The Challenge (1998)
Each Challenge pits numerous cast members from past seasons of reality shows against each other, dividing them into two separate teams according to different criteria, such as gender, which show they first appeared on, whether or not they're veterans or rookies on the show, etc. The two teams compete in numerous missions in order to win prizes and advance in the overall game.
- Jonathan Murray
- Mary-Ellis Bunim
Stars:
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Episode 1 - Kickin' Things Off
Release Date: 2006-05-29Real World/Road Rules Challenge Fresh Meat head down under as a pack of eager hopefuls try to make a name for themselves against alumni in Australia. The twist? Each new cast member is paired with an alumni creating 12 individual teams. The four remaining teams will duke it out in the final challenge in hopes of heading home with a $250,000 cash prize. The first challenge begins on the 175th floor of the famous Q1 building where the teams go against each other in a battle of time and speed.
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Episode 2 - Anxieties Run High
Release Date: 2006-05-29Anxieties run high when the rest of the cast decides to break up the Austin couples- Danny and Melinda and Johanna and Wes- and send Danny and Ev to compete against Wes and Casey in the Exile. The Challenge "stumps" a few teams as they test their balance on tree stumps. They are not only balancing but each team must dodge a medicine size swinging ball being wailed at them from other cast members. Coral and Evan once again come out as the winners and the two teams prepare for Exile. Emotions flare when the cast finds out they are not allowed to watch the challenge and the Austin couples say their goodbyes. The two teams head to the challenge blindfolded and are welcomed by four large bags- the same amount of weight as their luggage! Each team must carry the bags through the entire challenge and are given the option to complete puzzles for prizes. Wes and Casey skip out on the puzzles and come out as the winners. According to Tina this is no longer a game, this is politics.
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Episode 3 - Hanging Tough
Release Date: 2006-06-05Trust and support go hand-in-hand this week on the challenge when Diem confesses to her partner Derrick that she is suffering from ovarian cancer. The tragic news drives Derrick to give his all and make a difference in Diem's life. At the challenge it is a test of strength: The male on each team must hang upside down from a crane, holding their partner's arms as they dangle over water. Coral and Evan, yet again, choose the line-up and, yet again, target the Austin cast as they send Melinda and Ryan alongside Wes and Casey to be the first on the crane. Water becomes the main factor as each team's grip slowing breaks apart.
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Episode 4 - Jailbirds
Release Date: 2006-06-12Ryan begins to feel his partner, Melinda, doesn't have her head in the game after she talks to Danny and confesses she would rather be with him at home than at the challenge. Team work is key at the next challenge as each team is handcuffed, shackled, and locked in a jail cell and must sift through several pales of "slop" using only their faces and mouths. Three keys must be found: two unlock their handcuffs and one unlocks the jail cell. Once released, they must sprint to the finish line.
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Episode 5 - Climber's Paradise
Release Date: 2006-06-19Tina is full of opinions, calling Wes sexist and saying her partner Kenny is only here for fun and games. At the "Climber's Paradise" challenge each team must climb a wall while carrying a bag full of pegs for one another. The pegs will then be used to make it up the wall and two flags must be captured at the top to complete the mission. But there is a 10-minute time limit and falling off of the wall you means you are automatically disqualified.
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Episode 6 - Costume Extravaganza
Release Date: 2006-06-26The cast members decide to spice things up and have a costume extravaganza. Tonya lets loose and Johanna realizes that this challenge shouldn't come between her and Wes. They apologize to one another and Johanna tells him there will be no second chances. At the challenge it is a battle of oats as each team must sprint to a tub full of rolled oats, collect as many as possible, sprint over to another bucket, and drop off what they have collected in a matter of two minutes. The teams soon learn that the oats are just like quick sand and this won't be half as easy as expected.
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Episode 7 - Crossing Paths
Release Date: 2006-07-03While out on the town Tonya and Johnnie discuss how to work better with one another and Wes confesses to Johanna via phone that he feels alone at the challenge. Evan, on the other hand, finds out that he has an athletic hernia -- a torn muscle in his stomach -- and he fears what Coral will think. At the challenge each team must "cross paths": Starting at opposite ends of a rope that hangs 25 feet above water, they must get across the rope by passing one another and reaching the other side -- all without a harness!
