Tag Archives: Team San Diego

THE CHALLENGE: BATTLE OF THE SEASONS Penultimate Retro Running Diary

The Challenge: Battle of the Seasons remaining competitors are literally on the verge of jumping out of a plane into the Namib desert to embark on a final challenge that even TJ thinks is undoable. In order to best encapsulate the awesome and incredible season this has been, I have decided to split up the column this week. First, is the retro running diary of the penultimate and final elimination episode. Early next week, I will release my pre-final power rankings and some further analysis of the remaining teams and their chances in the Namib Desert experience. Here we go…

THE WEEK 11 Penultimate RETRO RUNNING DIARY (power rankings to follow in a separate column)

The times are EST on the night the original episode aired, so feel free to follow along while viewing for the first time or while re-watching.

10:01 – There is one more challenge left and our faithful competitors are off to Namibia, Africa (“The homeland!” as coined by Devyn) for the rest of the season. Dustin: “Well there’s no tigers. Is there tigers? I don’t know.”

10:02 – 3o hours later, we arrive in Namibia…The edit shows us Survivor-esque shots of dangerous looking (beetles, snakes) animals, less dangerous looking (ostriches, gazelles) animals, and the dune-rich sandy deserts of a Tatooine-like landscape. Will our remaining teams be roughing it out in the African wilderness? Not this time. MTV splurged for an Atlantic Ocean side beach three-story that appears to have been transplanted from a Santa Barbara villa. There is African fused urban chic decorum! There is an indoor pool! There is enough alcohol to last a Frank evening! Trishelle: “We are in Africa!” Cue the third single from Alanis Morrisette’s Jagged Little Pill album…

10:03 – Sarah sets the stage for the final challenge with an experienced command that only she has: “This is the most important challenge yet. There are only four teams left: Vegas, who everybody is thinking is going to lose this challenge, San Diego, the clearly strong team, Cancun, who is shacking up with clearly the strongest team here, and Brooklyn. There’s no way we won’t be going in if we don’t win.” There it is.

10:03 – At the challenge, Sam sees an ATV and a ramp going into the water and all she can think of is Steve-O and Jackass. This concerns me on so many levels.

10:03 – TJ: “Today’s challenge is called ‘Sling Shot’.” Team San Diego starts laughing uncontrollably upon hearing the pun heavy title. Maybe I am obtuse for not getting it, but why is this so funny?

10:04 – “Sling Shot,” according to TJ, borrows a little “technique from the rednecks.” Ignorance?

10:05 – TJ explains the challenge (some ATV driving, a human sling shot into the water, lots of swimming to a dock, ring the bell, more swimming back to shore to cross the finish line) and the enhanced stakes (“You don’t want to go home now.”) Two people participate at a time, so the average time of the Brooklyn and San Diego’s respective two heats will be the counted score. This could be a distinctive advantage (if they do well) or disadvantage (if they do poorly) to the two person teams.

10:05 – TJ: “Today’s challenge has a little bit more riding on it today.” Devyn: “Literally.” Boom!

10:05 – Brooklyn is confident pre-challenge. Sarah, to her team: “You are a swimmer (to JD) and I am a swimmer. And you guys are the drivers. (To Devyn) You don’t even have to get your hair wet.” This is followed by a high-five and reason number 731 that Team Brooklyn has been a joy and a revelation to watch this season.

10:06 – Dustin and Trishelle have some pre-game confidence acknowledging (by a proud hand raise) that they fit right in with an event that connects to the redneck experience. Dustin: “That would be me!”

10:06 – Team Vegas is first (as chosen by San Diego’s power team privilege) and the Dustin ramp launch is teased into a commercial break…

10:09 – It’s Sway, introducing some end of the year TV event. I am distracted by the following notions: the fact that Sway is still around, how Sway got to appear on TV in the first place, whether or not Sway has any colleagues left at MTV News, whether MTV News still exists, why Gideon Yago is not a bigger star, why John Norris dyed his hair blonde during the mid-90s, how MTV used to be about music, and how The Real World and The Challenge longevity is one of the most underrated and unheralded TV stories (why aren’t more people talking about this?). Back to Sway – I am probably not going to spend my New Year’s with you. Sorry, buddy.

10:10 – Dustin “I feel like a superhero right now” Zito literally flies into the water (“I feel like I am here to save the day.”) off the ramp. Dustin absolutely kills the swimming portion of the challenge (TJ: “Way to dig deep”) and Team San Diego looks nervous. Dustin’s post performance vomiting (a longer swim than anyone thought) does not quell the fears of the other teams.

Dustin

10:12 – Next up: Sarah and Chet for Brooklyn. Sarah battles with the deceptively cold water, bests a minor dock elevation misstep, and swims her heart out to the shore line as her teammates (in the truest sense of the word) cheer her on. Like Dustin before her, vomiting and artificial oxygen support are necessary (“We are in Africa!”).

Sarah

10:13 – The JD/Devyn tandem seem to have the same success. JD’s (“This is fun!”) dolphin training experience is yet again a difference maker in this game.

10:15 – Derek struggles with the swimming (“I can’t breathe”) and is forced to backstroke much of the return trip to the shore. Things do not look good form Team Cancun.

10:16 – Ashley’s ATV stalls and Frank’s ramp acceleration flops like your average play from Reggie Evans. He has to swim longer than anyone else before him and although he does maintain a steady pace throughout, was it fast enough?

Frank

10:17 – Zach (“the last time I swam competitively was never”) owns his heat and competition in general. This guy was made for The Challenge.

10:18 – Team Cancun is the losing team (no surprise there) and will be forced into the final arena and Team Vegas is the winning team (the Vegas comeback is on!). TJ puts it in historical perspective: “Very rarely is a team get picked to go first and then win.” Dustin sees this late challenge adversity as “the best preparation for the final.” He may be right.

10:23 – Dustin and Trishelle must instantaneously deliberate (an appreciated African twist) and choose Team San Diego to go into the arena.

10:24 – TJ: “So which game are they going to play?” Trishelle: “Do we have a second to talk about it, or…?” TJ: “I mean, you got a second.” TJ Lavin – this is what host greatness is all about. (BTW – Dustin chooses “strategy” as means of leveling the playing field for Cancun while making San Diego “sweat.”)

10:25 – Chet gets the poetic drama of the final arena battle: “Jonna has been boning her way to the final and now Zach’s team has to go against her. I mean could you ask for a better final elimination?” There will be a serious depreciation of life quality without the man, the myth, the legend that is Chet on my television once a week.

10:25 – Dinner is served (on three, four-person tables – an odd configuration) and Sam is publicly basking in the glow of Frank’s ramp elevation issues in the challenge (completely the ATV or Ashley’s, the ATV driver, fault). Frank vents his frustration to Ashley in the nastiest of terms (as only Frank can). Poor Jasmine’s low weight is dragged into the mess. Is this a potential team turmoil fueled harbinger for what is yet to come for Team San Diego? (The seating chart, by the way: Zach, Jonna, Sam, and Dustin are at one table. Trishelle, Devyn, Sarah, and Chet are at another table. The third table is Derek, JD, Ashley, and Frank. So much incredible interpersonal and social structure understanding can be gleaned from this configuration. I am fascinated.)

10:30 – Even though Sarah is off of arena duty and has a ticket to the finals, her strategic game is at play: “As much as I loathe (gulp, unexpected) conversation with her, I give Jonna advice on how to do the strategy one, hoping that maybe she can send San Diego home. It would mean Brooklyn would be the only four person team running in the final, and maybe we could win the whole thing.”

10:31 – Understatement of the episode alert from Ashley: “Nothing is every easy for Team San Diego.” Doubts about the arena abound. Frank feels like he is going to puke.

10:32 – The “Knot So Fast” arena strategy game is transported to Africa. It is the same rules and concept as in Turkey’s fire pit locale, but the large metallic domes have been replaced by wooden teepees. Production must have run out of resources or money after decorating the Namibian digs.

