The latest edition of MTV’s Real World/Road Rules Challenge has started airing, and as usual it looks like there will be some fireworks. Hosted once again by cutie-pie BMX dirt bike rider T.J. Lavin, this edition of the challenge is set in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico.
The first episode features 32 Real World, Road Rules and Fresh meat challenge cast members. The cast is divided into two teams- the Rookies and the Veterans. It doesn’t take much to be named a Veteran-anyone who has competed in two challenges is considered to be one.
The veteran’s cast features the infamous CT (from Real World Paris). CT was kicked off of the last challenge for punching a fellow cast mate, so it’s surprising that he was invited back for this one. Granted he makes for good TV, especially now that his girlfriend Diem (from Fresh meat) is still by his side. Watch for some tension in their relationship in the first episode.
Another classic competitor is Beth S., from way back in Real World’s early days (1992’s Real World Los Angeles). Beth S, has surely got to be pushing 40 by now and is still competing in these challenges-and hated by most of her cast mates. But MTV knows they can count on Beth to stir up some trouble.
Evan (from Fresh meat) is fast becoming an MTV favorite. He’s one of the strongest players on the Veteran’s team, as is Evelyn (Ev) who is also back for another go.
Danny and Melinda, from the Austin cast of The Real World are both here, but on different teams (Danny is a Veteran, Melinda is a Rookie). Should be interesting, considering they are engaged to be married.
Kenny, the Scott Baio lookalike from Fresh Meat, is also here, livening things up with his sarcastic personality. So is Road Rules veteran Katie, who has caused her share of trouble on previous challenges (most notably her feud with Veronica in the Inferno challenge).
Then there’s Coral, the tough talking girl from The Real World Back to New York (season 10). She’s here and is sure to cause plenty of drama. Coral has a knack for arguing and she doesn’t disappoint in the first episode when she goes at it with a drunken CT.
In the premier episode, it’s down to business for the first challenge. A good old fashioned game of tug of war determines which team gets to pick their bedrooms first. Unfortunately for the losers of the tug of war, they will be stuck sleeping in a cramped, crowded room filled with bunk beds and some local bugs (and one bathroom for 16 people).
After the bedroom challenge is complete it’s off to a night of partying for the cast members. There’s plenty of hooking up and then the next day the cast competes in their first real challenge. The losers have to sacrifice two members of their team to the Gauntlet. The loser of the Gauntlet challenge goes home.
A few changes to the rules: The winning team of the challenge gets to choose one of the members of the opposing team to duke it out in the Gauntlet. They also get to select one member of the opposing team to “save” from the Gauntlet. Could prove to be interesting, as the opposing team has a big hand in dictating who might go home.
Another major change is there are no longer team bank accounts. That means when a challenge is won the money goes into the pot for the final mission. Only the winners of the final challenge will go home with any money. So the stakes are much higher this time and it has the female challenge members scared, because they’re afraid that the males will pick them off one by one to make themselves a “stronger” team for the final challenge.
As usual, expect lots of drama, cat fighting, drunkeness, hooking up, laughs and tears as the Rookies and the Veterans battle it out for a jackpot worth over $300,000.
The Real World Road Rules Challenge: The Gauntlet III airs on Wednesday nights at 10:00 PM on MTV (with repeats throughout the week).
