MTV's "The Challenge" Thread

Emily is on Bananas' podcast and she's making a good point about production dropping the ball with the game-making this year. Battle of the Eras is a complete misnomer. She's a strong girl and her own teammate threw a comp to get her eliminated. You're playing against your own era.

Bananas said he was expecting TJ to explain to them that they would be competing in the final with whichever teammates make it there, which is what he wanted until he saw his team. LOL. He said once he figured out that wasn't the case, he was glad his team had weak guys.

It would've been fun to see a season where they had airtight strategy incentives to get their best teammates to the end.
 
Some other good tidbits....

Johnny said he's OK with the type of game move Laurel made to throw that comp, but he said she didn't discuss it with him, and he implied that if he did the same move to Jordan that she would flip out, so he kinda feels a little betrayed about it. It's clear that part of it was jealousy and insecurity about who was Johnny's #1 girl.

Also, Johnny said Devin is so full of **** about his deal-making. Devin claimss he always keeps his deals because he always gives himself an out and pretends he's not the one that broke the deal when it happens. Johnny said Devin claiming he and Tori couldn't commit to Nehemiah's deal was complete BS. Devin didn't even discuss it with Tori, and left it open-ended going into deliberation so he could take the deal if he ended up wanting to go that direction.
 
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Josh is such an idiot. Always an idiot.

If he has the opportunity to make a retarded decision - he’s gonna do it.

Can not stand him.

That was the right decision, IMO. He burned no bridges and if he calls out Bananas again, he burns that bridge forever, and they still eliminated a strong competitor.

Josh is more worried about getting to his first final, not so much who is in it. Johnny will help him get there.
 
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That was the right decision, IMO. He burned no bridges and if he calls out Bananas again, he burns that bridge forever, and they still eliminated a strong competitor.

Josh is more worried about getting to his first final, not so much who is in it. Johnny will help him get there.

Disagree. Johnny is a 7 time winner or whatever. Any chance you have a chance to eliminate him, you take shot. Laurel is a man in a woman’s body. Any chance you can eliminate her, you take that shot.

Meanwhile, JB will never vote to send Josh into an elimination because he’s a lay up you want to keep in the final.

But my biggest issue is just how gutless Josh is and how he constantly proves his word is useless. He decided with his team what shot they were gonna take and how it was better for the team, only to immediately back track. He does it all on the time where he declares one thing (like self nominating himself) only to do something different when the time comes.

CT said it best - he’s a goof.
 
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Disagree. Johnny is a 7 time winner or whatever. Any chance you have a chance to eliminate him, you take shot. Laurel is a man in a woman’s body. Any chance you can eliminate her, you take that shot.

Meanwhile, JB will never vote to send Josh into an elimination because he’s a lay up you want to keep in the final.

But my biggest issue is just how gutless Josh is and how he constantly proves his word is useless. He decided with his team what shot they were gonna take and how it was better for the team, only to immediately back track. He does it all on the time where he declares one thing (like self nominating himself) only to do something different when the time comes.

CT said it best - he’s a goof.

Laurel's not that good at finals.

Josh plans on playing for a while and I'm sure Johnny does too. This isn't Big Brother. They'll be playing again together in the next year probably. Only thinking about this final, when you're not even in it yet, is absolutely the wrong move. Johnny has 7 titles because he's one of the most trustworthy alliance members all time.
 
Really disappointed in the decisions some people are making this season. Zero strategy in targeting an older group like era 1 this last go round when Jordan and Nia could’ve weakened a more capable team.

Also I have to laugh at how upset Johnny is that Ryan is getting by on relationships when Johnny survived so many seasons by getting by on relationships. Cry harder that the guy won’t self nominate - has John ever self nominated at any time during his 20 season career?

edit: I guess the story is Nia and Neahmia or however you spell his name are like besties outside of the challenge so she could never say his name. Fair. But still, strategically it wasn’t the right move imo.
 
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Really disappointed in the decisions some people are making this season. Zero strategy in targeting an older group like era 1 this last go round when Jordan and Nia could’ve weakened a more capable team.

Also I have to laugh at how upset Johnny is that Ryan is getting by on relationships when Johnny survived so many seasons by getting by on relationships. Cry harder that the guy won’t self nominate - has John ever self nominated at any time during his 20 season career?

edit: I guess the story is Nia and Neahmia or however you spell his name are like besties outside of the challenge so she could never say his name. Fair. But still, strategically it wasn’t the right move imo.