Knot So Fast

10:35 – Round 1 (the rope twisting part) is over. San Diego and Cancun both feel good about what they did. The viewer struggles (knot so great translation to television) to have any idea about just happened.

10:37 – Round 2 (the rope untwisting part) begins and it looks like (from this obstructed view vantage point) that Cancun is neck and neck with Frank and Ashley. The entirety of Brooklyn and Vegas are instructing Jonna and Derek’s every move. Yes, Chet. The Cancun v. San Diego final elimination was a perfect ending, but another arena battle (more understandable suspense) may have yielded more tangible evidence to support this claim.

10:40 – During the commercial break, a The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn Part 2 television promo tries to make the connection between “holiday season” and this final installment of the popular movie franchise (a reach like Robb’s arms). I try to keep myself in the center of pop culture, but this Edward/Jacob/Bella journey is one that I am glad I have never partaken in.

10:41 – Frank and Ashley make an “oopsy” in their rope untangling, or as I like to call it, the night in San Diego that Nate and Priscilla “hooked up.” This was the most lenient possible interpretation of the word “exes” in human history.

Ashley and Frank

10:41 – Jonna struggles with all the side-coaching and instead of tuning them out, decides to engage and yell back (“just shut up!”). Derek recognizes the problem with this reaction.

10:42 – Ashley and Frank win and Jonna is still focused on the “too many voices” that affected her performance. Thankfully, Zach is their to comfort her. Jonna intimates that she was in the “worst place of her entire life” before coming on The Challenge (that poor guy she dumped on the phone from the season premiere must be struggling with this revelation) and that Zach has been the best thing that has happened to her. Underrated subplot of the season: how functional Zach and Ashley seem to be with their post-breakup existence. San Diego had to overcome much diversity to get to the final and I am not sure they could have sustained another interpersonal impasse. Credit to both Ashley and Zach on this front.

Zach and Jonna

10:43 – Frank and Ashley “love each other” and are as bonded as any two people on this season. This is yet another aspect of the Jekyll & Hyde Team San Diego experience.

Ashley and Frank

10:44 – Derek and Jonna walk off into the Namibian desert horizon. We are down to the final three teams. TJ sets the scene while addressing Teams Brooklyn, Vegas, and San Diego: “You are officially in the final. I hope you guys dig a little bit deeper. I’ve been on over a hundred challenges. I don’t think anybody can finish that final, but if you can, you are getting $250,000 for first place. See you at the finals. Congratulations.” He follows this by rocking a cool hand signal gesture. There is only one TJ Lavin.

10:46 – The cast finds a new wardrobe for the finals (including under armor full body suits and new sneakers) waiting for them at Camp Namibia. Dustin models the new gear. The “night before” excitement is real.

Dustin

10:46 – Chet and Trishelle have a heart to heart about the finals makeup of Team Brooklyn (particularly the potential liability of Devyn). Chet is in beast mode and will “carry Devyn up a hill across an ocean” if he must. This why Chet is rightfully ranked number 1 in the rankings.

10:46 – Chet’s interview analysis takes the clear plot forecasting a step further: “I have the endurance of a young virgin cult. I could win this thing by myself if I were allowed to, but Devyn thinks that taking the spoon from a peanut butter jar to her mouth constitutes a workout.” Well, there’s that.

10:47 – Trishelle has some legitimate (the episode two weeks ago warrants this feeling) concerns about her ability to work with Dustin in a stressful, competitive environment. There are now doubts percolating around each team. This is real.

10:51 – The morning of the final is here! The “butterflies are doing their thing” in Dustin’s stomach. According to Sarah, JD is “looking good.” Zach has a “pit in his stomach the size of a bowling ball.” Devyn puts on her weave. Now it is time.

10:52 – Sarah reminds us that the last time she was in a final, she “got heatstroke and ended up in the back of an ambulance.” She also lets us know that she is “not going to do that this time,” that she “came here to win,” and that she is “never giving up.” Competition, be warned. Sarah has her game face on and is ready to dominate.

10:53 – TJ, in front of three helicopters and four planes, breaks down the potential earning situation: first place is $250,000, second place is $60,000, and third place is $40,000. Everyone is at least winning $10,000 and Dustin and Trishelle could walk away with $125,000 if Team Vegas wins.

10:53 – TJ: “Welcome to the vast and empty Namib desert. You are officially entering no-man’s land. There is only one way in. So to start things off, you guys are going to be jumping out of those (pointing to the planes).” That’s what I’m talking about, The Challenge: Battle of the Seasons! You are killing it!

10:57 – Trishelle thinks Dustin give her the look of “I will rip your head off you back out of this.” I think it was more of the look of “this is the coolest thing I have ever done.” Just sayin…

10:57 – TJ’s inspirational wisdom: “This is going to be the hardest thing you have ever done in your entire lives. You will be a better person for finishing this thing. So, no matter what happens…when you are going, and you feel like you can’t go anymore, just ask yourself is that your mind speaking or your body. Ninety percent of the time, it’s your mind. So just tell it, no I am cool. Just keep on moving. Good luck. I will see you soon. Make it happen.”

10:58 – Ashley has an amazing way of making every post production interview feel super happy and cute, even when she is talking about jumping out of planes.

10:59 – The ominous music says, “there is a storm coming.” Well-played, sound designer. Well-played.

Chet and Devyn

10:59 – Dustin’s jump (the one originally teased in the pre-season trailer) leads into a “to be continued” fade to black screen…next week is The Challenge: Battle of the Seasons final challenge and I could not be more ready…

Dustin

Stay tuned for my pre-final power rankings and my analysis and predictions of how well Teams Brooklyn, San Diego, and Las Vegas will fare in the finals (out sometime on Monday). Then, tune in Wednesday at 10 PM on MTV for the final episode of The Challenge: Battle of the Seasons.

David Bloom can be reached on twitter at @davidbloom7. His CHALLENGE POWER RANKINGS come out weekly on Derek Kosinski’s UltimateChallengeRadio.com. The Week 12 power rankings will be available sometime before the final.

THE CHALLENGE: BATTLE OF THE SEASONS WEEKLY POWER RANKINGS – WEEK 10

In my last The Challenge: Battle of the Seasons weekly rankings column, I went all retro-running diary because the action of the episode was just too much to effectively account for any other way.  This week’s episode may have even pushed the scale of awesomeness a few steps higher (the weekly challenge and especially the night time drama raised these stakes), so until something changes (and with the final challenge coming up later this month), I am going to keep rocking the retro-running diary until it loses its potency.  As established last week, the times are EST on the night the original episode aired, so feel free to follow along while viewing for the first time or while re-watching.

THE WEEK 10 RETRO-RUNNING DIARY (power rankings to follow)

10:00 – In the scenes from last week, the creepy chill MTV announcer voice reminds us of “one of the biggest arenas in Challenge” history.  Don’t worry creepy chill MTV announcer voice, we won’t forget the epic duel between CJ and Zach anytime soon.

10:01 – The episode begins with the image of a cat licking itself.  No, for real.

10:01 – Team San Diego does a group workout session and then plays a little game of “say something positive, say something negative” (still in the R & D phase at Milton Bradley).  Sam’s negative comment to Ashley is that she is “way too positive.”  Zach doesn’t like how he and Frank have old animosity toward one another.  In a solution just shy of miracle status, harmony has returned to the San Diego shores (cue creepy chill MTV announcer voice: “For now…”)

10:02 – It’s time for the challenge clue delivery from some new product placed c-list company’s mobile device!  This time, the Battle of the Seasons contestants pretend to be sleeping at a slumber party when Frank brings the electronic correspondence delivered news.  The clue is always some low quality pun about having to wear bathing suits while “getting to know” your teammates, but the clue delivery scene appears to be contrived by production (I will have to check with Derrick about this) and has become more silly as the years go by.  Can someone give me some Intel on this?

