MTV's The Challenge: Rivals is over, and I'm sad.

MTV Challenge: Rivals

I am one of those people that gets too emotionally involved in reality TV shows. MTV's recent "Challenge" is no exception.

Although this reality series is overshadowed by the likes of Jersey Shore (which I also love) and Teen Mom, I believe the MTV has struck the jackpot with the cast and the challenges that they encounter.

Here's the set-up: MTV has been doing these challenges for years. It's rather ridiculous the types of things they put these people through in order to have the chance to make $100,000 (sometimes less). This season, some of the craziest things the cast had to do involved moving across a platform by jumping from hammock to hammock, moving cars with large machinery, jumping onto a zip line from 50 feet above the water (with no harness!), and the final challenge, which was a 2-day overnight challenge where they had to reach the end at the top of a 9,000 ft mountain.

Ridiculous.

But that's not why I watch: the dynamic of the people on this show is so intriguing and emotionally draining, that you actually get invested in their well-being. I didn't even realize how much I felt like I knew this cast until the rivals reunion which aired last night.

The highlight of this reunion was Adam finally admitting that he cared for bad-boy CT and breaking down into tears despite Kenny aka "Mr. Beautiful" egging him on. It's insane how much I was intrigued by their relationship and the "development" of their characters. To be honest, I was a tad misty - I could have cried out of joy for them if I wasn't too embarrassed that Megan might have walked out of her room to see my crying to an MTV reality show.

The emotional turmoil coupled with the physical challenges made it so that I couldn't even wait to watch an episode until the next day - even though I recorded it on my DVR, I had to watch it as close to live as possible even if it jeopardized my sleep.

Here are the results:
Male Winners: Tyler and Johnny
Female Winners: Eve and Paula
Male Runners-Up: Kenny and Wes
Female Runners-Up: Laurel and Cara Maria
Male Third Place: Mike and Leroy
Female Third Place: Jen and Mandi

I would have loved to see CT and Adam take it and prove everyone wrong, but then again I feel emotionally attached to CT - just like every other female he encounters. What is it about him?

I'll get off my soap box. I can't wait for next season's Challenge. Hump Day will be much harder now that I don't have this show to look forward to.

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I Love the 90s: Nickelodeon Television Nostalgia

I don't wanna grow up!
Well, now you don't have to...

Generation Y-ers rejoice! Nickelodeon is bringing back 4-hour blocks of the 90s hit shows that we all grew up with and learned to love. The nostalgic hits those of us that watched Nickelodeon all day on Saturdays to catch the new (and repeat) airings of the debatabley bizarre shows are finally back!

Considering Nickelodeon has arguably not produced anything of quality aside from iCarly and Spongebob Squarepants since these "classic" shows IMO, undoubtedly anyone ranging from 18 to 30 years old will embrace this addition and Nickelodeon will re-capture this audience.



How you may ask? Well, according to a New York Times correspondant, this craving for nostalgia that is present in many-a-Facebook group dedicated to dig up these shows is what ultimately convinced Nickelodeon to bring them back (like Justin Timberlake and sexy). The same groups of millions of people (similar to the ones who voted to put Betty White on SNL) are quite a driving force. If this plan works out, these shows could be a permanent fixture, and I would be permanently ecstatic.

The catch? It's only on from midnight to 4 am. Although they shouldn't expect more than the nostalgic insomniac to watch, surely plenty of people will set their TiVos and tune in for a chance to catch their favorite cast member on All That or their most memorable Pete and Pete episode (Case in point: I still can't figure out the name of the song from Pete and Pete that I used to scream out my dad's car's window... incentive enough for me!).

This is also great because now "grown-ups" (if you can even call us that) are now allowed to watch cartoons because we are the only demographic that will be able to relate to bizarre shows like Aah! Real Monsters, Rocko's Modern Life, Ren and Stimpy (I still can't believe my dad let me watch that...), Rocket Power, Hey! Arnold, Doug, etc. These cartoons are basically South Park and Family Guy before their time, except without needing the blatantly grotesque and sexual sense of humor to capture an audience (not that I'm complaining).

Announcing the complete line up for the new Nick-at-Night specials:
Aaahh!!! Real Monsters
The Adventures of Pete & Pete
All That
The Amanda Show
Are You Afraid of the Dark?
Catdog
Clarissa Explains it All
Double Dare
Doug
Hey Arnold!
Kenan & Kel
Legends of the Hidden Temple
Nickelodeon GUTS
The Ren & Stimpy Show
Rocket Power
Rocko’s Modern Life
Rugrats
Salute Your Shorts
The Secret World Of Alex Mack

So, ready! Set! DVR!

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