Small Talk: The Inner Circle

[Way Wes Jr]

I see recaps for MTV's competition / horrible people living together show, but no forum.  New season premieres April 10!

[David T. Cole]

I converted the show request into the Small Talk thread for the show -- a social thread and not generally for specific show discussion.


Please feel free to start new threads for characters, episodes, media mentions, actors, etc.

If you (collectively) would like to change/add the name of the Small Talk thread jokey bit just figure it out amongst yourselves and then email david@previously.tv and he'll change it.

[scrb]

Wasn't sure this was the Real World/Road Rules Challenge thread/forum.  Glad I checked it out!

[Way Wes Jr]

I'm always late to the snark for the Challenge - I don't have cable, and MTV puts recent episodes on a delay.  (It also means, that to avoid spoilers, I have to skip Grantland's weekly reality wrap up column for 1-3 weeks at a time.)  I hope they put it on a short delay this season (like two seasons ago,) as opposed to last seasons two week delay.

I don't watch The Real World, so these famewhores come in with a fairly clean slate, (with the exception of those that really stand out to the Grantland folk - Hurricane, I'm looking at you,) but they usually fall out of my good graces within the first three episodes.  (The drama/drinking/hooking-up episodes that I don't care for as much.)

[scrb]

We need to come up with unique thread titles for these Small Talk threads because they all look the same when you get the email notifications.

[Lantern7]

Sadly, this show is my jam. I recapped four seasons on another site, and I did two more on my blog. It's a trainwreck from start to finish, and I know that I should quit it, but I just can't. Occasionally, you have a happy ending, like CT winning Rivals II last season with that ginger jackass Wes. But more often than not, it's a huge pain in the ass. If anybody has a twelve-step program on swearing off Bunim-Murray programming, I'd like to hear it.

Edited March 30, 2014 by Lantern7

[Ffiferoo]

I just got into The Challenge last season (probably the only one this late to the party), so I'm pretty interested to see the new season.  My only big disappointment going in is that none of the current Real World cast are going to be on this season.  Also it seems like a lot of people who were on Rivals II are back - is that common?  

[joanne3482]

Sorry, Lantern7, I don't know how to quit it either. I haven't watched The Real World since the first New Orleans season in 2000 and have almost no idea who any of these folks are, yet I still watch every Challenge season. I just like to see what crazy activities these jokers will do for money. I'm thrilled by the way this new Challenge will work so that the boys can't complain about their "dead weight." 

[Way Wes Jr]

In response to scrb - How about: "Small talk: Just hooking up" ?

Edited March 31, 2014 by Way Wes Jr

[pumpkinspice]

I'm another Challenge addict. I can not quit this stupid show. I haven't watch the Real World since...I think Hollywood. (RIP Joey)

I love Laurel. She's one of my faves. Couldn't stand her until she went off on Paula during Rivals, and then I was instantly on team Laurel, because I also love Cara Maria. Can't stand Diem. She seems so fake and vapid to me. HATED Jenn, hope she's gone for good. Wish we'd see Svetlana on another challenge.

On the guys side, so tired of Johnny. GTFO, Bananas. Love Landon, and wish he would come back. Used to love Derrick from Xtreme, until he became a JEK groupie. I find Wes hilariously entertaining, though he can be a cocky little twerp a lot of the time.

More thoughts when the new season airs. I'm excited. Damn it.

[Maverick]

I vote for Small Talk:  Career First!

[kat165]

Good one, Maverick, I like that title. :) If I never see Diem again it will be too soon. I'm so glad that there's a Challenge forum here. I haven't watched a Real World since Brooklyn & before that San Diego with Robin & Brad. But I can't give up these challenges. Don't know why. This is really the only "sports" show I watch. hehe. Glad to see Laurel back. I didn't like her either until she teamed up with Cara Maria and told Paula off. One of my favorite challenge moments ever. I also have a perverse fondness for Wes. I do miss Derrick, but glad to see that maybe he has a life now. Can't wait for the new season to start.

[Keekski]

I love the Challenges, too, but I find that I don't know who half the contestants are anymore. Doesn't stop me, because there's always one oldie but goodie I'll tune in for. CT? Yes. 

[Lantern7]

I vote for "Small Talk: The Gauntlet." Just to honor the first do-or-die games, the real gamechangers in the show's history.

[Lisin]

The Small Talk topic is for:

• Introductions
• Off-topic chatter
• Having virtual tea with forum buddies
  

This is NOT a topic for actual show discussion. When you want to talk about the show:

1. Figure out the nature of the topic you want to talk about
2. Look for an existing topic that matches or fits
3. If there is NOT an existing topic that fits, CREATE ONE!
   