10:02 – TJ, rocking the hatless look two weeks in a row (his wife must have been involved somehow), tells us that today’s challenge is called “Abandon Ship,” named after what KellyAnne and Johanna did pre-filming when they found out ex-boyfriend Wes was going to be on Battle of the Seasons. (Did you every wonder why Lacey represented Team Austin?  Or why was Fresh Meat such a strange late addition to the premiere?  Wes is apparently kryptonite to his past lovers.  It’s too bad because Real World: Sydney’s Isaac would have been an interesting addition to a house with Frank already in it.)

10:04 – Team Las Vegas is represented by “water people” and Alton thinks it is therefore going to be a “fun, lean challenge” for them.  How ironic this is.

10:04 – Sarah, thankfully, reminds us that JD trains dolphins, so the required 25 foot dive for a player from each team to retrieve buoys (less horrifying 15, 10, and 5 foot dives as well) is a point of confidence for Brooklyn.  Sarah, you had me at “JD trains dolphins.”

10:04 – Let’s just say that TJ’s hair (thank you Turkish wind gusts) is pretty close to awesome.

10:05 – Twenty-five foot dives begin!  In succession, Derek, Dustin, JD, and Sam rock this (Honestly, I am quite impressed).  Poor Robb struggles and struggles and struggles.  He’s “actually kind of panicking.”

10:06 – Fear not Robb!  You have a panic partner!  Enter, Trishelle!

10:06 – Teams San Diego, Cancun (Jonna and Derek by their lonesome), and Brooklyn (way to dominate the five foot dive, Devyn!) finish the four dives and are onto the boat race phase of the Challenge.  Robb and Trishelle are still panicking and their teammates are none too pleased.  In Robb and Trishelle’s defense, under water pressure can be hard.  It is time to go to commercial.

10:07 – Jersey Shore is down to its final four episodes ever.  Even though I hopped out of the tanning bed several seasons ago, but with this realization and some Hurricane Sandy relief initiatives, is it wrong to admit that I am feeling a bit nostalgic?

10:11 – Back in the water, Trishelle’s outright panic leads Alton to take matters into his own hands and he dives for the ten foot buoy, accruing a five minute time penalty in the process.  Dustin is not pleased with Trishelle.

10:12 – Meanwhile, in St. Thomas land, Marie impressively beasts the 25 and 10 foot buoys.  Marie may talk a big game, but she is seriously walking the walk.

10:13 – The juxtaposition of San Diego’s sea of tranquility in a commanding lead and Las Vegas’ already penalty ridden team implosion directed at resident delinquent Trishelle is further proof of just how quick of a sea change can occur in The Challenge.  If team unity and consistent togetherness amount to anything, Team Brooklyn and the remaining Team Cancun deserve to ultimately win.

10:14 – San Diego wins the race and celebrates their first place finish with a cuddle fest in the raft.  Simultaneously, Marie and Robb have difficult relationship talks while learning their paddling technique.  Rough.

10:15 – Team Vegas finishes the race in fourth place, but Alton and Dustin are not through with Trishelle and have a discussion about her womanhood.  Alton tells Dustin to “get enlightened.”  The team interview and contentious back and forth between Dustin and Trishelle is an exercise in disharmony and futility.  Things are not going to end well for these two.

10:16 – A demoralized Robb and Marie reach shore, arena bound.  In the interview, Robb declares that he “can’t dive down 25 feet” because “he smokes too many cigarettes.”  (Yes, Robb!  An opportunity to quit!)  Marie’s silent, icey frown says it all.

10:18 – Alton tries to act as team mediator and facilitates apologies between Dustin and Trishelle.  The conversation goes nowhere as they continue to butt heads.  As Dustin says, “Not everything is rainbows and butterflies.”  There is a dispute about whether Trishelle is going in.  One thing that the Bunim/Murray brain trust always excel at is foreshadowing within an episode.  Let’s hope I am mistaken.

10:23 – TJ lets San Diego know that they “killed it” in the challenge.  Right back at you, Sir Lavin.

10:23 – Zach represents San Diego’s arena participation decision and says an under the radar, crafty, and humorous comment.  He preambles the inevitable Team Las Vegas choice with the information that San Diego really wanted to go in, but that “Frank needed a rest” from the arena.  Well played, Zach.  Well played.

10:24 – It’s a night of alcohol consumption and the excrement is about to hit the motorized, circular cooling machine.

10:24 – Derek (particularly and uncharacteristically rowdy tonight) and Nany have a dispute about how close they are as friends.  Oh boy.  This is not going to go well.

10:25 – Frank somehow takes offense at nothing (we have seen some of this before, Monsieur Sweeney) and goes off at Nany.  Nany, not one for restraint while intoxicated, matches Frank’s ante raise.

10:25 – Marie invites herself to the party because she doesn’t care about Derek, but she cares about Nany (one thing Marie will have is the back of one of her girlfriends, Swifty learned this quite often when he messed with LaToya in St. Thomas).  Robb tries to keep her back, but “two people are getting in [Nany’s] face right now!”  In the cleaned up (and she did it nicely) interview, Marie: “Right now, in the way that everyone’s ganging up on Nany, I don’t really care about our alliance.  I care about defending my friend who needs my help right now.”  You go, girl.  Zach is entertained, full well knowing that “step in to keep Frank from attacking multiple people time” will be soon be his responsibility.

10:26 – Derek and Nany continue their battle royale about the quality of their friendship (does it really matter?).  Credit to the peacekeeping team of Chet, Robb, Sam, Marie, and Trishelle.  Interesting side note: Where are Devyn, Alton, and Sarah during all of this?  If the answer is asleep, I want some of that REM cycle in my nightly routine.

10:26 – Somehow, the camera man misses Derek pushing Robb (as he attempts to restrain Derek) over some patio furniture.  This is a clutch miss, camera man, and our loss.

10:26 – Marie does not miss this incident and is “not going to sit here and let [Derek} push [her] man” so she decides to body slam Derek who dominos into Sam who falls into a pile of plant pots.  Chet goes to check on Sam and determines that Frank should “get your girl” out of the pots (a classic and underrated moment of Chet brilliance).  Thank goodness for the commercial to sort this all out.

10:31 – We’re back.  Chet does a play-by-play of the individual battles. (I give him credit for keeping up with all the iterations.  Also, is he, as a member of Team Brooklyn, on babysitting duty shift and is this an official job?  What happens on the night’s when JD is on call?  Do they have paramedics on hand?)  He appropriately ends his recap with the wise question of “where the hell am I?”

10:31 – Sam is actually hurt and wants to share her thoughts with Marie whose Derek body slam inadvertently knocked Sam over into a patch of plant pots.  Marie is as pugnacious as ever.  It takes the full force of the seven foot tall Robb and Frank (now calm) to hold her back from “killing” Sam.  Frank’s take (it takes one to know one): “I absolutely love Marie.  I see a lot of myself in Marie, but Marie is an idiot sometimes.”  Frank lets Marie know that poor Sam “has nothing to do” with any of this.

10:32 – There is an amazing JD sighting as Frank and Nany decide to meet down at the cabana for a chat.  JD, beer in hand, unassumingly walks by like nothing is going on.  Oh, how I yearn for the carefree existence of a dolphin trainer.

10:32 – The cabana chat lasts for a hot three-seconds before blowing up.  Mediator Trishelle is helplessly left alone.  Frank decides to berate low and makes some comment about Nany’s sister injecting heroin too much.  Nany, holding four beer cans (check, I am not making this up), will not stand for a family member’s inclusion in Frank’s verbal tomfoolery.  Fight escalation, GO!

10:33 – Dustin comes to Nany’s defense and Frank hits back with some gay porn past insults.  Trishelle, wisdom fueled: “Oh my god, yes, Dustin did gay porn.  Like get over it.”  The fight continues.  Cut to Devyn (she apparently woke up) who is understandably unsure about exactly what is going on.