On his pod, Johnny has been saying he hates self-nominations because you save other players from showing their cards, but this is what the teams agreed to do this season, so he's playing that way. And literally 10 different people have been upset about it, just like Johnny, because it's ********.

Johnny is doing all the heavy lifting for the team. Ryan is dead weight. I can't believe anybody would take Ryan's side on this.
 
On his pod, Johnny has been saying he hates self-nominations because you save other players from showing their cards, but this is what the teams agreed to do this season, so he's playing that way. And literally 10 different people have been upset about it, just like Johnny, because it's ********.

Johnny is doing all the heavy lifting for the team. Ryan is dead weight. I can't believe anybody would take Ryan's side on this.

Im more *****ing on Johnny than I am taking Ryan’s side. Ryan sucks and he’s added nothing to the season imo.

But yeah any chance I get to call out Johnny for something, I take.

This season kind of sucks imo. Had great potential but they missed the mark in a lot of ways. Thinking a bunch of 40-50 year olds could compete with 20 years olds is one.
 
Im more *****ing on Johnny than I am taking Ryan’s side. Ryan sucks and he’s added nothing to the season imo.

But yeah any chance I get to call out Johnny for something, I take.

This season kind of sucks imo. Had great potential but they missed the mark in a lot of ways. Thinking a bunch of 40-50 year olds could compete with 20 years olds is one.

I'm not crazy about Johnny's personality, but he plays the game the right way. Better than absolutely anybody else. If you can play it the way he plays it, then you should look at him like the textbook. Not everybody has his talents, so it wouldn't work to copy him, but I 100% respect his game.
 
I'm not crazy about Johnny's personality, but he plays the game the right way. Better than absolutely anybody else. If you can play it the way he plays it, then you should look at him like the textbook. Not everybody has his talents, so it wouldn't work to copy him, but I 100% respect his game.

I can’t argue with his success. But two of my favorite competitors on this series have always been Wes and CT. JB has always had a rivalry with both. As such, I can’t ever really give JB credit for anything.

Him being one of the biggest hypocrites in the shows history is a hill I’ll die on though. Much of what he blames Wes for, JB has always done himself.
 
I can’t argue with his success. But two of my favorite competitors on this series have always been Wes and CT. JB has always had a rivalry with both. As such, I can’t ever really give JB credit for anything.

Him being one of the biggest hypocrites in the shows history is a hill I’ll die on though. Much of what he blames Wes for, JB has always done himself.

Wes is my favorite player, but Wes is a snake who breaks deals all the time because he makes too many of them. Every season he shows up, plays the short game and makes promises he can't keep, and his rep is that nobody can trust him. He plays exactly the wrong way, but it's good TV and I love his personality.

Bananas doesn't cut a bunch of deals so it's easy to keep his deals, and he has a rep for keeping deals which is why people like Devin, who hate him, can trust the deals they make with him. It's exactly the right long game to play, IMO. But it only works because Johhny is such a comp beast. If he weren't, he'd get thrown in more and lose more, so he'd need to make too many deals.
 
Wes is my favorite player, but Wes is a snake who breaks deals all the time because he makes too many of them. Every season he shows up, plays the short game and makes promises he can't keep, and his rep is that nobody can trust him. He plays exactly the wrong way, but it's good TV and I love his personality.

Bananas doesn't cut a bunch of deals so it's easy to keep his deals, and he has a rep for keeping deals which is why people like Devin, who hate him, can trust the deals they make with him. It's exactly the right long game to play, IMO. But it only works because Johhny is such a comp beast. If he weren't, he'd get thrown in more and lose more, so he'd need to make too many deals.

Despite watching every season the last 20 or so years (not including spinoffs) I tend to flush a lot of details from each season from memory not long after they wrap up - but I seem to recall a number of times JB stabbed people on the back, like Paula on the island for example. I hated how he cried about the move Sarah and Jordan made in…. exes 2? It was a common sense game move.

I feel like there’s more but again I kind of flush details. Granted it might be because of the island and then rivals 2 (I think) that painted JB as a snake for me and I’ve never been able to shake that.
 
Despite watching every season the last 20 or so years (not including spinoffs) I tend to flush a lot of details from each season from memory not long after they wrap up - but I seem to recall a number of times JB stabbed people on the back, like Paula on the island for example. I hated how he cried about the move Sarah and Jordan made in…. exes 2? It was a common sense game move.