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Episode 8 - Kayak Challenge
Release Date: 2006-07-10With Tonya heading into Exile, she admits that she has three years of animosity built up toward Tina. Meanwhile, Linette finds herself forming more than just a crush on Theo when the two get close. At the challenge, each team must blow up an inflatable kayak, paddle it across the river, grab their flag, paddle back to shore, and then deflate and bag their kayak. The twist? Their hands and feet are not allowed outside of the kayak.
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Episode 9 - Kenny VS Tina?
Release Date: 2006-07-17Tina and Kenny come away from a team meeting with an understanding that they need to avoid Exile at all costs -- and must work together more than they have been doing so far. The night before the challenge, Coral and Evan fear they are blending in and both feel they need to push for a first-place finish to keep the other teams from targeting them. Meanwhile, Evan is holding back a secret: he is suffering from a sports-related hernia. He is constant roaring pain and if his condition worsens, he could be forced to pull out of competition.
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Episode 10 - Game Over?
Release Date: 2006-07-24Evan finds his calling for the night when he enters a contest at a local club called Cheeky Monkey. The object of the contest is to blow up a condom to the point where it bursts. Believe it or not...Evan comes out the winner! Back at the house Wes is devising a plan to keep Katie and Eric around so he gives them advice to help them beat Tina and Kenny in the Exile. At the challenge the teams are divided into two large teams chosen by Shane and Linette and Theo and Chanda. Each team must pull an 850-pound sled full of hay.
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Episode 11 - Money or Friendship?
Release Date: 2006-07-31Evan returns from the hospital with bad news: his hernia has a 99% chance of causing permanent damage if not healed properly. Coral joins him shortly after, knee cap back in place, but on crutches. The two decide to downplay their injuries in fear that the others will think they are weak and send them to Exile. On the other end of the house Diem, Linette and Aviv grow close and admit that they have each others backs.
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Episode 12 - Jump Down Under
Release Date: 2006-08-07Linette and Aviv talk to Diem about her decision to send Linette into Exile. They make Diem promise that she will not put Linette and Shane first for the mission the next day. Linette is trying not to get too attached to Theo because she fears that something will happen that she won't be able to control. The Fresh Meat cast is told to be ready by 8 am for their next challenge. Their challenge is called "Jump Down Under." They will have to jump off a 12-meter platform--the same height as a 4-story building--into the water, swim 20 feet, crawl up a giant raft, grab the flag and swim 30 feet to finish the challenge.
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Episode 13 - Diving In
Release Date: 2006-08-14Diem admits to having a crush on Derrick, but she tries to ignore it because she needs to keep her head in the game. Tina is feeling sick, but Kenny tells her that the mission won't wait for her. And it won't--the message comes that they need to be ready by 5am. The next morning, they are informed of their challenge--Deep Blue. Four nautical miles off the coast of Australia, the teams have to dive 30 feet into the ocean to capture their team flag and hold their breath for as long as possible.
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Episode 14 - Kenny and Tina's Triumph
Release Date: 2006-08-21Theo and Chanda discuss Exile. Theo is almost excited about it, but wishes Derrick would own up to wanting him in there. For her part, Chanda understands why Derrick and Diem would want them in Exile--they feel threatened by them. Derrick feels terrible about the decision and Diem feels like there is some animosity from Derrick about her choice. The clue comes and the group finds out they need to be "dressed sharp" for their next challenge. Turns out they'll be doing "Target Training." After running through a training course and taking aim with some paintball guns, they teams have to grab a 70-lb aboriginal "artifact" and run back through the obstacle course.
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Episode 15 - The Death Roll
Release Date: 2006-08-28Each team realizes that time is almost up and everyone discusses how important it is to win the upcoming challenge--a crocodile death roll. As the fake croc spins faster and faster, each team struggles to hold on.
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Episode 16 - And the Winners Are...
Release Date: 2006-09-04On the final Challenge, the teams will need to stop at series of checkpoints along a 10 mile run.
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Episode 17 - Well Done: The Fresh Meat Reunion
Release Date: 2006-09-11The reunion special, Well Done: The Fresh Meat Reunion, was hosted by Susie Castillo. It was revealed on the reunion show that Casey spent her $10,000 on breast implants, and Wes said he spent his on Johanna. Kenny spent his $15,000 on a wrestling ring.