Behind the Screen: What Could Be Done to Improve the Challenges?

For over two decades, MTV's The Challenge has been the proving ground where reality TV's fiercest competitors come to cement their legacies. What started as a Real World/Road Rules spinoff has evolved into one of the most physically and mentally demanding competition series on television.

The franchise's expansion — with spinoffs in the USA, UK, Argentina, and Australia — speaks to a global appetite for the brand of cutthroat competition and alliance-driven gameplay that Vevmo's community has been tracking since 2007.

1) Fire the editor. I'd like to not know who gets eliminated until, call me crazy, after the elimination happens...

— cystic

I agree with a lot of them (even the little things like being able to see everyones individual time during missions)...

— ryan01

Thread Summary

Discussion thread about What Could Be Done to Improve the Challenges? with 30 replies from the Vevmo community.

What Could Be Done to Improve the Challenges?

iMichael ·
It's no secret that ratings for the challenges aren't what they once were. What do you think could be done to improve the quality of the show as well as the ratings? Here are some of my suggestions: First and foremost, the advertising needs to be improved. I've found that in recent challenges, I have not seen as many promos as I have in the past. I remember in the month prior to The Gauntlet 3 airing, MTV ran commercials like crazy. And I know a lot of kids at my school were really excited to see the Gauntlet 3. I remember when I told my friends that I was watching The Island, the majority responded "what's that?" Secondly, I think the challenges need to be improved. I feel like every challenge on the Duel 2 is strength based, and Landon and Mark have been winning all of them. I miss the days when they had silly challenges like Laser Tag and sitting on blocks of ice. I would also love to see another game show type of challenges (like Battle of the Opposite Sexes or the Newlywed-style game they had on Battle of the Seasons). Also, I do not think they should make people leave right away after they are eliminated. I miss the days when we could see people crying while packing their bags, or talking crap on their way to the van that would be taking them home. Here's one thing that has really irked me on recent challenges (especially the Duel 1&2). They need to start showing the times of individual heats again during challenges. I know they did it on last night's episode of The Duel 2, but they did not during the "Don't Let Go" challenge. I thought that was a great idea for a challenge, but the fact that I did not know how long people were dangling over the edge for make the challenge less interesting. Also, if something is put in the trailer for the show, please include it in the actual show, and make it part of a story. I remember during the Inferno 3 they had a clip of Janelle yelling at Johnny because Johnny said he got her pregnant. Or during the Gauntlet 3 they only showed one of the two Katie freak-outs, and what they did show was very quick and did not make sense. I also miss the pre-shows they used to do. Sure, we all know who Evan or Dunbar or Paula are at this point, but it's interesting to hear what other cast members think of them prior to the show starting. The final thing that I think needs improvement is casting. There are a hundred ways that casting could be improved, but I'll just suggest this one thing...don't cast the same person for too many challenges in a row. I know a lot of people who like Kenny and Paula out there, but there are also some faithful views who dislike these two. To be courteous to those who dislike cast members like Kenny or Paula, do put them on 4 or 5 challenges in a row. I can understand 2, maybe 3, challenges but 4+ is definitely pushing it.
30 Comments
cystic#2
1) Fire the editor. I'd like to not know who gets eliminated until, call me crazy, after the elimination happens. Or unless I can't resist spoilers on here. :) 2) I agree with making more creative challenges. The bobble heads on the Duel II were a step in the right direction. It'd also be nice to bring back Fear Factor-esque challenges, where they have to eat disgusting things. Mixing up the missions like this would at least give weaker players a chance to win, and not make it so damn predictable as to who wins. 3) More endurance challenges. I know its impractical because editing hates endurance challenges, but it adds variety and weaker players have shown to perform well in these. 4) I agree with your casting. I have zero clue as to which people they invite, but I guess the people who we never really see can't be commited to a challenge due to real life situations.
ryan01#3
Good points. I agree with a lot of them (even the little things like being able to see everyones individual time during missions). I would also like to be able to watch future episodes and not know who's going home within the first 10-15 minutes into the episode. The editors have made it so blatantly obvious on this challenge (and this is like the first challenge where I didn't really follow the spoilers).
V1man#4
Fire the executive producer - he is responsible for all the mistakes... ***dusts off resume***
Dartagnan#5
V1man;71007 wrote:
Fire the executive producer - he is responsible for all the mistakes... ***dusts off resume***
Short and simple. How do we do it? I think the major problem is editing. At least from a personal perspective. Half of the more interesting stuff like gameplay, is replaced with meaningless stuff like Nehemiah's zen room?
Ms. Dynasty#6
