It took 5 episodes and a lost under bet, but Jenn finally got back to being the Jenn we know and love last night on "The Challenge" Rivals. The series began as a giant party with a couple of physical challenges during the day to kill time, but over the years has turned into America's fifth professional sport and with it we lost some of the fun of the show. As any midget football coach will tell you sometimes you got to get back to the basics and that is what Jenn did last night with her pool antics and hook up with Adam. As Jenn said, "Sometimes you have to forget about the game and enjoy being in Costa Rica". With that in mind below are my thoughts and some high and low points for the first 5 episodes of the season.
Breakout stars:
MTV taking the advice of their viewers and going with the "Rivals" angle along with automatically sending the last place team in that day's challenge to the elimination. Both are well needed additions to the production and the added element of working with someone you dislike and performance mattering more than votes from friends keeps things as interesting as possible.
LeRoy and Mike: They are rookies from the latest Real World (Vegas) and have handled themselves decently for their first challenge. LeRoy looks like a lifer in these games (nice improvement from sanitation engineer) and he received a huge break when his original partner (Adam) was booted during the first episode and replaced by his good friend Mike. Mike is by far the least athletic of all the contestants (females included), but his good guy personality and fish out of water presence on the show is much needed. He is feared as the smartest person in the game, but that is a pretty big curve with this crew. Their performance in episode #3 during the Sync and Swim challenge was memorable as LeRoy fell on Mike and cracked his ribs as Mike finished the challenge moaning like a dying farm animal and spitting up blood.
Jonna and Jasmine: The team I knew the least about when the show began, because even I couldn't bring myself to watch Real World/Cancun which is the biggest oxymoron since Jumbo Shrimp. They pulled the biggest upset of the season so far by eliminating Sarah and Katelynn (good riddance) in the jungle during episode #5 and I couldn't have been happier. I wasn't expecting much from this squad, but I would pay double for what I have seen so far. Jasmine might be the craziest person on the show which is as impressive as being the biggest thug on the Steelers roster. In only 5 episodes she has hooked up with Ty, repeatedly fought with her partner, repeatedly threatened to quit the show, fought with most other female teams, broke at least one mirror and a couple of plants, cried, used the line "She doesn't know how crazy I am, I am from Houston" which gave me a new appreciation from the craziness of Houston, and vowed to really turn things up if she survived elimination. Meanwhile, Jonna has shown the ability to compete and not be pushed around, her performance in the puzzle aspect of the elimination and her ability to work with and fight with Jasmine at the same time has been crucial I don't know what the second half of the season holds for this team, but I know it will be fun to watch.
Mandi: Her full court press on CT has been as subtle as an Anthony Weiner text message and it culminated with her telling CT how much she looks to be choked when hooking up. She has always been a pretty face who liked to party on the show, but she is having a D-Rose like breakthrough this season. Until this past week Mandi was doing most of the heavy lifting, but with Jenn getting back to basics during episode 5 I think this team is like the 04' Pacers, they will either be a major contender or go down fighting in the stands.
Camilla: Though she was eliminated with partner Theresa in the 3rd episode, she managed to have some extremely funny "disagreements" with Jasmine without backing down. Just like in surfing, this show needs good waves and Camilla creates more than most.
The Dennis Green "They are who we thought they were"
CT: He was the favorite coming in and is still the favorite after episode 5, he is feared by all and loved by two. He has been the most consistent contestant during the challenges and has shown you really don't need friends and votes when you can dominate the challenges. He hasn't had a chance in a physical challenge yet, so there is still a lot more to see from him.
Paula: Is there anyone outside of Cubs fans more desperate for a title? She was forced to bond with partner Ev during the first elimination challenge and has been her typical self since then. Her total focus is self preservation through the voting process and why wouldn't she hook up with Mike? Slight favorites over Johnny/Tyler as the first set of teammates to hook up.
Annesa/Robin: You know you are in line for a good season when this is the first team sent packing. They have been in more challenges than Jamie Moyer has pitched innings, and maybe it is a problem when you aren't surprised that Robin would leave her children for one more go around in a Challenge?
Davis/Ty: The Real World Denver team look like athletes and this season we found out that Ty played football at Nebraska, but like recent Nebraska squads, every year they are better on paper.
Sarah: She thinks she is a star and one of the best competitors on the show only her results never match her inflated self ego, sounds like she should have a star on her helmet.
Brandon: Every week he seems like he is in an elimination challenge and he always seems to be one win away from a game changing upset. This season he put Wes/Kenny on the brink of elimination with a win in the first round of their elimination challenge, but then he gave up in the final round.
The Adam Dunn's and Oakland A's
Jenn: Like I previously stated she battled back in episode 5, but she was nowhere to be found in the first four episodes. She is the Lebron of the Challenge and 20/8/8 isn't enough, she needs to be the focal point and she has giving us way too many 40 degree days so far this season and this has nothing to do with her non-existence athletic and challenge ability. Maybe she is waiting for the right moment to get into it with Jasmine, if that is the case I take it all back.
Kenny: The biggest no-show performance wise and his total disappearing act has made his rivalry with Wes the biggest let down of the season. This was supposed to be one of the most compelling storylines of the season, instead Kenny looks like Rick Ankiel on the mound and we are left with Wes keeping the team afloat and his ego on the biggest steroid cycle of the show.
Evan: I hate to put a Canadian on the list, but do we need another Wes/Kenny/Johnny disciple who doesn't win anything or have a personality.
Adam: He has the best partner on the show in CT, who wants to win this more than anything, but Adam is more concerned with being friends with Wes/Kenny/Johnny/Evan who are only using him because they are scared of CT. All he has to do is not completely lose it for his team and he is in the money, sort of like Terry Franconia. Just when you think he can't make himself look worse he reveals that he has been in love with Jenn for years and wants to marry her. The "Can't Hardly Wait" romantic comedy angle worked with fictional Jennfier Lover Hewitt, but it doesn't seem to have the same sway with real life Raider-ette Jenn.
Maybe the challenges are fun to participate in, but for the most part they have come across to the viewer like a Kardashian spin off reality show. Obviously MTV is making way too much money on Jersey Shore advertising time that they can afford all the production crews needed to have in depth detailed challenges like crushing cars and kayaking. Crawling across hammocks and broad jumping with bungee cords doesn't make for exciting TV. They need to get back to physical challenges were they compete against each other and not against a clock. They have become so detailed that most of female teams don't finish them or even attempt them and more complicated does not equate to better in these instances.
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