10:34 – Frank, like a Roman gladiator from the a balcony above the pool (Dustin and Nany are down below): “I.  Will.  Bury.  You.  Both.”  Dustin and Nany egg him on.  All Frank “sees right now is red and it’s blood” and comes down to attack.  Alton (his Spidey sense for soulmate Dustin being in trouble is a working power) tries to peace make.  Dustin snaps, (“Hey Catholic school boy, you want to get straight, bitch?  Come and get some.”), whacks Alton in the face (not on purpose and slightly comedic, watching back) and then push/shoves Frank’s head (the memorable moment from last week’s preview).  Stuff is going down and we still have 36 minutes left.

10:35 – A commercial promotion for next week’s Teen Mom 2 about Janelle forgiving her mom for not bailing her out of jail while her baby son cries in the background somehow calms me down.

10:37 – I have never desired a longer commercial break.  Back in the action, there is an actual fight and the cooler heads of Robb, Zach, Alton, Trishelle, Chet, and even Nany prevail.  Zach pleads with Frank to step back using first the tactic of repeating the phrase “the team” and then forces Frank to “go through” him.  Zach, this one scene may be a serious rankings boost and Frank and Zach, I am beginning to believe in the possibilities of your friendship.  Frank decides to “wash his hands clean” of the “dirty scum that got under his fingernails” that is the “entire fucking Vegas team.”

10:37 – Meanwhile, in another fantastic male friendship manifestation, Alton lets Dustin know that he took it too far.  Alton about Frank: “He’s a little pig and you chose to get in to the dirt with him…and clean him up, in the mud?”  Well, done Alton 2.0.  Alton and Dustin then have a conversation about which of a peacock and a flamingo is a more apt description for Nany.  Yes, this happened.

10:38 – Alton admits in his interview that “after babysitting these kids” he has had “one of the worst times in paradise, ever.”  Are you a paradise frequenter, Alton?  If so, how do I get on that train?

10:39 – Back to the game game (and a sunny, morning after the storm at that), Trishelle wants Dustin to go in with her because she fears that Alton is still on his “I want to go home” kick.  The conversation does not go well and creates a line between Trishelle and the boys.  Not for nothing, but I feel like Nany is often the victim in the these circumstances.

10:41 – Albeit less than accurate, Trishelle has this line of the night about Alton and Dustin: “The only thing consistent about those two is that they are consistently crazy.”  Nany knows that Trishelle is sometimes not a team player and looks at her, wondering if she is going to step up or not.

10:42 – Arena time!  Marie steps down to the stage for Team St. Thomas.  TJ says she is “looking as mean as ever.”  Marie, loses her game face, and cracks a killer smile.  These TJ moments of greatness are what sets him apart from all the other competition show hosts.  TJ Lavin, I salute you.

10:42 – The commercial cliffhanger surrounds Trishelle’s “will she or won’t she” decision to volunteer herself to go in.  In her interview, she says she is going to leave it up to San Diego because she fears having to compete with Alton and the potential that he will throw the challenge.  Things are not looking good for Team Vegas.

10:43 – The only thing I love more than Ricky Rubio on the basketball court (please get well soon, senôr) is this Ricky Rubio commercial.  Foot Locker’s ad agency deserves some kind of award.

10:45 – And, Nany volunteers herself to go in!  Nooooooooooo (the reaction that Dustin and I share)!  Dustin is justifiably furious because Trishelle deserved to go in and he doesn’t want to see his little Vegas sister Nany potentially go home (let alone have to toil alone with Trishelle back at the base camp).  All he can do now is stare at Trishelle in disgust.

10:45 – Robb is feeling “really, really confident” because “truth be told” the last time he lost something was his “virginity.”  You have to love Robb.

10:46 – Such props to Nany on this one.  She volunteered herself in because she was not going to stand idle and let San Diego make a decision on the fate of her team.  Poor Dustin (I would be the same way, brother on this one) cannot get over the fact that what was supposed to happen (Trishelle going in) did not.  He and Trishelle have a little verbal fight (she says she will never speak to him again).  My take: I think Trishelle feels bad about this, but is unwilling to admit it.  I think Dustin does not provide the safest forum for this to happen, so the cycle of iffy communication continues.

10:48 – Round 1 (2 out of 3) of the Balls Out Endurance game goes 14-11 in favor of Robb and Marie.  They came to play!  Nany questions Alton’s full investment in winning (not an unreasonable thought about the former Challenge legend’s motivation in Turkey).  Dustin, too, is not “seeing that hustle spirit” and he does not “want to be left here with Trishelle.”

10:49 – Round 2 goes 13-12 to Alton and Nany.  This has turned out to be a second straight, down to the wire arena.  Advantage this season of The Challenge.  Marie and Robb are not shaken at all and unified anew.

10:50 – Marie: “If I can take out two of the strongest competitors that means that I am one of the strongest competitors.”  No argument, there.

10:55 – Zach lets Robb and Marie know that they “freakin’ did it!” by beating Alton and Nany 13-12 in the final round.  Credit to Marie and Robb for their perseverance in this arena and throughout this game (especially in their ability to reunify so quickly after the shipwreck that was the “Abandon Ship” challenge).

10:55 – Alton: “I am a little shocked.  For me, losing is a new experience.”  Yes, it is, old friend.  Although your total reputation may have taken a hit, I hope that in a few years the glory that was Alton 1.0 will be your enduring legacy.

10:56 – Dustin is visibly and understandably shaken.  He is losing Alton, a brother and very close friend, and Nany, his little sister, support, and best chance he had at winning the whole thing.  They are both concerned about how Dustin will manage being alone with Trishelle.  Nany: “Don’t kill her.  You guys gotta make it to the finals.”  Alton: “Forgive her bro.”  Dustin: “Never.”

10:57 – Nany: “If I have proved anything to anyone, I proved to myself that I am a good competitor, and I deserved to be here this entire time.”  Speak the truth, Nany.  If anyone has risen up in the actual and metaphoric Challenge power rankings, it is Nany.  She overcame beaucoup de drama (internal and external) and managed to go out with the utmost dignity and as an honorable fighter.  When (not if) she returns in the future, I would want her on my team.

10:57 – Alton: “I met a brother.  Dustin, we are going to be friends forever dude.”  I applaud this seemingly, beautiful friendship.

10:57 – Frank, in a bout of uncontrollable irony, is “so so so so” excited that Nany and Alton are going home so that he can finally “live in peace now” in a drama free house.

10:58 – Dustin will not let this Trishelle thing go, asking her to “live,” “remember this forever,” and “have nightmares.”  TJ: “I thought I’ve seen some uncomfortable teams in my life, but Dustin and Trishelle, that’s a pretty uncomfortable team.”  Preach, TJ.  Preach.

10:58 – Dustin is in a cloud of despair and wants to go home.  Chet and Sarah try to step in and help the situation, facilitating a conversation between Dustin and Trishelle.  JD does nothing.

10:59 – Fade to black on the potential of Dustin quitting…after last week’s arena battle between Zach and CJ, I expected this week to have a fair degree of momentum lowering, but instead, the stakes have been raised yet again.  The Challenge is bringing it this fall and I cannot wait for next Wednesday night.

Five teams are left (three now have two players) and one (Las Vegas) is in complete shambles.  At this point, especially with a resurgent St. Thomas in the arena, it is anyone’s game…let’s shakeout a particularly movement heavy rankings…

 

WEEKLY CHALLENGE INDIVIDUAL POWER RANKINGS

NOTE: the rankings will be based on an un-Hollinger/sabermetrics method known as “My experience and observations” (See: Marc Stein’s great NBA weekly power rankings).  Weight will be given to how well teams and individuals do on competitions, in the social game, and whether he or she is a “good competitor.”