I think more comedy aspects would make the show more interesting to watch..like doing more slow mos..or even having a castmember doing a voice over for another castmember kind of in a mockery if that makes sense..example: the Don't Let Go challenge, it would have been sooo funny to have a few cast members do confessionals of Diem's gibberish and meshing them altogether..or as the castmembers are doing confesionals add some digital props whenever necessary like if someone is like Yea I love Cancun and i want a burrito, give them a Sanbrero..I mean don't go too overboard but add touches of comedy when possible.. And another idea [[for personal reason]] bring back the whole Fresh Meat thing..I mean I want to be on challenge too damnit! lol.. P.s Great thread idea..
Ms. Dynasty#7
V1man;71007 wrote:
Fire the executive producer - he is responsible for all the mistakes... ***dusts off resume***
Hmm are you insisting on stepping up to the plate perhaps?? That would be a lovely surprise..
Lotus#8
If V1 did become the EP we would lose alot of insight and spoiler information because he'd be under contract.
V1man#9
Zachary;71047 wrote:
If V1 did become the EP we would lose alot of insight and spoiler information because he'd be under contract.
I don't provide spoiler info when I have clients involved as I do for "The Pit." Nothing from me this time. I respect the contracts.
Ms. Dynasty#10
But still the shows would probably be amazing work!!
ColiesMom#11
I am ready for a mother daughter challenge.
ballinbroken#12
I also agree that they should have more random challenges such as: eating bugs, the ice cream challenge, and the chicken suit challenge. I think they rush everything. The challengers are in the house for 5 minutes then at the challenge for 10 then the people discuss who is going in for 10 minutes and so on. It's just way to confusing. Also, I like how on the duel 1 the people had to pick who to save right away.
Bacchus#13
ColiesMom;71178 wrote:
I am ready for a mother daughter challenge.
You know, it would be a great idea and could open the show up to a broader audience. My number one issue with the challenge is pre-formed alliances and the methodical nature of the "lists" and such. I'd like to see a format that would allow for more organic results. To be honest, more survivor like from top to bottom.
joliny#14
I think that they should bring back the Lifesaver option where you could save someone from going into the Duel or go in yourself. Also I think that they should go by a point system and people should earn their spots and not lay low. I liked how on the Island you had to compete for a key in a duel. I also think that posting times is a very important element that is missing from the Duel 2. It makes it more interesting to see how fast the missions are accomplished and what time everyone needs to beat imo. I agree that you should also bring back the silly competitions like eating weird foods. That way physical strength would not lead to a big advantage.
RW561015#15
I agree with just about everything said in this thread, especially cast selection, having a variety of missions, advertising better, and editing better.
RMD1#16
Bacchus;71197 wrote:
You know, it would be a great idea and could open the show up to a broader audience. My number one issue with the challenge is pre-formed alliances and the methodical nature of the "lists" and such. I'd like to see a format that would allow for more organic results. To be honest, more survivor like from top to bottom.
Like an Island 2?? No thanks =)
Bacchus#17
RMD1;71252 wrote:
Like an Island 2?? No thanks =)
The Island was nothing like Survivor.... To comparing them would be like saying you don't Rolex Watches because the the knock off you bought in Canal Street that stopped working an hour after you bought it. :D
Bacchus#18
I want to elaborate.... I think they should be broken up into two groups that never see each other (except for the events) and if production is smart, they will know exactly how to do it to eliminate the strongest of alliances and have a good canvas for infighting. There would be battles between the two teams. The winning team each week would stay in a house with all the amenities including copious booze and would get to vote one person on the losing team into the "ring" while the losing team would have to select the other (The winning team would not watch the match.) After shedding a player, the losing team would sleep on the ground in the jungle ala Survivor exile Island with no food or booze (this would help break alliances quickly and make people keep the strongest players.) When it came to the merger, there would be individual immunity and the worst performing player would automatically be in the ring vs. who the remaining cast members voted in. Just a mix and match of some of the better Survivor ideas.
RMD1#19
I like that idea a lot.. Do you think BMP would be sued by the people at survivor??
Lotus#20
RMD1;71264 wrote:
I like that idea a lot.. Do you think BMP would be sued by the people at survivor??
They could since Survivor is copyrighted after all but after The Island and the challenge thing period you have to realize that MTV didn't sue them.
Debut Album#21
I agree with all of the points that were made.
superchico#22
Zachary;71272 wrote:
They could since Survivor is copyrighted after all but after The Island and the challenge thing period you have to realize that MTV didn't sue them.
It also wouldn't get that far both being under the Viacom banner. I'd imagine Mark Burnett worries about Real World/Road Rules challenges less than cleaning his own house.
Bacchus#23
superchico;71308 wrote:
I'd imagine Mark Burnett worries about Real World/Road Rules challenges less than cleaning his own house.
Haha, now that made me laugh, lol.
Dartagnan#24
Bacchus;71257 wrote:
