Throwing down the Gauntlet

Author’s note: Originally, I was going to review every cast member on the show. In order to save my sanity, I’m now just hitting the high points. Of course, I’d already written a page when I made this decision so if this is disjointed, that’s why.


If it’s a day that ends in a Y then it’s time for yet another MTV Real World/Road Rules Challenge. This time it’s The Gauntlet 2 in which the teams are separated into “The Rookies” and “The Veterans”. Who is playing? Who apparently has a real job now? And how many comments can I make about a show that is ten years old? Let’s find out (and thanks to my good friends at Reality News Online, who did most of the legwork for me.)

The Rookies:
Alton (Real World: Las Vegas): There was no greater reality television idea than setting the Real World in Las Vegas. I mean, after the third season they realized that all the good footage came from when the case was drunk so let’s have them live in a casino. I mean, the producers are probably going to hell for doing it but it made for great television.

Ibis (Road Rules: X-Treme): I actually now remember the X-Treme edition because of Ibis. Well, it’s tough to forget people with names like Ibis. What happened to parents twenty years ago? What drove people in 1983 to name their kids Ibis? I was around back then and I certainly don’t remember any Ibis’ in my grade school. We can’t even have people on the Real World named Mike any more, they have to be The Miz.

Jamie (Real World: New Orleans): Who according to his bio is now living in a Buddhist monastery. And apparently, competing in a game show is a key stepping stone on the path to enlightenment.

Jo (Real World: San Francisco): Wow, this is someone that I never expected to see on television. For those of you who are really behind on your reality trivia, Jo was the girl with the killer London accent who replaced Puck. She is also responsible for one of my favorite reality put downs ever. As the cast is having dinner in Hawaii, Jo freaks out because the butter has touched the vegetables and are now tainted and Judd goes “And that was the vegan straw that broke the carnivores back.”

The Veterans:
Beth (Real World: Los Angeles): How in the world is she still getting work? May be the biggest miscast in the history of the show. She was a struggling actress (who you could never figure out how she would ever get a job as an actress) who was also supposed to be the nice girl in the cast (like Julie in the original show). Which would have worked except for the fact that she was a conniving brat with no discernable talent.

Ruthie (Real World: Hawaii): Wins the award for most improved reality show contestant. Has gone from actually having been forced into an alcohol awareness program by the producers to being a really heroic figure in these challenges. She’s just unstoppable and fearless in these things with minimal attitude. One of the few people who seems to have matured in the history of these things.

Mark (Road Rules 1): Dude, get a job. Seriously. What are you now, 35? Even Eric Nies has a regular gig now. Of course it involves a jump rope but at least it is honest work.

Montana (Real World: Boston): Forever known as the chick who gave the kids wine. Legacies come in all shapes and sizes. From a competitive standpoint I don’t expect her to last more than five minutes in this game.

Julie (Real World: New Orleans): She’s a mormon living in New Orleans. She’s thrown out of BYU because she was on MTV. She’s a psycho who tried to kill Veronica (not that anyone was really complaining). She hosts a show on G4TV. If anyone knows what is going on insider her head please let me know.

Timmy (Road Rules: USA): My favorite guy ever on one of these shows. RNO is off base in saying that he isn’t funny. Timmy and Christian were the absolute best comedy duo on reality TV. You have your funny jock from Ohio (I think) and the Norwegian wandering around the country and laughing at everything. I would so pay to have that season on DVD.

Who is missing: The Miz, Coral, Veronica, Sarah from the original Gauntlet (who I think decided to do the Jim Brown routine and retire at the top of her game), Eric Nies, Tonya, and a few other regulars. Should be an interesting season nonetheless.