THE MEN

1 (2) Chet (Team Brooklyn) – After a long wait, Chet has stuck around long enough near the top to finally have earned his first place ranking (his consistency has to be applauded).  A stalwart rowing performance and humor laden peacekeeping showing provided the final push.  Congrats.

2 (3) Zach (Team San Diego) – Zach had a great episode, excelling as Frank’s bodyguard, as a player in  “still in need of development” games, as the arena selection decision master, and as Team St. Thomas’ biggest fan.

3 (1) Dustin (Team Las Vegas) – Dustin spent much of the episode (much of it justified), falling apart.  The loss of Nany, Alton, and a trust in Trishelle were individually crushing, but all put together, devastating.  I have a feeling Mr. Zito will be able to recover next week.

4 (7) Frank (Team San Diego) – Frank did erroneously provoke several altercations, but he also walked away when Zach stepped in.  His Team San Diego “Abandon Ship” domination also amounts for a strong rise this week.

5 (5) Robb (Team St. Thomas) – I was torn on Robb this week.  On one hand, his challenge performance was a challenge in itself, but his arena win was (over Alton and Nany!) very impressive.  Ultimately, no movement in the rankings was justified.

6 (6) JD (Team Brooklyn) – JD’s 25 foot dive was the beginning move in a very respectable second place finish in “Abandon Ship” for Team Brooklyn.  His uninvolved, metaphorical wallpapering at house fights did not allow any ranking rise this time.

7 (8) Derek (Team Cancun) – Yes, Derek and Jonna were commendable in the challenge, but his role in the night’s extracurricular festivities was unnecessary.  He should know better.

ELIMINATED: Alton (Team Las Vegas) – Alton, admittedly, had a difficult time on this challenge (most likely his last).  Like twilight comebacks of other legendary athletes (Jordan on the Wizards, as mentioned in this space before), I hope we forget these ending impressions and remember all the previous good times.  Alton, thank you for going out like a pro.  Your final image on this challenge was one of the warrior you have always been.  May your next paradise trip be a better one.

THE WOMEN

1 (1) Sarah (Team Brooklyn) – An under the radar week for this close to dethrone-proof leader of women is only a good thing at this stage.  Her ability to stay out of the nighttime house rumble (Sarah – Please tell me how you were able to do it) may be her most incredible feat yet (Really, were you sleeping and if so, how do you do it?  Amazing).

2 (4) Marie (Team St. Thomas) – If someone had told me this summer that I was going to write a weekly The Challenge power rankings column and that in week 10 I would have no trouble placing Marie second on the women’s rankings, the struggle to believe them would have been real.  Marie – you have earned this placement (awesome work all around this week, unintentional Sam/plant meet-up notwithstanding) and have had to overcome so much to get here.  Seriously fantastic work.

3 (6) Ashley (Team San Diego) – Ashley again excels at being a genuine and kind person (and is even criticized for being too nice) and is a beast at challenges.  Her always patient presence with her teammates (and especially with pseudo cuddle buddy CJ gone) is an asset to San Diego’s success.

4 (5) Devyn (Team Brooklyn) – A low key week for Devyn (it was inevitable after last week’s real hair reveal), but her athletic showings seem to be getting better and better.  Bare in mind, Devyn came in to The Challenge a clothing shopper aficionado out of the mall when it came to being a worthy competitor.  She has come a long way.

5 (8) Jonna (Team Cancun) – Jonna is back in the mix (her “Abandon Ship” twosome appearance killed it), but now she needs to find a way to keep Derek away from late night drama (a tall order if the preview for next week is any indication).

6 (7) Sam (Team San Diego) – Poor Sam.  Marie pushed Derek into her and she fell on some plant pots.  Often the recipient of the wrath of teammates, this was an unexpected low.

7 (3) Trishelle (Team Las Vegas) – Trishelle had a very difficult week (tough diving experience in the challenge, didn’t step up in the arena, the disintegration of her team) and it is largely because of her decisions.  It is in her best interest to come clean, take some responsibility (Dustin may be more stubborn than than she is) and recognize that her partner is one of the best male competitors in the game and the road to winning $250,000.

ELIMINATED: Nany (Team Las Vegas) – Nany is really the victim in the Team Vegas implosion and could not have come out on the other side looking better than she does.  With so many rookies on this challenge, it was a question as to who was going to separate themselves from the masses and Nany may have one of the most successful at doing so. (On an unrelated note, do you remember when Preston was in this game, because I momentarily forgot?)

FULL TEAM RANKINGS

Note:  Team rankings are compiled by adding up the individual rankings and dividing by number of players remaining.  Teams with the lowest total average ranking are ranked better than the highest (i.e. you want as few points as possible)

1 (2) TEAM BROOKLYN Average: 3, last week: 3.5

Sarah (1), Chet (1), JD (6), Devyn (4)

Can they win as foursome? They keep humming along as a foursome (even utilizing the talents of JD – this week deep sea diving and last week eating random things).  While other teams have faced internal turmoil, Brooklyn has remained unified and strong.  At this point in the game, it makes sense that they are ranked first.

What pairings can win?  The same is true as last week: Sarah and Chet can still win The Challenge.  Sarah could probably get JD to the finish line as well.  I am not sure Devyn would be able to finish with either Chet or Sarah and will be better within a foursome.  Additionally, Sarah and Chet have many ways of working together (this week rowing the boat and facilitating a conversation between Dustin and Trishelle to name a few) and this is only to their advantage if they make the finals.

2 (3) TEAM ST. THOMAS Average: 3.5, last week: 4.5

Robb (5), Marie (2), Eliminated: Laura, Trey

Can they win as a pair?  Yes.  Their arena showing (especially following such a demoralizing challenge) is very impressive.  Marie and Robb are fighters and I think it helps that in this twosome, Marie’s stronger personality is given room to lead, whereas Robb’s reliable and protective tendencies will help keep Marie out of trouble.  The previewed fight with Derek will be a barometer of just how resilient these two really are.

3 (4) TEAM SAN DIEGO Average: 4, last week: 6.75

Zach (2), Sam (7), Ashley (3), Frank (4)

Can they win as foursome? I think we can move last week’s “who knows” answer to this question to “sometimes” or “it depends on the week.”  If San Diego can continue to have good weeks (at this point we know bad weeks will happen, but they may be able to hang on long enough to avoid them), they are going to be tough to beat in a final (Frank and Zach are just so uber-competitive and Ashley is a very strong women).

What pairings can win?  Last week I wrote: Both guys could compete with Ashley against the other strong teams (Vegas, Sarah/Chet), but the Zach/Sam pairing seems to have a dynamic, winning quality (at least in arenas).  This all remains true, but if San Diego can keep their foursome intact, this won’t even be an issue.

4 (1) TEAM LAS VEGAS Average: 5, last week: 2.5

Dustin (3), Trishelle (7), Eliminated: Nany, Alton

Can they win as a pair? Yes, I think so (despite the real relationship sever that occurred between these two this week).  Both are super competitive (different manifestations), stubborn, prideful, and want to win the money.  I think they can put their Humpty Dumpty of a team back together again in time to be a player in the finals.

5 (5) TEAM CANCUN Average: 6, last week: 8

Jonna (5), Derek (7), Eliminated: CJ, Jasmine

Can they win as a pair? Athletically, yes.  Mentally, I am not sure.  I have not liked what I have seen from Derek these past few weeks.  He seems to be falling apart at the seems.  I am not sure if they have a captain or have the right balance to steer this ship, although I wouldn’t count out Jonna just yet…

And finally, during the “NEXT ON THE CHALLENGE” preview, this is what I saw:

  • Dustin and Trishelle are still around (I got you MTV editors, you tried to conceal them in the shot, but they are there.)
  • Zach and Marie find the bus to be a great time to erupt at one another
  • and Robb finally seems to want to confront Derek about this week’s pushing incident by tearing off his shirt and screaming at him.

