MTV The Challenge "BOTS" FINALE Podcast | Derrick Kosinski w/ Kenny Santucci & Mark Long

December 28, 2012
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Hosted By: Derrick Kosinski
Ultimate Love to: MTV.com
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A Safe and Happy Holiday season to you all. We end the 2012 podcast season with a recap of the MTV Challenge: Battle of the Seasons. Who better to close out the year and Challenge than two MTV Reality Legends in Kenny 'Claus' Santucci and Mark 'Heat Miser' Long. Boom! That's How We Do it!

MTV The Challenge "Battle of the Seasons Podcast | Derrick Kosinski w/ Ashley & Derek

December 3, 2012
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Hosted By: Derrick Kosinski
Ultimate Love to: MTV.com
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ASHLEY and the Other Differently Spelled DEREK join Derrick Kosinski on the podcast today to talk all things 'Battle of the Seasons' with the finale just ahead.

* All guests of todays podcast receive a gift card compliments GNC the largest global specialty retailer of nutritional products.

Week 12 Power Rankings | MTV The Challenge: Battle of the Seasons - Finals Edition

December 17, 2012
Contributed By: Bishop and Company (Sports, pop culture.. nothings off the table.) 
Written By: Dr. David Bloom
Follow David Bloom on Twitter (@davidbloom7) 
Follow The Challenge: BOTS on MTV.com

THE CHALLENGE: BATTLE OF THE SEASONS WEEKLY POWER RANKINGS

 - FINALS EDITION -

Almost four months ago, eight teams of four embarked on an incredible journey in Turkey to reach the point at which we now find ourselves.  Teams Austin (an unfortunate early exit), Fresh Meat (troubled from the start), New Orleans (Knight and Jemmye had a valiant showing), St. Thomas (an amazing rookie season), and Cancun (deserved to be in the finals) are no longer with us.  The three remaining teams, Brooklyn, San Diego, and Las Vegas (minus Nany and Alton) all deserve to be at this point and all have worked hard, played hard, and persevered amidst various obstructions, blowups, and internal combustions.  There is one obstacle left: the final challenge, an unknown and potentially dangerous sojourn in the Namib Desert.  These are the last weekly power rankings before the finals.  I hope you enjoy.

NOTE: Check out the retro-running diary of the penultimate episode here.

THE WEEKLY CHALLENGE INDIVIDUAL POWER RANKINGS - FINALS EDITION

The rankings will be based on an un-Hollinger (recently hired to work in the Memphis Grizzlies front office!)/sabermetrics method known as “My experience and observations” (See: Marc Stein's great NBA weekly power rankings).  Weight will be given to how well teams and individuals do on competitions, in the social game, and whether he or she is a “good competitor.”

THE MEN

MTV The Challenge: Battle of the Seasons PENULTIMATE RETRO RUNNING DIARY

December 14, 2012
Contributed By: Bishop and Company (Sports, pop culture.. nothings off the table.) 
Written By: Dr. David Bloom
Follow David Bloom on Twitter (@davidbloom7) 
Follow The Challenge: BOTS on MTV.com


Guest Writer David Bloom has decided to split up his column this week in preparation for the final.  Here is his retro running diary.  He will have a power rankings and finals preview sometime on Monday! Enjoy! - Derrick

The Challenge: Battle of the Seasons remaining competitors are literally on the verge of jumping out of a plane into the Namib desert to embark on a final challenge that even TJ thinks is undoable.  In order to best encapsulate the awesome and incredible season this has been, I have decided to split up the column this week.  First, is the retro running diary of the penultimate and final elimination episode.  Early next week, I will release my pre-final power rankings and some further analysis of the remaining teams and their chances in the Namib Desert experience.  Here we go...

Week 11 Power Rankings | MTV The Challenge: Battle of the Seasons

December 12, 2012
Contributed By: Bishop and Company (Sports, pop culture.. nothings off the table.) 
Written By: Dr. David Bloom
Follow David Bloom on Twitter (@davidbloom7) 
Follow The Challenge: BOTS on MTV.com



Can you feel it?  The momentum of The Challenge: Battle of the Seasons has picked up like the volatility in Frank’s personality while drinking.  Each moment of each episode now feels like an essential window into the potentiality of the final challenge.  This past week, the Challenge cast journeyed from near and far to New York to film the reunion special, a sign that the end is near.  With only one episode left before the final, I have decided to keep on the retro running diary train to make sure that every important moment (and as you will soon find out if you actually read through all of this prose before hitting the rankings) gets mentioned.  On to our last night spent in the confines of Turkey before a major location change in preparation for the final...