Examples of topics that populate show forums include (but by no means are limited to):

• Character topics
• Episode topics
• Season topics
• Spoiler topics
• Speculation topics
• In the Media topics
• Favourite X topics
• ...you get the idea
  

Happy trails beyond Small Talk!

[WookieeCookieez]

How about "Small Talk: Wanna join my alliance?" or "Small Talk: Socializing without social diseases"?

Edited April 3, 2014 by WookieeCookieez

[Stinger97]

I changed the title to pay homage to the "uglayyy" seasons of yore, but feel free to tell me I'm silly for doing so and I'll totes change it.

[Lantern7]

It's nice . . . makes me want to cry about getting rid of Lindsey because her partner Stephen is a flaming dope. Or automatically boot Beth. Good times. :)

[LoLo]

I just got into The Challenge last season (probably the only one this late to the party), so I'm pretty interested to see the new season.  My only big disappointment going in is that none of the current Real World cast are going to be on this season.  Also it seems like a lot of people who were on Rivals II are back - is that common?  

I think it's too close to taping the RW for current members to be on it. I'm sure a few will show up from this past season next Challenge.

[SnideAsides]

I'm new to this trainwreck too. In terms of old seasons, which seasons are good and which are bad? Is there a good place to start, or should I just watch through them in order? (Edit: My previous Bunim-Murray knowledge is limited to Isaac's two-day stint on Big Brother UK and, like, an old old episode of Road Rules that I saw on mute while at a bowling alley years ago, so a "go with the people you like" answer won't help.)

Edited June 5, 2014 by SnideAsides

[Nena]

I started going through them all from around season 5 (earliest I could find every episode).  Some of them are so young, and some of them are so much calmer now.  I'm up to G3 so far, now I can't tolerate Susie talking on the after show at all.

 

When was Isaac on BBUK?

[peachmangosteen]

My fave season is the original Battle of the Seasons. It's a lot different than the current seasons though. I like all those older seasons a lot. But maybe I'm just nostalgic.

Edited June 14, 2014 by peachmangosteen

[Stinger97]

Y'all, the Small Talk thread is for general off topic discussion, and not about the show. Please take show talk to its appropriate thread. Thanks.

[Elizabeth9]

Don't know where else to post this, but Knight is dead at 27. Choked on vomit after a night of partying. https://hollywoodlife.com/2014/11/27/ryan-knight-dead-dies-real-world-mtv-challenge/

[Maharincess]

I was just coming here to see if anybody had posted it yet.

There aren't many details yet.

[truthaboutluv]

Moving comment to Media thread...

Edited November 28, 2014 by truthaboutluv

[Maharincess]

I guess this is where I should put this.

I just saw Jenn at Chilis, she has gained a LOT of weight. I used to see her a lot, she lives the next town over but hadn't seen her in about a year.

She's really short, I'd say 5 foot 1 at most and she's pretty heavy now. She was in sweats so maybe she's trying to work out to get the weight off.

The last time I saw her was at Chili's (I only go there once in a while but have seen her there 4 times) and she was drunk and yelling about having to wait for a table like the rest of us.

I also saw Cynthia [Miami) at Arbys here in the Bay Area a few years ago. She's really tiny too. These people ahead of us in line kept staring at her and whispering to each other. She looked at me and I said to her that the staring must get old. She said it does but it happens less and less these days.

We talked for a few minutes, she knew I knew who she was and I think she appreciated that I didn't mention the Real World. We just spoke of random things.

She's really sweet.

Has anybody had any Challenge encounters?

I'm really bored.

Edited December 7, 2014 by Maharincess

[choclatechip45]

 

Has anybody had any Challenge encounters?

I think I saw Sophia from BOTS2 working at a bat mitzvah around 2006. She was working with a DJ setting things up I didn't go up to her because I was embarrassed if it wasn't her, but she still had the aphro which is why I recognized her.

 

ETA not really an encounter, but this past summer I was waiting for a NJ Transit train and Swift from this past season had posted flyers to invest in some business he wanted to create and to hire him for appearances.

Edited December 8, 2014 by choclatechip45

[Lantern7]

I never got to meet Sophia, but I did interview her back in 2001. I wrote about her for a grad school story, and I reprinted it on my blog.