We are approaching the home stretch!  There are only a few episodes remaining (sadly), so do not miss a moment.  Tune in at 10 PM on MTV for the next episode of The Challenge: Battle of the Seasons.

David Bloom can be reached on twitter at @davidbloom7.  His weekly CHALLENGE POWER RANKINGS come out weekly on Derek Kosinski’s UltimateChallengeRadio.com.  The Week 11 power rankings will be available sometime after December 6.

 

THE CHALLENGE: BATTLE OF THE SEASONS WEEKLY POWER RANKINGS – WEEK 8

We are now somewhere close to the halfway point of this (the 23rd!) season of MTV’s The Challenge.  Last week’s unnecessary hiatus for Halloween programming (you are telling me that the prospect of a Frank meltdown is not ghoulish enough for viewers?) gave me some time for a reflection on a television show/fifth professional sport that’s first airing dates back to the middle of President Clinton’s second term.  For any television show to last 23 seasons and 14 years is an accomplishment in itself, but this season’s influx of new blood and talent accentuates a main reason for the (and dare I say continuing) success of the franchise.  The Challenge has always been in a malleable state that continues to strive for reinvention, reinvigoration, reformatting, and rethinking.  Bunim-Murray producer land has always been driven to make each new show more interesting and more compelling than the one previous.  This approach is not always successful and there have been some off seasons, but this sprint away from complacency is one of the primary root causes of its longevity.

Although Battle of the Seasons has some worthy game format tweaks and competition adaptations, the (frankly) “out on a limb” new personnel influx this season has been the most daring of moves.  Since season 12’s Fresh Meat introduction of Kenny and Evan (and the JEK dynasty establishment), the last 11 seasons of The Challenge have featured at least (and at its best, all of them) one of the Johnny, Evan, Kenny trio.  In these Challenge glory years, cast members like Derrick (ultimatechallengeradio.com and podcast guru), CT (a real softy in his later years), Laurel (the Amazonian dominator and perhaps the best female physical competitor we have seen), Ev (unquestioned heart and drive), Paula (a master class in personal perseverance), Diem (ditto), Brad (who met his wife Tori on The Challenge), and Jenn (with two “Ns”) have fostered a culture of continued viewing pleasure and Challenge excellence.  They are all off this year (and even one of the few real Challenge vets from this era on BotS, Wes, was sent home in week 1).  Whether we liked it or not (and I was going in as undecided as Devyn choosing a new pair of stilettos), Challenge rookies or relative newcomers were going to have a major effect on this season.

This week’s “I Do Not Like You Sam, I Am” episode did three major things: 1) It introduced a challenge that has final challenge elements (and gives players a preview of who you want to run up the metaphoric mountain with); 2) It showcased how important the concept and application of “team” is at the end of this game; and 3) It gave newcomers Frank and Zach the opportunity to make lasting Challenge memories (for all the wrong reasons).  These weekly power rankings have (after accruing the formatting intel in the premiere episode) acknowledged that although individuals are essential to success, teams are only as strong as their unity, collaboration, and how well they manage the weaker player weaknesses.

This chronological breakdown of the Logged Out challenge tells the first part of the story:

THE LOGGED OUT CHALLENGE

Logged Out began with this warning from TJ: “If you can’t get through today’s challenge, you ain’t ever gonna make it through my final, I promise you that.”  Beyond TJ completely “killing it” by calling it “my final” (a right he has earned at this point in his long, storied [and now – congratulations – married] Challenge tenure), producers finally realized that endurance tests (where teams have to stick together the whole time) that preview the actual final challenge are worthwhile.  This was a worthy representation on paper and in actuality: competitors were asked to run (there was a great deal of walking, summer Turkey heat and humidity will do that) through three checkpoints up a 1.5 mile mountain trail.  The first checkpoint was a nine part puzzle map featuring images with interesting numerical configurations of dots and lines, the second checkpoint asked teams to pickup heavy logs featuring these images (you could only carry one at time, so major disadvantage to the two person teams of New Orleans and St. Thomas who had to make 4-5 trips up and down), and a final leg to the top of the mountain ridge where you assemble the puzzle out of the correct nine logs (there were more extraneous ones at the second checkpoint, confusing multiple teams).

The pre-challenge interview of Team Brooklyn featured this exchange:

Sarah: “I guess I have a reputation for being good at puzzles.  I don’t know how I got it…”

Chet (interrupting her): “Because you brag about it…

Sarah: ‘Well, whatever…so ah, yeah, I am hoping I can help my team out with this one and that memory is what wins it.”

Meanwhile, during this interplay, Devyn was doing her hair and JD was smiling with one of those “I can’t wait to get back to my dolphins” looks.  For what it’s worth and for their arena-dwelling existence, Team Brooklyn is a fun team to watch.

TJ’s horn marks the start of the challenge.  Each team sprints to the first checkpoint (unaware that saving endurance is going to be important).  Puzzle image memory strategy takes on many different forms.  Frank decides to learn his row and then all of Sam and Zach’s assignments as well in fear that they won’t be able to handle it intellectually.  Dustin uses hand signals and gang signs (this actually happened).

The gameplay next takes us to the second checkpoint where most teams have gathered some logs (some teams without consideration that there are some that are not going to be used) and head up to the top.  Meanwhile, Team Brooklyn puts Sarah’s aforementioned puzzle mastery to work.  Sarah: “I look around.  I don’t think the other teams have figured out you kind of safe yourself a step if you assemble the puzzle right where the logs are.  I am not gonna tell them.  Go ahead.  Run up the hill.  Try and figure it out a mile up there, but you’re not gonna win that way.”  YES, SHE CAN! Unfortunately, nor are you going to win if Devyn gasses out.  Sarah’s on point encouragement: “Prove to everybody that you are more than high heels.”  Devyn’s response: “I’m not.”  You have to love Devyn.  I mentioned last week that she and Chet give the best sound bites.  Her personal best may be here: “I am not made for this.  This was not made for black people.  When was the last time you saw a black lumber jack?  Go ahead, I’ll wait.”

Focus shifts (as it will for most of the rest of the episode) to Team San Diego, where Sam’s cardiovascular struggles cause a team upheaval.  Frank begins by asking Sam, “You’re going home if you don’t finish this, you know that right?”  Then Zach, flexing his unique ability to raise his voice in less than a quarter of a second, speaks then yells back, “Sam, quit throwing a temper tantrum, and (100 decibels louder) WALK UP THE DAMN HILL!”  Frank (“Stop being so fucking selfish”) and Zach (“SAM!!!! – you are ruining it for all three of us.  We are your family.  Let’s go!”) take turns berating their San Diego housemate.  Poor Sam takes the “no, you’re not going to degrade me just because we’re in a fucking challenge” approach without knowing that Frank degrades her both in or out of the challenge.  As is becoming a growing trend, Devyn has the best take: “Frank and Zach – I don’t know what motivational speaking classes they went to, but they need to get their money back.”  Preach, Devyn.  Preach.

We all take a much needed break from some uncomfortable stuff (I haven’t squirmed like this since Camila went off on Easy) to show how actual teams operate.  Images flood the screen of the other teams working together to overcome adversity.  Jonna takes Jasmine’s hand, willing her to continue.  Sarah heroically (and putting money where her mouth is) takes a final log up her final leg (“No thanks, JD.  I got this.”).  Both pairs of Robb and Marie and Jemmye and Knight support one another through their doubly difficult challenge assignment; Jemmye at one point tells Knight to “look at the view” wanting “anything to inspire [him].”  This sharply contrasts images of a desperate Sam asking Zach, “please don’t raise your voice,” and Zach replying with “can you just like, step up?”

