The Challenge (TV series)

The Challenge
Also known as
  • Road Rules: All Stars (season 1)
  • Real World/Road Rules Challenge (seasons 2–19)
GenreReality competition
Created by
Presented by
StarringThe Challenge contestants
Country of originUnited States
Original languageEnglish
No. of seasons40
No. of episodes558
Production
Executive producers
  • Fred Birckhead
  • Justin Booth
  • Lisa Fletcher
  • Scott Freeman
  • Gil Goldschein
  • Emer Harkin
  • Kevin Lee
  • Julie Pizzi
  • Ryan Smith
  • Danny Wascou
Running time
  • 30 minutes (1998–2007)
  • 60 minutes (2008–2019)
  • 90 minutes (2019–present)
Production companies
Original release
NetworkMTV
ReleaseApril 20, 1998 (1998-04-20) –
present (present)
Related
Infobox instructions (only shown in preview)

The Challenge (originally known as Road Rules: All Stars, followed by Real World/Road Rules Challenge) is a reality competition show on MTV that is a spin-off of two of the network's reality shows, The Real World and Road Rules. Premiering in 1998, it originally featured alumni from these two shows. Casting for The Challenge has slowly expanded to include contestants who debuted on The Challenge itself, alumni from other MTV franchises including Are You the One?, Ex on the Beach (Brazil, UK and US), Geordie Shore, and from other non-MTV shows and competitions. Starting in 2018, new contestants were chosen outside of MTV network alumni from different networks like CBS and Bravo (American TV network). The contestants compete against one another in various extreme challenges to avoid elimination. The winners of the final challenge win the competition and typically share a large cash prize.[1][2] The Challenge is currently hosted by T. J. Lavin.

The series premiered on April 20, 1998.[3] The show was originally titled Road Rules: All Stars, and had notable Real World alumni participated in a Road Rules style road-trip. It was renamed Real World/Road Rules Challenge for the 2nd season, then later abridged to simply The Challenge by the show's 19th season. Since the fourth season, each season has supplied the show with a unique subtitle, such as Rivals. Each season consists of a format and theme from which the subtitle is derived.

The show's current fortieth season, titled Battle of the Eras, premiered on August 14, 2024.[4]

  1. ^ MTV. "The Challenge: Battle of the Exes 2 (TV Series)". Challenge.mtv.com. Retrieved June 10, 2015.
  2. ^ Remodeling TV Talent: Participation and Performance in MTV's Real World ... – Hugh Phillips Curnutt – Google Books. ISBN 9780549747185. Retrieved January 3, 2013.
  3. ^ "MTV's 'Real World' People Hit the 'Road'". Indian River Press Journal. The E. W. Scripps Company. April 19, 1998 – via NewsBank.
  4. ^ Russell, Shania (June 24, 2024). "Meet the cast of The Challenge 40: Battle of the Eras, largest cast ever includes past champions". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved June 27, 2024.