I want to elaborate.... I think they should be broken up into two groups that never see each other (except for the events) and if production is smart, they will know exactly how to do it to eliminate the strongest of alliances and have a good canvas for infighting. There would be battles between the two teams. The winning team each week would stay in a house with all the amenities including copious booze and would get to vote one person on the losing team into the "ring" while the losing team would have to select the other (The winning team would not watch the match.) After shedding a player, the losing team would sleep on the ground in the jungle ala Survivor exile Island with no food or booze (this would help break alliances quickly and make people keep the strongest players.) When it came to the merger, there would be individual immunity and the worst performing player would automatically be in the ring vs. who the remaining cast members voted in. Just a mix and match of some of the better Survivor ideas.
Wow. Very insightful and creative. It would work. But I think they don't think things through, example being The Island. I think formats need to be thought through more. Something like The Gauntlet 3 and The Island automatically puts those in the Alliance in the safe zone. They need to make it more Point system based where the person with the most points is safe, and the person with the last automatically goes in with either: A.)Someone of the loser's choice. B.)The next on the scoreboard. This gives nobody any real control. This is one of the three major problems in my opinion, along with editing and promotion.
Gucci Mane#25
RMD1;71252 wrote:
Like an Island 2?? No thanks =)
The Island was NOTHING like Survivor except the fact that it was outdoors. Even then, they STILL had luxuries.
Ms. Dynasty#26
yeeaa so back to throwing out IDEAS
mattyw66#27
1) Bring the Miz back, as a host. The guy is ****ing hilarious. 2) Get rid of similar Gauntlets. Ankle Breaker and Force Field and kind of Ram it Home were ****ed up versions of a tug of war. G2 had 5/6 unique gauntlets (we never saw Knock Off but I'm assuming it was unique) 3) Have more straight-up physical fighting/brawling Inferno's and Gauntlet's. Beach Brawl seemed simple enough, but the stupid fact that Derrick had to hold onto the pole in Pole Wrestle is the only reason (I believe) he lost that Duel to Wes during the Duel 1. 4) People who perform the BEST overall for a particular challenge event should not only win immunity for themselves, but be able to give one other person immunity. This could mix things up. 5) If they do another Inferno, there should be team Captains again. And the team captain should have the right (lifeshield of not), to replace the his/her team's member who is going into the inferno for each and every inferno
Dartagnan#28
Matty, Miz is a professional wrestler with WWE. Good luck. I agree that more physical Match-Ups are the best, but they have to be fair in my opinion. Like I love Push Over, but it is obvious who will win and who will lose.
cjslife#29
Maybe it's just me, but I don't think TJ is that bad. Sure there are alot of people they could get that would be better at hosting than he is, but there are alot of people that would be worst. He seemed to be more enthusiastic about hosting on Gauntlet 2. (Well, that could just be because they showed him more and not just him reading the rules to everyone like he does now.)
RW561015#30
I would also like to see a challenge with the alliance or friends thing not being a big factor in who stays. I had big hopes for The Duel format when I first heard about it, since it was to be an "every man and woman for themselves" type of format, with an individual winner of each gender. But the whole "call out someone to stay" deal totally dashed those hopes. At least the person left out can call out whoever they want (except the winner), though. This is a really small thing, but when they put up the little graphics with the cast members' names when they are talking, I would like for them to add which season they are from under it, like they used to do. The people who don't have a RW or RR season can just have Fresh Meat put under their name. I'd also like for them to have a few more scenes with people from the same season, if they are hanging around each other. The dynamics of the people from the same season is interesting to me, as they sometimes change from time to time. In the past I felt this was highlighted a bit more.
Anonymous#31
RW561015;71418 wrote:
I would also like to see a challenge with the alliance or friends thing not being a big factor in who stays. I had big hopes for The Duel format when I first heard about it, since it was to be an "every man and woman for themselves" type of format, with an individual winner of each gender. But the whole "call out someone to stay" deal totally dashed those hopes. At least the person left out can call out whoever they want (except the winner), though. This is a really small thing, but when they put up the little graphics with the cast members' names when they are talking, I would like for them to add which season they are from under it, like they used to do. The people who don't have a RW or RR season can just have Fresh Meat put under their name. I'd also like for them to have a few more scenes with people from the same season, if they are hanging around each other. The dynamics of the people from the same season is interesting to me, as they sometimes change from time to time. In the past I felt this was highlighted a bit more.
I think that needs to be done again. My sister has been out of the loop since Battle of the Sexes 2 and she just started watching the Duel 2. She was like "Who the hell are these people? They least they could have done is put the seasons under their name."

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