Sarah’s initial strategy is a success and leads Team Brooklyn (despite some real adversity – Devyn is not much of a runner in Turkish heat, but, really, who is?) to their first victory and power team experience. (Of note: JD looks like he is going to completely fall apart, he is so happy to win).  Chet declares, “Brooklyn finally wins a challenge, and arguably this was the toughest challenge, so I am really impressed with my team” and “Chock one up for the misfits.”  This ragtag bunch has been through it all so far in this game and continues to prove why working as a unified group (led instrumentally by Sarah’s leadership and excellence, Chet’s inner strength and humor, Devyn’s awesome attitude, and JD’s amiable, but malleable existence) can overcome other deficiencies.

Other teams dig deep to finish the challenge.  Jasmine is completely wasted to the point where she is worried about staying alive.  Derek (in his best challenge moment so far, a deserved power rankings bump  will follow below) decides to pick up Jasmine on his back to get to the top of the mountain to have his team complete the puzzle and finish in second.  He reasons correctly, “We started this as a team, and we are going to finish this challenge as a team.”  Team Las Vegas, who despite some early stumbles, were consistent throughout this event and came through with a strong third place finish.  According to Trishelle, fighting back an uncomfortable laugh observing the embarrassment that is Team San Diego, “[Team Vegas] didn’t just win, but, this is just sweet, sweet revenge.”  It is more of the same for San Diego, including a Frank and Sam physical and verbal escalation that was just not a good look.  Ashley states the obvious, “We can’t communicate at all.  There is just a bunch of yelling.”  San Diego does finally finish in fourth (the four person teams had a huge advantage over St. Thomas and New Orleans), but the damage has been done.

Producers seem to convey that St. Thomas and New Orleans are neck and neck for bottom-arena feeder.  There is then this great moment where Robb (with 2 “Bs”), proving himself worthy after helping Marie through this one, alerts TJ he thinks he has finished.  TJ, in only the way the beloved host (and so much more than that) can, says, “I am sorry man,” followed by a pause the length of an NFL replay challenge, and then finally, “but you guys are good.” First Robb has a gut (and well-intentioned) response of “you bitch” and then settles down to consider Logged Out “one of the proudest accomplishments of [his] life.”

Team New Orleans is arena bound (they admirably gave it their all) and TJ has this, one more awesome set of words of wisdom: “You know, when you are under pressure, how you treat each other. It matters.  San Diego?  You need to work a little bit on that.”

Team San Diego Blows Up – Part II, setting up the Frank versus Zach battle reawakening

There is so much that took place after the Logged Out challenge with Team San Diego that keeping up is like spending a day in Tonya Cooley or Anne Heche’s brain: a little confusing and a little scary.  Here is what happens as far as I can tell:

  • First, Frank and Ashley are going in to the arena because they had pre-agreed to do the mental game (Team Brooklyn’s smart call).
  • Zach intimates that he thinks that Frank wants Zach and Sam gone after blaming Zach for not motivating Sam better during Logged Out.  What?  In Zach’s mind, Frank and Zach made a deal but knows that, “when you are dealing with a kniving psychopath, you never know what they are going to do.”
  • Frank is overwhelmed and goes and cries.
  • The next day, Sam volunteers herself for the arena because she did so poorly in Logged Out.  Frank, thinking that an arena with Sam is a death knell, doesn’t want to go in now.  Zach wants Frank to “be a man” and keep his word and will not volunteer himself to work with Sam.  “As a man you shook my hand…you’re pathetic.”
  • An in-your-face, close to punch-throwing, physical bro-off ensues.  Ashley can only cover her head and note that “if our team can’t come together, then we will be defeated.”

  • After Sam goes off in an emotional stupor, Frank (this was so perplexing) “tries to be here” for Sam by first offering to help her pack.  Sam: “I already knew you guys really didn’t believe in me, but to have you guys break out into that big of a fight and then go scream at each other.  It’s kind of like, there goes whatever pride I had left.”  Frank’s response: “Both of us are very insecure in this game…Zach and I are in the wrong, and I’m sorry.”  Sam (rightfully) does not take Frank’s new assertion seriously.
  • In the arena, Sam volunteers to go in.  Zach and Frank abstain, forcing Team Brooklyn to choose Zach.
  • During the Water Torture arena battle, something even more unexpected happens.  Zach: “For the first time in our relationship, Sam is leading me through this whole thing.  I can’t quit for myself, but more importantly, I can’t quit for Sam.  She deserves to be in this house more than anyone on my team.”  Sam is directive and on point, leading Zach’s underwater, inverted, and blood rushed self to victory and hereby eliminating Knight and Jemmye (valiant in defeat).  Zach says to Sam, “You are the smartest dumb person I know.”  Healthy, guys.
  • Zach is immediately ready to take revenge on Frank, foreshadowing future entanglements: “The wound in my back that Frank left from the Real World had just healed and he just opened it right back up.”

What does this all mean?  The Frank/Team San Diego implosion that I predicted early on seems to have finally arrived.  Logged Out and the rest of the episode featured teams working together (even Alton seems to have found a way again) and one team completely blowing up from within, exposing all of its weaknesses all at once.  This is a major Challenge development since it appeared that Frank, as recently as last week, was running the show for his no longer majority alliance.  Sam is weak in endurance (and up and down mentally), Ashley is lost in the shuffle, Zach has a weird volume escalation in his voice and a rage for Frank, and Frank is again volatile and unpredictable.  They may have reached the point, as much as Frank knows strategically the benefit of a four person team, that they can no longer function with Frank, Zach, and Sam in the mix.  The Challenge power structure has officially shifted and it seems like it is every team for themselves going forward.

Before we hit the rankings, here are some “must be mentioned” tidbits:

  • The Insane Games: House Edition, hosted and conceived by Team Brooklyn, was a work of genius.  Chet says he was “trying to ease the tension in the house, but at the end of the day, what we are really trying to do is to get the house to like Brooklyn, which has yet to happen.”  Brilliant.  Sarah gets it too: “This is what being in a challenge house is all about.  Let’s put aside all the fighting.  Let’s have fun and share a few laughs in this house for once.”  These moments have been far and few between in the recent, super-athletic challenge seasons, and this was a refreshing (and too short) respite.  Thank you to Team Brooklyn for giving us all a much needed break.
  • The CJ and Ashley relationship was an enjoyable distraction as well.  Although Ashley looks “at him more as a friend and that’s probably about it,” CJ writes her a note to accompany a beautiful bouquet of flowers.  Marie and Jemmye (playing the LaToya role) get a hold of the note before Ashley does and cohort (this was not hard to do) Knight into helping them write her faux response.  Knight knows how wonderful it is “t0 see someone in an awkward position besides [him] for once.”  It playfully backfires on poor Christian: “The problem with writing letters is that you put some stuff on paper for other people to see.”  He may have the purpose and the problem of writing letters a bit mixed up.
  • Finally, after the debacle that The Dark Knight episode was, I am sorry to see Knight and Jemmye go.  They held their own on this challenge as competitors and came out of it with a renewed friendship with each other.  Both grew on me throughout the season, and, as I now am more able to recall, the same thing happened in New Orleans.  They are genuine and fun people who bring a light and warm energy to a space (at least as presented through the TV lens).  As TJ often says, I know we will see you again.

On to the rankings, with some serious movement (San Diego free falls) and some new game check-in analysis about which teams left have a chance to win.

WEEKLY CHALLENGE INDIVIDUAL POWER RANKINGS

NOTE: the rankings will be based on an un-Hollinger/sabermetrics method known as “My experience and observations” (See: Marc Stein’s great NBA weekly power rankings).  Weight will be given to how well teams and individuals do on competitions, in the social game, and whether he or she is a “good competitor.”

THE MEN

1 (1) Dustin (Team Las Vegas) – A strong challenge showing (with gang sign utilization) and a week off of the hot seat was only good news for Mr. Zito.

2 (4) Chet (Team Brooklyn) – His Insane Games: Home Edition work goes without saying, but it his Logged Out dominance that moves him up two spots.

3 (2) CJ (Team Cancun) – His few tough challenge moments (Jonna tweeted her slight frustration) and his flower/note prank recipiency dropped him down slightly.

