As a long-time fan of MTV’s reality TV shows, I must say that I feel like a kid in a candy store with all these exciting developments! With over two decades of experience in this field, I’ve seen the ups and downs, the twists and turns, and the ever-evolving landscape of reality television.
As a long-time fan of “The Challenge,” I am beyond excited for the premiere of Season 40, “Battle of the Eras.” Having watched this show since its early seasons, I can confidently say that this new installment promises to be the most thrilling and emotional yet. With all returning players, I’m eager to see how past rivals and allies interact in a completely different era. The anticipation is killing me! August 14 cannot come soon enough on MTV. This season will undoubtedly take my love for the show to new heights.
If you’ve been along for the ride from the get-go, it’s been quite a mind-bending experience. “The Challenge” started off as “Road Rules: All Stars” back in 1998 and was renamed to “Real World/Road Rules Challenge” the next year. It’s been quite the adventure!
As a movie connoisseur, I can’t hide my enthusiasm for stars like CT, Johnny Bananas, and Mark Long. Being an old-school fan, I appreciate their growth and transformation over the years. For instance, watching CT evolve from a tough guy who could erupt in a heartbeat to someone who often maintains an unflappable calmness in tense situations is truly captivating. It’s a privilege to witness and help share these extended, intricate narratives of personal development.
Julie Pizzi, who has been associated with “The Challenge” since 2000 and currently holds the position of president at BMP and 51 Minds Entertainment, reminisces about the set of Season 40 in Vietnam. She recalls a palpable feeling of something grander than usual, which isn’t always present on a TV show, making it truly exceptional.
In the segment below, Murray and Pizzi will discuss how the game and its casting have evolved, the current state of competition reality TV, upcoming Bunim-Murray Productions shows that fans are eagerly anticipating, and many other intriguing topics.
Jon, starting with you. Did you ever, when you created “The Real World” in 1992, think that we’d still be here talking about a spinoff that came from that idea?
Jon Murray expressed that they didn’t anticipate still being around for the following week due to their previous five years of unsuccessful pilots. However, when “The Real World” finally made it to air, it was an exhilarating experience since nothing had been on television before. This initial episode immediately resonated with the MTV audience. Initially, MTV’s rating in the demo was around .3, but at 10 p.m., it skyrocketed to a .9 – tripling the numbers. By Season 4 in Miami, they had reached a 4.5 rating, which was unprecedentedly high. From the very start, making the show was an absolute pleasure because it accomplished something unique in television: bringing together people from diverse backgrounds. Besides being entertaining, it also allowed viewers to grow and learn alongside the cast members.
On the day everyone gathered on set, even the actors themselves were quite emotional about it. Some individuals expressed, “I wouldn’t miss this for anything. I’ll go to great lengths to be here.” It was truly heartwarming. There were those who had been there since the very first season. Seeing all the people who have contributed to this series over the years, both on the crew and the cast side, was quite a sight. And it truly felt like a collective effort. I believe there was such a strong feeling of something greater at play, which isn’t always present in a show. This made it incredibly unique.
The kickoff special featured so many flashbacks to iconic moments through the last 39 seasons. Will that continue throughout the season to bring that nostalgic element to the forefront?
Pizzi: Essentially, we converted all our episodes into digital format and examined all available footage spanning 39 seasons. Taking note of the popularity of “All Stars,” as its nostalgic approach resonates well with viewers, and often features throwback clips, we recognized the audience’s fondness for it. This insight provided us a unique chance and compelling reason to incorporate similar elements in this season.
I remember when “All Stars” launched, some of the older cast members thought that the daily challenges would be easier than they were. What’s the difficulty level here — because you do have a wide age range of competitors?
In the creation of “All Stars,” we aimed for a more entertaining and humorous vibe, yet the games themselves differ significantly. However, we ensured that the essence of “The Challenge” franchise was maintained in terms of complexity. These competitors are indeed performing daring stunts! Our show boasts an exceptional global stunt team who contribute annually to the series. Even a veteran like Mark Long, over 50 years old, was involved in these high-level stunts that “The Challenge” is known for. The main program remains hardcore and producer Justin Booth prefers it no other way – it’s intense!
