gillon (32), Michaela Bradshaw (33&34), Chris Noble (36), Natalia Azoqa (37), Alec Merlino (37), Lauren O’Connell (38), Dean Kowalski (39)…
Of course, MTV couldn’t help themselves, so we do have one first-boot relative-nobody, in Jenn(ifer) Lee from The Amazing Race. But she has 270,000 Instagram followers, looks great in a bikini, and was on TAR29 — a recent season — so it does make casting sense. This is also our first Amazing Race crossover, so that’s exciting too.
But the most unexpected debut is none other than Asaf Goren. He’s been on a bunch of reality shows — So You Think You Can Dance, Big Brother VIP, Worst Cooks in America, RuPaul’s Drag Race (as a Pit Crew member) — and is a proud Israeli, a new country not yet represented on The Challenge, which has been trying to appeal to a broader global audience by introducing personalities from around the world. Brazil, Mexico, Canada, Turkey, Australia, the UK, and now Israel. So I do get it.
Most Challenge fans will remember Asaf from Are You the One 4, the same season as Tori Deal. The two even had a lil showmance, and also appeared on AYTO Second Chances, but not paired together. AYTO4 premiered in June 2016, meaning it’s been nearly 4 years since his Asaf’s introduction on MTV to his debut on The Challenge. (Granted, AYTO Second Chances began airing in March 2017, so he’s really been off MTV’s radar for only 3 years).
Which reminded me of Chuck Mowery, who popped up out of nowhere on Final Reckoning, paired with his ex Britni Thornton, nearly 3 years after his season aired (AYTO3 started in September 2015 and Final Reckoning premiered in July 2018).
Which made me wonder about other long breaks between original MTV show and a debut on The Challenge. So I’ve collected some of the most delayed newbies to show up on Departure Day, for your reading pleasure. (NB that this is in reverse chronological order, not based on who had the longest break, and only those with a minimum of 2 years)
Asaf Goren
Original Show: Are You the One 4, Are You the One Second Chances
Challenge Debut: Total Madness
Break from MTV: ~3 years since AYTO SC; ~3.75 years since AYTO4
Chuck Mowery
Original Show: Are You the One 3
Challenge Debut: Final Reckoning
Break from MTV: ~2.75 years since AYTO3
Sylvia Elsrode, Nicole Zanatta, & Bruno Bettencourt
Original Show: Real World Skeletons
Challenge Debut: Invasion of the Champions
Break from MTV: ~2.25 years since RW Skeletons
Heather Cooke
Original Show: Real World Las Vegas (2011)
Challenge Debut: Rivals II
Break from MTV: ~2.25 years since RW Las Vegas 2
Devyn Simone
Original Show: Real World Brooklyn
Challenge Debut: Battle of the Seasons (2012)
Break from MTV: ~3.75 years since RW Brooklyn
And Devyn wasn’t the only shocker on the cast list for Battle of the Seasons (2). Alton and Trishelle were out of left field — but they had already been on The Challenge. What was actually jaw-dropping was none other than:
Lacey Buehler
Original Show: Real World Austin
Challenge Debut: Battle of the Seasons (2012)
Break from MTV: ~7 years
But the award for totally unexpected, out-of-nowhere debut goes to…
Jo Rhodes
Original Show: Real World San Francisco
Challenge Debut: Gauntlet 2
Break from MTV: ~10.5 years
Now, inquiring minds want to know —
Which yet-to-debut MTV alumni are you still hoping to see on The Challenge?
We should never lose hope. If Mattie can come on The Challenge from a show that hasn’t been on the air for 3 years (Party Down South finished in April 2016), and kick ass and make a good enough impression to be one of the best parts of Floribama Shore Season 3 — then who’s to say others can’t do the same?
Personally, I’d love Shanley McIntee from AYTO1; Katrina Stack from RW Bad Blood; CeeJai Jenkins from RW Go Big or Go Home; and Gio Rivera from AYTO4. Hell, throw in Mike Manning and Ashley Lindley from RW DC because obviously.