4 (7) Derek (Team Cancun) – As mentioned before, Derek had his best moment on this challenge when he literally put Jasmine on his back.  Lost in this showcase of gallantry was his ability, in the heat, to  even carry Jasmine (albeit, a small woman), up the mountain.

5 (10) Alton (Team Las Vegas) – A week on the sidelines was only a good thing for Alton and hopefully a physical challenge was a good thing for his psyche going forward.

6 (8) Robb (Team St. Thomas) – Robb was a star of Team St. Thomas (and an underrated player throughout the episode), giving Marie a will and way to beat out Team New Orleans.

7 (9) JD (Team Brooklyn) – At this point, JD is so happy to be in this game.  On the plus side, he did everything to help his team and nothing to hurt it.  Also, why didn’t he participate in Insane Games: Home Edition hosting?  What a loss for us all it was.

8 (5) Zach (Team San Diego) – Despite a willful arena showing, Zach has to be low on this list for succumbing to Frank’s tactics and being wholly unhelpful to a teammate during Logged Out.

9 (3) Frank (Team San Diego) – Crazy Frank (and not even drunk this time) finally reared its unfortunate head again.  This is a mental game as much as physical, and unless he can keep the mental in check, it won’t matter what he brings physically (very much a force in endurance).

ELIMINATED: Knight (Team New Orleans) – Last week: 6 of 10 – We will miss you Knight.  Thank you for providing so many moments of levity and for showing us all a new method of cleaning clothes.

Biggest Rise: Alton (Team Las Vegas)

Biggest Fall: Frank (Team San Diego,)

THE WOMEN

1 (1) Sarah (Team Brooklyn) – Sarah’s spot at number one is the surest thing in The Challenge.  She dominated Logged Out and showed how wonderful a teammate she can be.

2 (2) Nany (Team Las Vegas) – Her team Vegas performance was strong and still is riding some post arena win momentum.

3 (3) Jonna (Team Cancun) – Jonna was her normal, reliable self in the challenge.  It will be interesting to see how she is affected by her beau Zach’s battles with Sam and Frank.

4 (6) Trishelle (Team Las Vegas) – Trishelle is showing her own athletically and must provide Alton with warmth and stability going forward.

5 (7) Marie (Team St. Thomas) – Marie may have struggled through this difficult challenge, but after seven eliminations, she has yet to see an arena and this stands for something.

6 (4) Jasmine (Team Cancun) – Poor Jasmine struggled a wee bit in Logged Out (thus her fall from the top 4).  Was this a one-timer or will endurance be an issue in a final challenge?

7 (9) Devyn (Team Brooklyn) – Although blessed to be with supportive teammates like Chet and Sarah, I have a feeling that Devyn’s apparent personal blossoming that the viewer has been privileged to watch is for real.  Her attitude continues to be a highlight.

8 (8) Ashley (Team San Diego) – Ashley may continue to be this low in the rankings because she has yet to differentiate herself from the field.  She appeared helpless (I really can’t blame her) to help Sam when Frank and Zach were drawing blood.

9 (10) Sam (Team San Diego) – Sam : “I am not gym rats like my teammates.  I am not runners and sprinters like my teammates are.”  She was incredible in the arena, but cannot overcome her challenge performance.

ELIMINATED: Jemmye (Team New Orleans) – Last week 5 of 10 – Jemmye, it has been a pleasure.  I truly believe you could have competed with the best of them in the finals and the notion of this when the season began could not have been further from my view.

Biggest Rise: Trishelle (Team Las Vegas), Marie (Team St. Thomas), Devyn (Team Brooklyn)

Biggest Fall: Jasmine (Team Cancun)

FULL TEAM RANKINGS

Note:  Team rankings are compiled by adding up the individual rankings and dividing by number of players remaining.  Teams with the lowest total average ranking are ranked better than the highest (i.e. you want as few points as possible)

1 (2) TEAM LAS VEGAS Average: 3, last week: 4.75 (2)

Alton (5), Dustin (1), Trishelle (4), Nany (2)

Can they win as a foursome? Yes, as displayed in Logged Out, this is the strongest, top to bottom foursome in The Challenge.  If the trend in last week’s episode has any afterlife, Alton could be a liability, but for now, he is back in the fold.  Both Nany and Trishelle have fight in them and are here to win money.  There are no two stronger female pairs in this game.  It is to their advantage to remain as four.

What pairings can win?  I think Dustin can win with either Nany (more likely) or Trishelle.  I think Alton remains questionable, but certainly has the physical pedigree to win with either partner.

2 (1) TEAM CANCUN Average: 4, last week: 4 (1)

CJ (3), Jonna (3), Jasmine (6), Derek (4)

Can they win as a foursome? Their unwavering unity is endearing and has been an asset, but if Jasmine’s physical endurance issues creep up in the finals (too many cigarettes?), she is a major liability against Vegas or a Sarah/Chet pairing from Team Brooklyn.  CJ and Jonna may need to start to consider the benefit of going into a final alone.  Derek definitely proved himself worthy of the finals in Logged Out.

What pairings can win? Jonna and CJ is a top 3 pairing.  Jonna and Derek is top 7 pairing.

3 (4) TEAM BROOKLYN Average: 5.25, last week: 5.75 (4)

Sarah (1), Chet (2), JD (7), Devyn (7)

Can they win as foursome? Unlikely.  Devyn is so much fun (even more so minus Big Easy), but her lack of athletic anything in the past is not going to work in a long, endurance event.  If winning The Challenge was all about teamwork, they are your strongest team, but I am not sure that Chet and Sarah could carry Devyn’s weaknesses over a Vegas or a Cancun.  You root for them to stay together because thus far they do it the right way, but at some point, Sarah and Chet may benefit from breaking free.  JD continues to be an enigma.

What pairings can win?  Sarah and Chet can win The Challenge.  Sarah could probably get JD to the finish line as well.  I am not sure Devyn would be able to finish with either Chet or Sarah.

4 (6) TEAM ST. THOMAS Average: 5.5, last week: 7.5 (6)

Robb (6), Marie (5), Eliminated: Laura, Trey

Can they win as a pair?  Maybe.  They may both have the Jasmine “too many cigarettes problem” (CT’s addiction was his downfall in Iceland last year), but I was very impressed with their drive and fight this week.  Bare in mind, this is still when Robb and Marie were romantically involved and Robb seems to do everything in his power to make Marie happy.  Winning $250,000 could be under this auspice.

5 (5) TEAM SAN DIEGO Average: 8.5, last week: 6.5 (5)

Zach (8), Sam (9), Ashley (8), Frank (9)

Can they win as a foursome? No.  I do not believe they can win anything with Zach, Frank, and Sam all in the mix.  Sam’s amazing arena performance notwithstanding, she struggled with endurance in Logged Out and Frank and Zach struggled with kindness.  The two fallacies will not go together.  In order for San Diego to be back in the mix, Sam may need to go home (along with either guy).

What pairings can win?  Both guys can compete with Ashley against the other strong teams (Vegas, Sarah/Chet, CJ/Jonna).  The question remains, will their implosion this episode allow them to even get there?

And finally, during the “NEXT WEEK ON THE CHALLENGE” preview, this is what I saw:

  • TJ presents the competitors with cow intestines to eat.  Trishelle is not pleased.
  • Frank tells Zach that they are not meant to be friends.
  • Frank (in a crazy rant) tells Zach that he “is not going to be made to look like a fucking crazy person.”

Until we all meet again, watch the next episode of The Challenge: Battle of the Seasons at 10 PM on Wednesday night on MTV.

David Bloom can be reached on twitter at @davidbloom7.  His weekly CHALLENGE POWER RANKINGS come out weekly on Derek Kosinski’s UltimateChallengeRadio.com.  The Week 9 power rankings will be available sometime on or after November 15.