I feel like there’s more but again I kind of flush details. Granted it might be because of the island and then rivals 2 (I think) that painted JB as a snake for me and I’ve never been able to shake that.

He's been on the show for twenty years and crafted his gameplay over time, and of course he hasn't kept every alliance.

Pretty sure the last time he did anybody in a controversial way was Sarah, and that was returning the favor. **** Sarah. It's one thing to throw a vote at somebody because you're between a rock and a hard place... her motivation was she didn't want to see Johnny in the final. This isn't like what Josh did to him last season. That's next level betrayal.
 
He's been on the show for twenty years and crafted his gameplay over time, and of course he hasn't kept every alliance.

Pretty sure the last time he did anybody in a controversial way was Sarah, and that was returning the favor. **** Sarah. It's one thing to throw a vote at somebody because you're between a rock and a hard place... her motivation was she didn't want to see Johnny in the final. This isn't like what Josh did to him last season. That's next level betrayal.

Yeah I don't get that logic. Of course you try and eliminate JB and Nanny right before a final. Sending him and Nany vs Leroy and whoever his partner was that season eliminates at least one strong team in a final. It's a common sense game move. And like they both acknowledged, they weren't like best friends. Pretty sure he acknowledged on that seasons reunion that they didn't even talk outside the challenge.

MEanwhile, him taking half the money when sarah played a huge part of him winning the final was way worse.
 
Yeah I don't get that logic. Of course you try and eliminate JB and Nanny right before a final. Sending him and Nany vs Leroy and whoever his partner was that season eliminates at least one strong team in a final. It's a common sense game move. And like they both acknowledged, they weren't like best friends. Pretty sure he acknowledged on that seasons reunion that they didn't even talk outside the challenge.

MEanwhile, him taking half the money when sarah played a huge part of him winning the final was way worse.

If you don't wanna be allies with Johnny anymore, and have him cut you out of $125k, it's a great fkn move. Friendship is a layer that doesn't really matter. It's about keeping your word. If they were never even friends, then Johnny has even less reason to share with her.

Again, it's the long game here. She went for the money grab so he had no problem doing the same to her.
 
If you don't wanna be allies with Johnny anymore, and have him cut you out of $125k, it's a great fkn move. Friendship is a layer that doesn't really matter. It's about keeping your word. If they were never even friends, then Johnny has even less reason to share with her.

Again, it's the long game here. She went for the money grab so he had no problem doing the same to her.

I don’t recall - did she promise him and nany that they wouldn’t say their name? Were they an alliance that season? I don’t remember that if true.

Still, again, you’re comparing competing against another team Vs screwing over your own teammate.

It was f’d up when JB did it and it was f’d up when the angry white trash lady did it to her midget partner.
 
I don’t recall - did she promise him and nany that they wouldn’t say their name? Were they an alliance that season? I don’t remember that if true.

Still, again, you’re comparing competing against another team Vs screwing over your own teammate.

It was f’d up when JB did it and it was f’d up when the angry white trash lady did it to her midget partner.

I don't think "team" trumps your word. You seem to think it means it's more OK to go back on your word if it's in the interest of your team. I think that's a reason to not trust that person and you owe them nothing when you have a choice to give her $ (when she already has his $).

My memory is faulty, but my recollection is that they were friends. I seem to remember him kinda being brotherly/game-mentor to her, but IDK.

From the most upvoted answer on Reddit:

In Battle of the Exes Two, Bananas and Sarah went into the season as Allie’s and had a strong friendship outside of the show. In the last daily challenge before the final, Sarah and Jordan won the daily elimination and decided to save Jenna and Jay to take to the final as layups. This was considered a betrayal by Bananas because not only did Sarah go against their alliance and friendship, it pitted him against Leroy in the last elimination who is his ride or dye. Sarah justified it by saying it was her best chance to win a final, which she and Jordan ended up winning the whole thing and Johnny was sent home.
 
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I don't think "team" trumps your word. You seem to think it means it's more OK to go back on your word if it's in the interest of your team. I think that's a reason to not trust that person and you owe them nothing when you have a choice to give her $ (when she already has his $).

My memory is faulty, but my recollection is that they were friends. I seem to remember him kinda being brotherly/game-mentor to her, but IDK.