THE WEEK 10 RETRO-RUNNING DIARY (power rankings to follow)

The times are EST on the night the original episode aired, so feel free 

to follow along while viewing for the first time or while re-watching.

MTV The Challenge "Battle of the Seasons | Derrick w/ Jaz & Marie Podcast

December 3, 2012
Derrick Kosinski's "Ultimate Challenge Radio" Powered by Talent Network
Hosted By: Derrick Kosinski
Ultimate Love to: MTV.com
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Jaz and Marie join Derrick Kosinski on the podcast today to talk all things 'Battle of the Seasons' 9 weeks into the challenge.

* All guests of todays podcast receive a gift card compliments GNC the largest global specialty retailer of nutritional products.

Week 10 Power Rankings | MTV The Challenge: Battle of the Seasons

December 3, 2012
Contributed By: Bishop and Company (Sports, pop culture.. nothings off the table.) 
Written By: Dr. David Bloom
Follow David Bloom on Twitter (@davidbloom7) 
Follow The Challenge: BOTS on MTV.com

UCR guest analyst David Bloom is back with his week 10 MTV The Challenge:'Battle of the Seasons' Power Rankings. As always great in-depth work here by David. Cheers!...Derrick

THE CHALLENGE: BATTLE OF THE SEASON Week 9 Power Rankings

In my last The Challenge: Battle of the Seasons weekly rankings column, I went all retro-running diary because the action of the episode was just too much to effectively account for any other way.  This week’s episode may have even pushed the scale of awesomeness a few steps higher (the weekly challenge and especially the night time drama raised these stakes), so until something changes (and with the final challenge coming up later this month), I am going to keep rocking the retro-running diary until it loses its potency.  As established last week, the times are EST on the night the original episode aired, so feel free to follow along while viewing for the first time or while re-watching.

THE WEEK 10 RETRO-RUNNING DIARY (power rankings to follow)

Week 9 Power Rankings | MTV The Challenge: Battle of the Seasons

November 19, 2012
Contributed By: Bishop and Company (Sports, pop culture.. nothings off the table.) 
Written By: Dr. David Bloom
Follow David Bloom on Twitter (@davidbloom7) 
Follow The Challenge: BOTS on MTV.com

UCR guest analyst David Bloom is back with his week 9 MTV The Challenge:'Battle of the Seasons' Power Rankings. As always David digs deep and in-depth like 'Jaws' and 'Gruden' breaking down game-tape until all house of the morning. Can't thank him enough for his great work. -...Derrick

THE CHALLENGE: BATTLE OF THE SEASON Week 9 Power Rankings

I was going to save my first The Challenge: Battle of the Seasons running diary for a season finale recap (epic, groundbreaking, and one of a kind athletic competitions demand such attention), but this week’s episode arena battle between Team Cancun’s CJ and Team San Diego’s Zach (both one-time NFL aspiring uber-athletes) was so phenomenal (and according Sarah on twitter: “that elimination between @ZachMTV & @CJKoegelMTV was a MILLION times more intense in real life vs how it looked on TV”) that a running retro diary is the only way to appropriately depict the glory in prose.  If you re-watch or have not watched yet, I am indicating the time on the EST telecast that each moment went down if you want to follow along.

Let the games begin!

MTV The Challenge "Battle of the Seasons | Derrick w/ C.J. & Zach Podcast

November 16, 2012
Derrick Kosinski's "Ultimate Challenge Radio" Powered by Talent Network
Hosted By: Derrick Kosinski
Ultimate Love to: MTV.com
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C.J. and Zach join Derrick Kosinski on the podcast today to talk all things 'Battle of the Seasons' 8 weeks into the challenge.

* All guests of todays podcast receive a gift card compliments GNC the largest global specialty retailer of nutritional products.