Jon, who were you most excited to see back?
Murray expresses his eagerness to witness individuals such as CT, Johnny Bananas, and Mark Long. He considers himself an old-timer, reminiscing about the original cast members from “The Real World/Road Rules Challenge.” These are individuals we’ve watched grow, mature over time. Most have turned out to be genuinely admirable people. One can see the transformation in CT, for instance, who transitioned from being a somewhat volatile character to someone who often maintains a calm demeanor. It’s fascinating to follow these long-term transformations.
Who was the toughest to get back?
Pizzi: It was tough getting Rachel Robinson on board since she’s busy with her business and takes care of three kids. We wanted her for our competition because she’s an exceptionally strong female contender, and perhaps even stronger now than in her twenties. I believe she saw it as a significant personal test, but we were thrilled when she managed to find the time to join us.
We’ve had teams of two but this is the first time we’ve seen big teams since “War of the Worlds 2.” Can you say if there’s one winner, a team winner, etc. on “Eras”?
Pizzi: I don’t think I can tell you!
I love the idea of “Eras,” but I still am missing themes like “Exes” and “Rivals.” What is your favorite theme?
As someone who grew up watching “Battle of the Sexes” and being captivated by its portrayal of gender roles, I find myself continually drawn to this classic competition. Having witnessed both the early battles, I can attest that the themes presented then resonate deeply in our contemporary discourse about men and women’s abilities. The thrill of seeing two women triumph over two men remains unmatched for me – it’s an exhilarating sight!
Pizzi: I truly enjoyed the series “Battle of the Seasons.” I believe it would resonate most with “All Stars” now due to its primarily featuring cast members from “Real World” and “Road Rules.” However, having someone who shares a rich history, who’s been on the same show before, adds depth. It was one of my favorite seasons, but it came out quite early.
You guys shot this in Vietnam. What was that like?
As a devoted cinephile, let me share an exciting behind-the-scenes tidbit: Despite the scorching heat and torrential downpours during pre-production, we cleverly filmed in winter America to take advantage of our outdoor shooting opportunities. The sun’s extended stay past 9 p.m. provided us with ample hours to capture captivating gameplay scenes, making the production process a truly rewarding experience.
Some of the cast has spoken out about the living conditions being very difficult. What can you say about that?
When it comes to designing our fictional settings, we often find ourselves in diverse locations such as castles, bunkers, even places requiring portable bathrooms due to their poor infrastructure. We’ve even had to install generators at times. Our goal is always to make the location feel magical and fantastical. This year, for instance, we were fortunate enough to work in an impressive castle in Vietnam, but we did need to provide additional bathroom facilities, which isn’t as comfortable as hotel amenities. However, we always strive to ensure a comfortable experience for our cast members. We often source locally, which means dealing with different tastes, but we always aim to cater well to our talented cast. Our dedicated talent team is there to provide them with basic needs like pain relievers, ice packs, extra cutlery, plates, and cups. We go the extra mile to keep our cast comfortable, and I’m confident that most would agree with this.
The industry and landscape has changed quite a bit over the 26 years that “The Challenge” has been on the air. How has what you’re looking for changed?
Murray: Occasionally, we’d have individuals join us based on audience demand. However, without a strong competitive drive, I believe they wouldn’t last at this stage anymore. From the get-go, it needed to be someone who was distinctively charismatic – someone authentic, fearless in expressing themselves, confident yet receptive to others and eager to learn from them. Additionally, such an individual should have a competitive streak – not only on the field, but also one who is determined to outlast the group, to understand the dynamics of the team, and to form alliances with those likely to make it to the end. You’d want strategists who could articulate their strategies effectively during interviews.
Many contestants contact us as they might have appeared on “Love Island,” but they’re actually highly competitive personalities eager to compete on “The Challenge.” Sometimes, this competitive streak isn’t always evident in their performances on other shows, yet they seek our platform for a challenge.
Jon, are you still getting new ideas for shows? How often are you calling up Julie and saying, “Hey, what about this?”
