The Underused White Men with Potential from MTV’s The Challenge
Tags: Reality TV, Television, The Challenge, MTV, TV

Surprise bitch, bet you thought you saw the last of me.

But I’m back back back again, with another article about interesting cast categories found on MTV’s The Challenge. I had a whole series on Archetypes — which are reductive roles producers try to fill when casting for a season — that you might find edifying or insightful. Check ’em out.

The last 3 entries were less pigeonholes but more just funny patterns that certain cast members can fall into — Dumb Jocks, Wily Women Underdogs, and Unhinged but Competent This article is similar to that. A group in which I personally categorize various competitors that appeared around the same time — the Rookie Revolution that ran from Seasons 2 to Free Agents (with some debuting on Exes 2), which should have taken over the game, but instead we get Johnny, Cara, CT, Camila, and Wes ad nauseam. Anyhow. Here it is, the

Underused White Men with Potential

Cohutta Grindstaff

Originated on: RW Sydney

Challenge seasons (4): The Island, The Ruins, Free Agents, Bloodlines

Why he has potential: The first person to ever eliminate Wes. Doesn’t have much size but has heart and a good sense of humour. Had an adorable flirtmance with Nany and gives funny commentary.

Chet Cannon

Originated on: RW Brooklyn

Challenge seasons (4): The Ruins, Cutthroat, Battle of the Seasons 2, Free Agents

Why he has potential: Won 2 eliminations and made the final on Seasons 2 and likely would have won if he and Sarah threw the last daily to send JD and Devyn (their 2 team anchors) into elimination. Had an out-of-nowhere flirtmance with Trishelle too.

CJ Koegel

Originated on: RW Cancun

Challenge seasons (2): Fresh Meat 2, Battle of the Seasons 2

Why he has potential: Technically beat Zach 3–2 in Hall Brawl despite Zach being someone 6' 3" who used to play football, and CJ being at least three inches shorter. Size matters. Was the clear leader of Team Cancun, leading them to 2 victories and holding them together. Total eye candy that had a flirtmance with Ashley K. A physical specimen that could’ve easily been a champion.

Dustin Zito

Originated on: RW Las Vegas 2

Challenge seasons (4): Exes 1, Battle of the Seasons 2, Free Agents, Exes 2

Why he has potential: Consistently at the top of the pack during dailies on Exes 1. Won 2 eliminations, made the final, and got second place on Seasons 2 — with someone he had no chemistry or history with. Is a bit of a drunk mess and brings entertainment. Who can forget his iconic fight with Frank S in Turkey — “Wanna get street, bitch!?”

Frank Sweeney

Originated on: RW San Diego 2

Challenge seasons (3): Battle of the Seasons 2, Rivals 2, Free Agents

Why he has potential: Do I even need to explain it? The ultimate Challenge villain / heel. Emotional, dramatic, and petty — but he can back it up on the battlefield. In 3 seasons, he won 7 dailies, was the victor in 3 eliminations, made 2 finals, won 1, and has never lost an elimination round. All while being a total a-hole that feuded with everybody, even his own team. The non-exhaustive list includes Wes, Zach, Sam, Dustin, Nany, Jordan, Johnny, Jemmye, and Knight. In only 2.25 seasons! That is prolific. He also offered important representation as a strong queer man, when most gays who are cast cast belong in the Weak Gay Men archetype.

Robb Schreiber

Originated on: RW St Thomas

Challenge seasons (2): Battle of the Seasons 2, Rivals 2

Why he has potential: He’s 6' 6" — aka the tallest person to ever be on The Challenge (yes, even taller than Theo Campbell) — and is super into CrossFit now. Went deep on Seasons 2. Had several entertaining meltdowns, such as arguing with couldn’t-hurt-a-fly Derek Chavez and ripping his own shirt open to intimidate him — to which Derek just laughed. He and Marie would’ve been a strong team on Exes 2 (but he declined out of respect for his fiancée).

Trey Weatherholtz III

Originated on: RW St Thomas

Challenge seasons (2): Battle of the Seasons 2, Rivals 2

Why he has potential: He and Zach were the best-performing pair on Rivals 2, winning the first 2 dailies and placing high in the others. They were on track to go deep that season, and likely would have, if not for Zach’s boneheaded error during their elimination. He and Trey beat their opponents to the bell but broke a rule, and they were thus disqualified. He was an alternate for Free Agents and Exes 2 (with Laura) and accepted an invite for Dirty Thirty but was dropped. Lots of missed potential, even if he was a bit cringe.

Johnny Reilly

Originated on: RW Portland

Challenge seasons (3): Free Agents, Exes 2, Rivals 3

Why he has potential: Won 4 dailies, made the final, skunked Johnny Bananas up the mountain, and ultimately got 2nd place on Free Agents. Won 2 eliminations on Exes 2, ending Adam’s streak, before running into ringers Leroy/Nia. Had sex with Nany even when she was involved with Cohutta. Was often embroiled in drama, too — with Nia, Averey, Jessica, and Nany. A total x-factor.

Adam Kuhn

Originated on: AYTO1

Challenge seasons (1): Exes 2

Why he has potential: Won 3 eliminations and was this close to winning a fourth on his debut season. Is eye candy, likes to give strip teases, and had a flirtmance with Averey (who was also underused). Also made the final and got 3rd place on Are You the One Second Chances, paired with Shanley (who also should cross over to The Challenge). In fact, like Tori Deal and possibly Devin, he declined Invasion to be on AYTO SC.

Thomas Buell

Originated on: RW Ex-Plosion

Challenge seasons (3): Exes 2, Bloodlines, Rivals 3

Why he has potential: An interesting friendship with Cory which could’ve easily made him a member of the Young Bucks. Had an altercation with Vinny Pig that somehow didn’t send Johnny’s cousin home. Never finished last despite having Simone as a partner. He and Jamie would’ve been lit on Exes 2, or Jenny and Cory, but instead we got Jay/Jenna. Whomp.

Others

And that’s it! The Underused White Men with Potential who appeared on seasons 23–25. You could easily add others throughout Challenge history, such as

Lando Commando

Frank Roessler

Pete Connolly

Jamie Banks

Derek McCray

Dan Walsh

Ace Amerson

Anthony Bartolette

Bruno Bettencourt

James Orlando

…but I didn’t, sue me.

The 10 I included are all similar enough that I categorize them together in my mind. Good looking, conventionally attractive All-American boys who did well on the show, often made a final, but who only did a handful of seasons. I wouldn’t complain if we had random return for any of them, just to see how they would fare. But I don’t expect that at all, with the massive influx of new talent we’ve had on Vendettas, Final Reckoning, and the 2 Wars of the Worlds.

What do y’all think?