MTV's The Gauntlet III Episode 1 Viva Mexico

The 15th season of the The Real World/Road Rules Challenge premiered that last night with a lot of action as usual, both during the challenges and in the cast's downtime.

We've already met the cast, (http://hubpages.com/hub/Real-WorldRoad-Rule-Challenge-The-Gauntlet-III) so let's start with the first challenge a tug-of-war with the Vets vs. the Rookies. The first team with a teammate in the water loses. Host TJ Lavin announces that the winning tim will get to pick their sleeping quarters for the entire duration of the challenge and that the losers will not be happy with the 2nd pick. Beth seemed to already have her sleeping arrangements planned out win or lose, by shacking up with Nehemiah (Tenderoni Lives)!

With the brute strength of Evan (who was turning purple with exertion), Brad, and CT up front for the Vets team, and Eric anchoring the back, the Rookie team didn't stand much of a chance. Derek, by far the strongest male on the Rookie team, slips into the water.

Before running up to the house to claim their beds, The Vets learn that in this Challenge, there will be no money given per Challenge won. Instead, only the players who are left on the winning team will split $300,000.

As the Vets check out their digs, we learn some background on some players. Johanna is now living with Wes, who won The Duel. She looks like she's lost a little weight since the last challenge, and she admits that she's been working out in preparation for the challenge so she can win. Frank, fresh from the Reunited: The Real World Las Vegas, is comfortable stabbing friends in the back or whatever needs to happen to win, and Melinda and Danny clear up their not-so-secretive alliance status. To quote Danny, "Hell yes we have an alliance. She's my future wife!" Haven't you been engaged for 3 years now, when's the wedding already? Coral and Beth, surprise surprise, are sharing a room and getting along, so far. Maybe the rumors of the Beth/Coral alliance are true!

The Rookies are less than pleased when they see their beds for the Challenge, barrack style bunk beds and one bathroom for 16 people!

In traditional Challenge style, the cast parties it up the first night in their casa which includes a full bar, of course, and huge swimming pool. A lot of action takes place once the booze comes out! We learn that Brooke, who has been hurt by boyfriends in the past, can't stand the thought of laying with a man, and wants a girl with a penis! This leads to an instant attraction with butch Vet Ev, who may in fact have a one though it's not confirmed... Within hours of meeting each other the two are making out in the pool. Not to be undone by the lesbians, the two gay men on the show, Ryan and Tyler, start a makeout session of their own! Perhaps this is why MTV cast Ryan on this season? Does anyone even really remember him as Melinda's partner on the Fresh Meat Challenge? I sure don't!

So many other hook-ups take place place in the house this night, it might as well have been a frat party. Paula must have a thing for Rookies because she first makes out with Derek in the kitchen and then hops into bed with Adam. Other hook-ups include Miss Virginia, Tori, and Brad, Casey and Johnny Bananas, and Frank and Jillian. Again, does anyone really remember who is Jillian? Maybe hooking up with Frank will make her more memorable this season. Robin, a 5 time Challenge Vet, admits that this is the horniest group that she's ever been with on a Challenge!

The first challenge of the season is the Pinata Pit, I mean, they are in Mexico afterall. The rules of the game: A pinata is strung up over a huge mud pit filled with balls. The pinata will open and release the balls of two different colors. Boys need to go after red balls and green for girls and take the ball out of the pit in their possesssion. The catch is, there are not enough balls for everyone. Essentially the game is the musical chairs of mud wrestling. If there is a tie in the end of the number of players remaining, then each team with pick one competitor to compete in a tie-breaker.

After many elimination rounds, the Vets have 2 players left to the Rookies 1, so Tori and Robin battle it out. If Robin wins, the Vets have won, if Tori wins, both teams go into the tie-breaker round. Tori, in much better shape than Robin, makes it to the ball first. Robin can never quite catch Tori as she successfully puts the Rookies into the final, tie breaker. Robin is disappointed of course, but you can barely make out what she is saying between gasps of her smoker's lung.

For the final round, the choices of competitors are obvious. Derek for the Rookies and wild man CT for the Vets. CT defeats Derek and once again proves he is the male competitor to beat.

With the Vets victorious, they get to pick one person to send to the Gauntlet and one person to save on the Rookies team. All the Vets agree that Ryan is the weakest player and should be saved from the Gaunlet, so he will continue to hinder their team. When deciding who to send into the Gauntlet they wavered between Nehemiah and Derek, finally choosing Nehemiah because he's a more middle of the road player.

The Rookies vote Alex to face Nehemiah in the Challenge. The two play a reverse Tug-of-War called 'Force Field.' Beth is rooting for her Tenderoni, as are most players who were not impressed with Alex's efforts during The Pinata Pit. Eventually, Alex gives up and Nehemiah wins the Gauntlet.

After the Gauntlet, teammates have more time to speculate on where the Challenge is going. Robin and Katie are thinking that with no money being earned per Challenge, the male Veterans will throw missions to eliminate the females so they can win all the money themselves. During another night of drinking, CT, streamlining tequila, starts trouble with nearly everyone rabbling about how to play the game, form alliances, and throw missions. The general impression by all is that CT is a scum bag. He's even creating enemies on his own team, starting with Queen of the Challenges, Coral, who doesn't appreciate CT's dismissive hand gestures towards her. What is sweet, cancer -survivor Diem doing with a guy like CT? They've been dating for over a year and she protests that he's just drunk and that he's really nothing like this off the show. But even Diem has conflict with CT as she tries to calm him down. She asks why he can't stop talking about the Challenge, almost as if it's an obsession for him at this point. He tells her to "let him play the game his way" and that "he's put his time in with her. When do I get mine?" To which, Diem turns and walks away.

Watch the full episode and previews for Episode 2 here: http://www.mtv.com/ontv/dyn/rwrr_challenge-gauntlet3/series.jhtml

A new feature for the show is the ability to talk to the cast members about the challenge episodes and view profiles on http://www.iamonmtv.com/ The website is like a social network for the cast and viewers. So far, the most viewed and loved cast members in order are #1 Brad, Diem, Kenny, Coral, Evan, CT, host TJ Lavin, Johnny Bananas, and Johanna. Diem seems to be pretty active on the website, updating her page, blogging, and commenting a lot. It will be interesting to read cast comments as the episodes roll out. http://iamonmtv.com/gauntlet