Murray’s final idea revolves around a concept titled “Never Met,” airing on OWN and Max. He finds intrigue in series that emerge from genuine real-life events, especially during COVID times when people were connecting online but had yet to meet in person. His thought was, wouldn’t it be fascinating to witness the moment they first physically encounter? The idea then expanded into a scenario where multiple couples are meeting for the first time, creating a mini “Temptation Island.” This was the last project he assisted in creating. If another real-life situation catches his eye, he plans to return to Julie and her team at BMP to collaborate on its development and eventual broadcast.
Pizzi: We often find ourselves joking since every time Jon comes up with an idea, he’d say something like, “How about this?” And more often than not, we end up making it into a reality on our shows! Not only did “Never Met” air on OWN, but it was such a success that they ordered a Season 2 even before the final episode.
Jon, you created one of the very first reality shows and now competition shows are more popular than ever, the latest being “The Traitors,” which CT and Trishelle won last year. Have you watched?
Murray: I make it a point to catch the initial episode of anything fresh, to get a feel for its premise and observe how it’s pushing boundaries within its genre. What intrigues me most about that show is Alan Cumming – I find him simply captivating as the host. This aspect is what I’m particularly looking forward to. However, it’s amusing sometimes when you watch these shows and think, “Ah, we tackled a similar challenge.” or “Wow, we did something quite similar 20 years ago.”
Pizzi: The makers of these series often mention that they draw inspiration from our challenges, and I believe it’s because “The Challenge” has been airing for such a long time and we change the game every year, there’s plenty to learn. It’s almost like we’re innovating our genre each season, and I think it’s fantastic. The rising tide lifts all boats. When these shows are successful, creative, and generating buzz, it only fuels the competitive genre even more. We feel incredibly fortunate because we’ve been able to produce so many seasons of this franchise, and we want it to continue indefinitely.
Well, speaking of this growing franchise, there were talks of “Road Rules” coming back in 2021. What’s the status there?
Pizzi: While we don’t have any immediate plans for it, we’d certainly be delighted to revive “Road Rules.” MTV owns the rights, and they’ve been extensively developing “The Challenge” franchise instead. With numerous variations of “The Challenge,” I believe there’s enough room in the market for both shows, given their dedication. So, while it may not be on the table right now, it’s a topic we revisit from time to time. I think we’ll see its return at some point, but for now, there’s no concrete plan.
We had two seasons of “The Challenge: USA.” Will there be more of that?
Pizzi: It’s hard for me to picture it not carrying on. Although we’re not producing it at the moment, we strongly believe it’s an excellent series, and it has been successful. Everyone seemed to love it. So, let’s hope it gets renewed as well.
What is the status of “The Real World: Homecoming,” which has disappeared from Paramount+? Will there be more?
As a movie enthusiast, I’m keeping my fingers crossed for a continuation. Currently, we aren’t working on any new episodes, but it’s always a topic of discussion. MTV has been incredibly cooperative throughout this journey. Our show was previously aired on Paramount+, and given the current dynamic in the industry, it’s uncertain, but we truly enjoyed creating this series. Jon was heavily invested in this project, making each episode a delight to work on.
Murray: Some locations require everyone in the cast to be involved, and San Francisco is one of those places. However, there are certain boundaries that some people won’t cross, making it difficult to assemble everyone, which makes these projects quite challenging.
We know “Vanderpump Villa” is coming back for a second season and Stassi Schroeder has joined. How did that come about?
Pizzi mentioned that she’s had a close, lengthy friendship with Lisa Vanderpump, stretching back over many years. It seemed as if they had planned for Stassi to visit during filming since everything fell into place perfectly.
The flagship only airs on MTV but doesn’t have a streaming partner right now. Is there any movement there?
Pizzi: Paramount determines our production locations, so we’re not typically involved in those discussions. However, we have faith in their marketing tactics. They’ve shown great intelligence in promoting “The Challenge” across various platforms, which has undeniably boosted the show’s success.
Lastly, how do you top “Battle of the Eras”? Is that a conversation you’re already having?
Pizzi: Discussing the future and brimming with fantastic concepts! Let’s continually strive for improvement and re-engage our audience effectively. We’ve been collaborating on an exhilarating project with MTV that we can’t wait to unveil, but first, savor the taste of 40 as it’s simply delightful.
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2024-08-14 21:21