Week 8 Power Rankings | MTV The Challenge: Battle of the Seasons

November 12, 2012
Contributed By: Bishop and Company (Sports, pop culture.. nothings off the table.) 
Written By: Dr. David Bloom
Follow David Bloom on Twitter (@davidbloom7) 
Follow The Challenge: BOTS on MTV.com

We are now somewhere close to the halfway point of this (the 23rd!) season of MTV’s The Challenge.  Last week’s unnecessary hiatus for Halloween programming (You are telling me that the prospect of a Frank meltdown is not ghoulish enough for viewers?) gave me some time for a reflection on a television show/fifth professional sport that’s first airing dates back to the middle of President Clinton’s second term.  For any television show to last 23 seasons and 14 years is an accomplishment in itself, but this season’s influx of new blood and talent accentuates a main reason for the (and dare I say continuing) success of the franchise.  The Challenge has always been in a malleable state that continues to strive for reinvention, reinvigoration, reformatting, and rethinking.  Bunim-Murray producer land has always been driven to make each new show more interesting and more compelling than the one previous.  This approach is not always successful and there have been some off seasons, but this sprint away from complacency is one of the primary root causes of longevity.

MTV The Challenge "Battle of the Seasons | Derrick w/ Trey & Laura Podcast

November 9, 2012
Derrick Kosinski's "Ultimate Challenge Radio" Powered by Talent Network
Hosted By: Derrick Kosinski
Ultimate Love to: MTV.com
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Trey and Laura join Derrick Kosinski on the podcast today to talk all things 'Battle of the Seasons, Aslo I would like to welcome in a new partner to "Ultimate Challenge Radio"

* All guests of todays podcast receive a gift card compliments GNC the largest global specialty retailer of nutritional products.

Week 7 Power Rankings | MTV The Challenge: Battle of the Seasons

November 5, 2012
Contributed By: Bishop and Company (Sports, pop culture.. nothings off the table.) 
Written By: Dr. David Bloom
Follow David Bloom on Twitter (@davidbloom7) 
Follow The Challenge: BOTS on MTV.com
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David Bloom is back with his deep coverage with his week #7 MTV "The Challenge: Battle of the Seasons" Power Rankings.  Please enjoy this post and hit up the comment section below and definitely follow and read 'Bishop and Company' and David Bloom.
-...Derrick

The ends of prolific athlete careers can be difficult for both athlete and fan to endure.  Frequently during those final games of final seasons all that remains is a shell of the former self, a shadow and a memory of the good times we’ve had and a reminder of just how quickly time can pass us by.  Larry Bird’s final season in 1992, before his career succumbed to a debilitating back injury, had such a quality.  I remember on a Sunday afternoon in March listening to a throwback game on the radioagainst the Blazers when Larry was the Legend again for one last time.  As young fan and admirer of my Celtics hero, I knew that this was a special day that I should cherish because there would not be too many more like them (Bird retired that summer).

MTV The Challenge "Battle of the Seasons | Derrick w/ Trishelle & Zach Podcast

October 24, 2012
Derrick Kosinski's "Ultimate Challenge Radio" Powered by Talent Network
Hosted By: Derrick Kosinski
Ultimate Love to: MTV.com
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Challenge legend Trishelle makes her Ultimate Challenge Radio debut and zach is back again to talk about the first 5 weeks of the challenge: battle of the seasons.

Week 6 Power Rankings | MTV The Challenge: Battle of the Seasons

October 23, 2012
Contributed By: Bishop and Company (Sports, pop culture.. nothings off the table.) 
Written By: Dr. David Bloom
Follow David Bloom on Twitter (@davidbloom7) 
Follow The Challenge: BOTS on MTV.com
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Our friend David Bloom is back with more great in-depth coverage with his week 6 MTV "The Challenge: Battle of the Seasons" Power Rankings.  Please enjoy this post and hit up the comment section below and definitely follow and read 'Bishop and Company' and David Bloom.
-...Derrick


We are now five episodes, two full team eliminations, countless Camila meltdowns and T.J. “we killed its,” three Big Easy induced disqualifications, one GBH (guy back home) breakup over the phone, one messy drunk Frank night, one troublesome instance of Knight helping Nany with her laundry, several episodes in which JD and Robb did not make the edit, and a few sketchy rumors about why certain teams (Real World: Sydney) and players (Johanna from Real World: Austin) did not participate (it may have had something to do with not wanting to be around a certain ginger-haired ex-boyfriend) into this “living up to the hype” season of The Challenge.  So far, the “Battle of the Seasons” format has provided a worthy framework for some unexpected power grabs, either seemingly unbreakable team unity or habitual team dysfunction, and a likely fabricated but relevant influx of Real World season pride.  To the credit of Bunim-Murray/MTV producers, this season’s The Challenge feels both fresh (game format innovation, some worthy new blood) and familiar (some “ready to the take the leap” competitors, reliably dramatic and entertaining).

