Real World/Road Rules Challenge

This is probably the only good reality tv series out there since it has been on air for this long. Very addicting and super underrated. I love the drama, the challenges and challengers.

"The Challenge" originated when MTV wanted to capitalize on its "Road Rules" and "Real World" franchises and the numerous young celebrities those two shows had created. Stars from each of those shows were pitted against each other. Over the course of thirty-three seasons, so far, its producers have looked for ways to keep it fresh, mostly by varying the cast. Like "Big Brother" and "Survivor" and "The Amazing Race" and other reality contest shows, they have pitted various factions against one another.

As in the original "Real World", the contestants are mostly attractive alpha types. Those who have been successful on the show(s) have returned again and again, creating careers. This means some of them have had their egos stroked for years and they bring romantic and rivalry histories with them. This baggage fuels attractions and personal vendettas. These are real contests, but they are also soap operas.

You can expect grueling competitions, plenty of chest beating, and juvenile hookups and alliances. For a prize of $1 million, these twenty-somethings will do almost anything.

The best competitors display heart, intelligence, and physicality.

These shows often come with their own "after shows", where an in-studio host asks probing questions about each episode and they show behind-the-scenes footage.

The Challenge has been an MTV staple for decades now. This show puts former reality show contestants (originally drawing from the Real World and Road Rules casts exclusively) against each other in physical challenges and/or puzzles, all while they are trapped living in a huge, amazing house. Alliances, politics, backstabbing, hookups, fights, and general drunkenness have also been known to ensue.

What separates The Challenge from other tv shows of similar nature is that contestants often return season to season, with some contestants having been on 10+ seasons. This allows storylines to continue across years. You might watch your favorite contestant rise from 'sweet rookie underdog'to 'multi season champion' to 'veteran bully'. Not only this, but the physical challenges (especially some of the eliminations and the Final challenge) are actually incredibly grueling and require those who really want a shot at winning to specially train year-round.

I was just an elementary schooler when The Challenge began, so I literally grew up watching some of these people and continue to into my late 20s. That's not to say you wont enjoy it if you jump right into the current season without te background experience- the current seasons have drawn lots of brand new contestants from UK reality shows which has introduced a whole new set of characters and a US vs UK dynamic which has totally ushered in a brand new era of the show.

The Challenge has it all- personable characters, ridiculous personalities, great athletes, high drama, endearing underdogs, malicious bullies, and a plethora of VERY attractive people. Phenomenal television.

The challenge is one of the only reality tv shows that I could still watch and enjoy till this day. It brings a whole roster of Real World, Big Brother, Survivor and other reality tv shows to compete for a hefty amount of money. Challenges and drama are why I enjoy this show and how it managed to keep my attention after all these years. The amount of real life drama and confrontation are unfathomable. The alliances that are formed add to this drama and are cutthroat. You hooked up with my chick? Guess what, lets settle it in an elimination. Two challengers get to fight for their right to stay in the house and whoever wins stays in the house. Whoever loses in an elimination goes home empty handed. Win a Challenge and you're blessed with power which comes in anyway shape or form for that season.

I have to admit that I don't watch much reality tv. I only watch this, Survivor and Big Brother. The Challenge is not only a reality show though, it's a mix between a reality show and competition show. I have to say that I've really come to love this show. It's been around for over 20 years but has continued to stay fun and fresh the whole time. It's become so popular over the years that there are spin-offs all over the world of this show. Even CBS just recently started their own called The Challenge: USA and even has TJ Lavin as the host there. There's also the incredible spin-off called The Challenge: All-Stars where it takes all your favorite and best cast members from over the years and brings them back for a little nostalgia.