From the most upvoted answer on Reddit:

In Battle of the Exes Two, Bananas and Sarah went into the season as Allie’s and had a strong friendship outside of the show. In the last daily challenge before the final, Sarah and Jordan won the daily elimination and decided to save Jenna and Jay to take to the final as layups. This was considered a betrayal by Bananas because not only did Sarah go against their alliance and friendship, it pitted him against Leroy in the last elimination who is his ride or dye. Sarah justified it by saying it was her best chance to win a final, which she and Jordan ended up winning the whole thing and Johnny was sent home.
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I feel like we're talking in circles here so I'll post this, let you get the last word, and then just agree to disagree.

First, they were friends according to that reddit post, but per the reunion, they weren't besties. They acknowledged they didn't even talk outside the show. So it wasnt as if she betrayed any deep friendship.

Second, by sending her in vs Leroy, that isn't "taking Johnnys money." It ensured at least one fewer strong team would be in the final to compete against. Common sense game move. I'd be all for UGA or ALabama or Ohio State finding a way to miss the CFP this year if it'll make Tennessees path to a NC easier. Same logic. Also, the Johhnys money thing doesn't make sense. I'd argue that Jordan and Sarah in a finale is a much better team than JB and Nany. Odds are Jordan and Sarah win anyways.

Thirdly, I don't see how you can compare taking your teammates half after a final win when Sarah was a strong partner all summer. It wasn't like she was deadweight that he carried all season or even through the final. She was a beast all season and through the final.

I'll let you get the last word in on this as I respect your desire to be wrong. :D
 
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Ah you've done it now. I had to watch the Reunion from my desk as I'm working, LOL. And this will be my last word regardless. Where did you get that they're not friends? You say we're going in circles. But I'm saying you're not right about that.

"Jordan and Sarah will never say our names. We've been working together since day 1." is what Johnny said just before getting thrown in. Jordan was covering his eyes to hide tears. That's how big of betrayal it was, and he wasn't even the person who was tight with Johnny in the alliance.

Sarah tries to pretend they aren't that good of friends and says there are things about Johnny she doesn't like. Johnny's response, "If you don't like who I am outside the game, why did you hang out with me outside the game?" He made a point that Sarah is trying to rewrite history so she doesn't have to feel so bad (looks like she fooled you?). He said they've gone rock climbing together. He set her up on a date.

Nia calls Sarah out and said, "You told me he was your brother and it was an 8 year alliance."

There is no way you can watch this finale and the way she defends herself and feel confident she wouldn't have taken the money from Johnny in rivals, too. Also, Johnny called his shot and said she will never win again. 😄
 
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Wes was on Bananas podcast this weekend and it was really good. They talked about what makes a GOAT and they said everybody talks about stats, physical talent, and social skills, nobody discusses the most important aspect, "are you good TV?"

They take shots at Corey and some of the younger cast because they don't take ownership of the show like they should. Corey is holding out for $ to do press for this season, and Johnny and Wes are like, "You get paid for this when you get paid to be on the show. It's in the contract, plus it helps the show that you are on." And they talked about whenever they're in the house, they're constantly thinking about what's good for the show and what's good TV. Too many people just lay in bed all day, literally lying low so they don't get on anybody's radar to advance in the season.
 
Wes was on Bananas podcast this weekend and it was really good. They talked about what makes a GOAT and they said everybody talks about stats, physical talent, and social skills, nobody discusses the most important aspect, "are you good TV?"

They take shots at Corey and some of the younger cast because they don't take ownership of the show like they should. Corey is holding out for $ to do press for this season, and Johnny and Wes are like, "You get paid for this when you get paid to be on the show. It's in the contract, plus it helps the show that you are on." And they talked about whenever they're in the house, they're constantly thinking about what's good for the show and what's good TV. Too many people just lay in bed all day, literally lying low so they don't get on anybody's radar to advance in the season.

Agreed but also, to talk **** on banans because I enjoy it, whatever season it was where he had his sister write notes before he left for the season, so he could plant them around the house to cause drama was pure ****.

Cast interesting people and let the drama be organic.
 
I think that when ERA I got down to Derrick and Racheal, TJ should have said you two are in the final. Then it would have lit the other three ERAs on fire when they find out only two can make the final.
 
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I liked the episode. Both comps were awesome. The only ****** part was Corey acting like he's fkn king kong for beating a 1-legged guy after crying for days about potentially going in. He says, "Check my legacy" or something like that. Bro, we know it. It's not good.
 

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