Week 5 Power Rankings | MTV The Challenge: Battle of the Seasons

October 15, 2012
Contributed By: Bishop and Company (Sports, pop culture.. nothings off the table.) 
Written By: Dr. David Bloom
Follow David Bloom on Twitter (@davidbloom7) 
Follow The Challenge: BOTS on MTV.com
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WOW! Talk about in-depth coverage. I am honored to present to you a new contributor to UCR. The folks from the web site "Bishop and Company" whose motto is (Sports, pop culture.. nothings off the table) do a really nice job on covering 'The Challenge.' I have never see anything this deep and well thought out and passionate. Awesomeness aplenty. Please enjoy this post and hit up the comment section below and definitely follow and read 'BAC' and David Bloom. 
-...Derrick

THE CHALLENGE: BATTLE OF THE SEASONS 

WEEKLY POWER RANKINGS – WEEK 5

This week’s episode of The Challenge: Battle of the Seasons was titled The Dark Knight.  MTV - easy (and probably cliché) pun aside - I am offended.  To associate Knight (first name Ryan), Team New Orleans' over confident, obnoxious, offensive, at times genuinely kindhearted, pain in the neck, and Jemmye on again off again ex in any way to the real Dark Knight or the Christopher Nolan masterpiece, is irresponsible and beguiling.  Knight’s actions in this week’s “let’s cliffhang the elimination to accentuate the Devyn/Easy romantic drama” episode were the opposite of heroic, really turned me off, and made me yearn for the menace of the Joker (at least his chaos was thoughtful and clever) to put this gutless and dark less than Knight in his place.

MTV The Challenge "Battle of the Seasons | Derrick w/Knight, Chet & Eric Podcast

October 12, 2012
Derrick Kosinski's "Ultimate Challenge Radio" Powered by Talent Network
Hosted By: Derrick Kosinski
Ultimate Love to: MTV.com
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Welcoming @GNCLiveWell  to 'Ultimate Challenge Radio'- Give them a Twitter follow and shout-out. Click the link on the web site here to shop online or stop into a GNC near you. Guests on the Podcast will be receiving a Gift Card compliments of GNC.


"Cleaning Out a Pool Full of Dirty Laundry"

WOW! This podcast is FULL of mayhem, much like the bus was the other night on The Challenge. Eric, Chet, and Knight join Derrick to sort out every one's dirty laundry. Later,the 4 decide to get together and clean it in the pool. Just kidding. But,yes, it pretty much gets that chaotic. We find out why the competitors are making these brash decisions and where the challenge power is going. Hear why C.J. is being called a "phony," how all the drama ensued on the bus, why Knight has been able to fly under the radar and tons more. Every situation thru the first 4 episodes has been thoroughly investigated and is being presented to you right here. Sit back and enjoy a very insightful range of thoughts explaining much of who, what, where, when and how this season of The Challenge has unfolded.

Sincerely,

Team Ultimate Challenge Radio

MTV The Challenge: " Battle of the Seasons: | Derrick, Eric, Sarah Podcast

October 1, 2012
Derrick Kosinski's "Ultimate Challenge Radio" Powered by Talent Network
Hosted By: Derrick Kosinski
Ultimate Love to: MTV.com
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"C'mon MAN!!!"

Please check out our New Sponsor @Progenex and stop by their site http://bit.ly/SEBfbE. We would really appreciate it.

In the mean time, enjoy a very fun podcast with two classic characters from "The Challenge." Eric and Sarah continue to surprise people whether they're winning or losing. The same happens on this podcast with these two. They prove to show that it's NOT everything you see on T.V. Take a listen as these guys give us an inside scoop behind the scenes,before the scenes,and LIVE in person with no edits. On top of that,we've implemented the "C'mon MAN?!?!" theme and it will most likely become a re-occurring phrase as it is with the ever so awesome NFL commentators, thanks to Eric and Sarah. Haha. Cheers guys. Enjoy.

