‘Challenge All Stars’ Baas on ‘Rivals’, brought Turbo and Ashley M back

How do you follow the epic 40th season of MTV’s “The Challenge”? Bring one of the most popular themes back for ‘The Challenge: All Stars’. That is exactly what the series will do if season 5 debuts on Wednesday 29 January. Plus, it goes back to the original house of “The Challenge”, MTV. (It streamed earlier on Paramount+.)

“It was a long, long, long walk through the memory strip and then talk to everyone to see what has been happening since other seasons,” says Showrunner Emer Harkin Variety From season 5, with 13 teams of two. “It was really about authentic rivalry and a real and meaningful access point. It is such a favorite season of the fan, so we just want to do it justice. ”

The theme “Rivals” debuted for the first time in 2011, with “Rivals II” broadcast in 2013, followed by the third in 2016. This time some players work together with new rivals (full team list here!) – such as Steve Meinke and Adam Larson , who had a fight on season 4 of “All Stars”-while others are accompanied by ten years of opponents, such as Veronica Portillo and Katie Doyle, who came to “The Inferno” from 2004. And then there are Exes Ashley Kelsey and Dario Medrano, who were once in love … and have not spoken for years.

Below Harkin breaks down the casting process for ‘Rivals’, the switch from Paramount+ to MTV, which brings Ashley Mitchell and Turbo Çamkıran back.

“Rivals” is a favorite theme since debuting. How did you decide to bring it back for “All Stars” instead of the flagship?

Come out Rust: We all want to do “rivals” for so long. We waited at the most suitable moment. With “Challenge 40” was such a huge season and the fact that we expanded our casting in 40 to absorb so many all stars, the feeling really had the suitable time to distinguish “all stars” and one to return from the most beloved sizes of all time.

At what stage did you decided to go from Paramount+ to MTV?

Rust: I cannot speak directly for the network, in terms of timing, but we are happy with it. It’s great news. There is such a loyal fandom devoted to ‘the challenge’. So moving to MTV is just a tribute to the inheritance of the franchise on the iconic network where it all started.

Understood. There have been so much rivalry over the years; How did you choose these pairs?

Rust: We have experienced every relationship, all nuances, all ups, the downs, the highlights and lows, for almost every cast member throughout the entire franchise. It is a huge enterprise. We really wanted to concentrate on authentic rivalry: what is real? What is current? What has been a long time, but there is still bad blood? It was a long, long, long walk along the memory strip and then talk to everyone to see what has been happening since other seasons. It was really about authentic rivalry and a real and meaningful access point. Again, it’s such a fan favorite season, so we just want to do it justice.

Are you looking at players you first want to return, then who their rivals are? Or take a look at couples?

Rust: They are definitely the pairs. It’s about the double relationship. You can’t have one without the other. So it was just about watching those duos and what felt varied, what felt new, felt somewhat fresh and beef that the fans may not know – some of the more hidden rivalry lurking behind closed doors. Then there are some who have played on social media or have hit our screens 20 years ago.

So many good options! Okay, let’s go into this cast. During the reunion “The Challenge 40” it was raised that Ashley Mitchell should have been there. Why would you bring her back for “All Stars”, but not for 40?

Rust: I can’t speak with 40 because I was not involved in the casting process for 40, but what I can say is that this was such a great time to bring Ashley back. We were just so excited. I am so excited to see her again. I love Ashley, and it felt like a great time to bring her back to a truly authentic, only Ashley manner and I am very happy. I am so happy that I had the privilege of getting her.

The fans of “The Challenge” are very stubborn – including myself! – About Gieten. Not everyone is very happy that Turbo Çamkıran was brought back after his behavior in the past. What kind of conversations did you have about bringing him back?

Rust: Many of our cast have ups and downs. Some people may have a checkered past. Some people make mistakes. For us there are conversations about everyone. In constant conversations with Cast, we are about their growth and progress and their evolution, the work they do to themselves – both during the show and after the show. That is something we are aware of and that is something that is definitely a component in the casting.

You have worked on this franchise for many years. Do you see the cast members competing at other shows, such as “The Traitors?” Do you think it’s a good promotion for “The Challenge?”

Rust: I do it, and I am so proud of them! It’s so great. To see CT [Tamburello]Trishelle [Cannatella]Johnny Bananas and now Wes [Bergmann]I am just so proud of our cast and that they can shine over platforms, and that everyone is shown that we really have the cream of the crop. I am so proud of them and I love it.

Okay, I know this is difficult, but who was the most excited to come back this season?

Rust: Oh, God, that’s really difficult. Melissa [Reeves] And Nicole Zanatta we knew would be explosive, so I was just ready for the fireworks. The Nary [Gonzalez] And Turbo Rivalry is so felt. If you are in a room with them, it is so real and so raw. Watching was emotional and so compelling. Let me continue more. Veronica and Katie? I mean, come on. They are TV -gold. There are also Ashley K. and Dario! That was one of the most important relationships of their lives, and they had never seen each other. It’s real! … there was such a range of rivalry, and we are really very proud of that. The flavors of rivalry that we could show are super fun.

This interview has been edited and condensed.