 

Meeting BMP alumni . . . the only time I've met them in bulk was when I went to Calico Jack's in 2003, back when The Gauntlet was airing. Wound up meeting Sarah, Steve, Rachel (the tall pixie from Back To New York), Roni, Elka and Antoine. Also, there was Eric from Campus Crawl. I remember being sick while there, as well as Roni and Antoine dancing on the bar. Antoine had to be asked down, since guys weren't supposed to do that. Oh, and I met Melissa during an event at Sanrio, the NYC HQ for all things Hello Kitty.

[Decider]

Lori from Back to New York used to work at a staffing agency where I was registered to find a job back when I first moved to Los Angeles.  She did call me once about an open temp position and I was always tempted to make mention of the show but thought it would end up being too awkward.

[choclatechip45]

It will be interesting to see how they edit Knight this season.

Edited January 7, 2015 by choclatechip45

[kathe5133]

I guess this should go here?  I just checked out the Vevmo forums.  Wow.  Folks.  Do they have jobs?  Go to school?  The amount of thought and effort that some of them put in to tracking the last years of Diem and CT is scary.  I want to suggest to them that maybe they should all just get a cat?  Some other kind of pet?  A hobby, where they will interact with actual human beings in person?  But, I think they are all too far gone, and I have a job and frequently interact with actual humans so I really don't care about them too much!  LOL.  But, really it's frightening!

[choclatechip45]

 

I guess this should go here?  I just checked out the Vevmo forums.  Wow.  Folks.  Do they have jobs?  Go to school?  The amount of thought and effort that some of them put in to tracking the last years of Diem and CT is scary.  I want to suggest to them that maybe they should all just get a cat?  Some other kind of pet?  A hobby, where they will interact with actual human beings in person?  But, I think they are all too far gone, and I have a job and frequently interact with actual humans so I really don't care about them too much!  LOL.  But, really it's frightening!

This is hilarious.

[Daquan Wizard]

Hi everyone. I'm new. I've been watching the challenge since fresh meat maybe? all because I loved RW Austin and I've been hooked ever since.

 

so is there anything cool to do here?

[luckyroll3]

So Rachel (of Veronica and Rachel; don't know her last name and too lazy to google) was standing behind me in line at the Home Goods this afternoon.

[Trace]

Soooo.......anyone watching the intro show for the latest challenge: Battle of the Bloodlines?  Past fools be bringing in family members.  This should be good.

[featherhead]

And I was disappointed that there was no CT. They can't bring him on fast enough for me! I wonder if someone drops out and then they bring him on? I am shocked by Cara Marie's behavior.

[Trace]

From the previews? The family members are gonna throw down!  On each other.......

[Jenkins]

I can definitely see the family members being more over the top than the regulars. Simply because being the center of drama is one way to be asked back on the show. If you aren't memorable, chances are you won't be asked back.

 

I think it is why we have been stuck with Bananas for so damn long (can we get ONE season without him, PLEASE?!), because he is ALWAYS the center of some drama...

[Locutus]

It will be interesting to see how they edit Knight this season.

Umm...isn't he dead?

[OnceSane]

Umm...isn't he dead?

He died after the previous challenge finished filming, but he was a part of that season.

[OnceSane]

For those who have (or planned to) binge watch Are You The One?, feel free to join us in the AYTO forum.  Season 4 premieres Monday, June 13th!

[Lantern7]

I work on Metro North these days, and I saw an ad on the train that I just had to share. I guess that I can never truly escape The Challenge.

 

[Watermelon]

If only it really were a CT Challenge...

[Lantern7]

Here's a profile of another CT.

[Lantern7]

Is anybody from this neck of the woods in the NYC area? Sarah Greyson (aka "The Good Sarah") is in a movie, and it just got funded. It's going to run at FringeNYC later this month. Anybody want to get together?

[luckyroll3]

16 hours ago, Lantern7 said:

Is anybody from this neck of the woods in the NYC area? Sarah Greyson (aka "The Good Sarah") is in a movie, and it just got funded. It's going to run at FringeNYC later this month. Anybody want to get together?

I'll be in NYC during the last week of August for a conference.

[Lantern7]

I figure that I'll still be working, and I'd only be able to swing the Sunday screening. But it would be nice to see the face behind a screen name even if the movie isn't involved.

[Lantern7]

Turns out it's a play. Also, I'll be going to an anime con that weekend, but it'll take place in NYC, so I can totally swing both. Once again . . . who's up to seeing a Sarah who isn't pitiable?

[Lantern7]

Update: There's going to be a mixer after the Sunday show. Please don't let me be the only Challenge fanboy there.