Sincerely,

Team Ultimate Challenge Radio

MTV The Challenge: "Battle of the Seasons" Preview | Derrick, Evan, Susie Podcast

September 14, 2012
Derrick Kosinski's "Ultimate Challenge Radio" Powered by Talent Network
Hosted By: Derrick Kosinski
Ultimate Love to: MTV.com
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"Battle of the Seasons" Power Rankings/Preview

Welcome to 23rd installment of MTV's hit competitive reality series "The Challenge: Battle of the Seasons." Since MTV decided against showing you guys a pre-show of sorts, Me, Evan, and Susie took it upon ourselves to make it happen. As you guys may already know, Susie has been around since Road Rules season 6 and then literally put that show to rest with MTV's final attempt to keep it alive on Road Rules:Viewer's Revenge. On top of that,she has never been defeated in an elimination round along with 3 challenge victories. Looks may be deceiving, but numbers don't lie. My other expert is non other then Evan Starkman who should quite possibly be nominated for a Moon Man for the personality he continues bring to the podcast every single time. His analysis is great and will always be mentioned amongst the elite competitors to ever play the game. As always, sit back, relax, and laugh a little. This podcast is insightful for the competition and fresh faces you're about to encounter and equally as funny. Feel free to spread the word my friends. Retweets on Twitter are always appreciated.

Sincerely, Team Ultimate Challenge Radio
#TeamUCR #UCR #TeamAwesome #MTVChallenge

Evan, Johnny, Susie, Kenny, Derrick

MTV The Challenge: Battle of the Seasons | PreChallenge Storylines Outlook

September 10, 2012
Derrick Kosinski's "Ultimate Challenge Radio" Powered by Talent Network
Post Written By: Tim Koskuba
Ultimate Love to: MTV.com
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Hey guys, I want to thank Tim Koskuba for contributing to the web site at various times of the year on many topics (MMA, NBA, MTV). Tim is back with this blog post to present of few storylines he feels will be buzzing during the upcoming season of The Challenge: Battle of the Seasons. I will be back in action on the podcast mic during this season bringing in new and old guest to break down the episodes and cast drama. Thanks again to Tim and hope you enjoy and comment on this post.  - Derrick

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The new season of 'The Challenge' premieres Wednesday, September 19 at 10/9c.

Ten years ago, the fifth ever season of “The Challenge” debuted on MTV. It featured guy/girl pairs, each from a different season of “The Real World” or “Road Rules”. It included such Challenge power-players as Mike “The Miz”, Coral, Theo, Timmy, Veronica, and it was even hosted by Eric Nies and the Godfather, Mark Long. A decade plus later, MTV has brought back the “Battle of the Seasons”, but this time it will focus solely on a collection of reuniting Real-Worlders. On paper, it certainly doesn't look to have the star-power as it's predecessor (as bluntly pointed out by Challenge superstar, Johnny Bananas), but as with most Challenges, it still has some intriguing storylines to explore.

Storyline #1: Wes vs. The World

Shot Of Yager / Derrick Kosinski Combo Podcast w/ Mark Long (MTV "Real World: St. Thomas", "The Challenge", UFC Ring Girl)

June 4, 2012
Derrick Kosinski's "Ultimate Challenge Radio" Powered by Talent Network
Hosted By: Derrick Kosinski
Ultimate Love to: MTV.com
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"The Man Cave"

This is the place where guys go to be guys. This the place where the fellas get to do what they mean and mean what they say. This is the place where a dude gathers up all of his stuff and gets serious. This is "The Man Cave." And on this particular podcast, your gonna get 20 years of Reality T.V. Entertainment Experience from The Living Legend Mark Long, The Energy, Strength and Comedy that a powerful Yager Bomb should typically connect with from the one and only Scott Yager from ShotOfYager.com and The Life Long Competitive Passion and Nature of Derrick Kosinski. When these powers combine, you've got nothing less than an Action-Packed Podcast discussing everything from the Brand New Real World: St. Thomas Trailer to The Challenge Guys most recent centerfold in US Weekly to Domestic Violence from a UFC Ring Girl who actually came back and finished the fight.

Go to your happy place,find a good seat and get comfortable with the guys...in "The Man Cave."

Sincerely,

Team Ultimate Challenge Radio
#TeamUCR #UCR #TeamAwesome