“The Challenge” showrunners had no idea that when they decided in 1998 to mash up their two of MTV’s most popular reality shows at the time: “The Real World” and “Road Rules.” The new show was titled “Road Rules: All Stars,” and it featured “Real World” alumni taking a road trip similar to a “Road Rules” type of adventure.
The format wasn’t competitive, there were only five cast members (including the current Secretary of Transportation, Sean Duffy, and his future wife, Rachel Campos), and there was no cash prize. Fast forward to 2025, and that show now has 40 seasons in the books, so far, and is one of the largest franchises on television. What started out as “Road Rules: All Stars” is now known as “The Challenge.”
The First 10 Seasons of ‘The Challenge’ Were Experimental
The 28-year history and evolution of “The Challenge” is unlike any other reality show on tv or streaming. As long-time host TJ Lavin explained to Variety during a look back with some former showrunners, “Era I started it all. Era II introduced Fresh Meat. Era III elevated rivalries and romances, and Era IV brought the game global.”
Era I includes the show’s first 10 seasons. It was a “time of experimentation” in those early years for the Gen X producers, Bunim/Murray president Julie Pizzi told the outlet. They were “reimagining what an intense competition show could look like” for alums of “Real World” and “Road Rules.”
The non-competitive season 1 turned into a travel-based competition in season 2 and got a name change: “Real World/Road Rules Challenge.”
That season saw roommates from “The Real World” up against competitors from “Road Rules” to compete for a share of $50,000. Over the next few seasons, the road trips continued, and so did the name changes. Elimination games were introduced, and the casts and prize money got bigger, too. At that time, the show leaned heavily into comedy and offered the contestants once-in-a-lifetime experiences.
“We weren’t just creating a new format; we were inventing an entirely new genre of programming,” Pizzi explained. “Over the next decade, the series evolved into a much larger competition format. We shifted to a single-location setup, housed the cast in aspirational settings and expanded the player pool to 24-36 contestants.”
Showrunners Went In a More Competitive Direction in Era II
Seasons 11 through 20 is considered Era II. According to showrunner Justin Booth, that’s when “The Challenge” went through its most fundamental changes. Including expanding the cast to include non-MTV reality show veterans.
“I wanted to take the series in a more serious competitive direction and turn it into a real ‘life like’ sport. Amplify the challenges, isolate the players more by removing days off and the computer terminal from the house, and ‘Challenge’ them to interact and politic almost around the clock,” Booth said.
These changes allowed producers to take the competition out of the United States and “shake the gameboard” so they could start producing legitimate athletes. In season 19, the show’s name officially became “The Challenge,” and Booth says they turned it into the “ultimate life game.”
Eras III and IV of ‘The Challenge’ Took the Show to the Next Level
For executive producer Lisa Fletcher, Era III (seasons 21-30) introduced one of the series’ best upgrades: the overnight final race in “Rivals.”
“The finale was elevated from one big day to a grueling two-day race that quickly defined the new Era. Competitors were pushed to the brink both physically and mentally. Competitors, as well as the viewers, were able to feel the seismic shift in what it would take to be a ‘Challenge’ champion,” Fletcher said.
For executive producer Emer Harkin, it’s Era IV (seasons 31-40) that produced “so many iconic, unforgettable moments.”
“We continued to film all over the world — South America, Africa, Europe and Asia — with an ever-expanding global cast. The show cranked up its scale, cinematic look, physical and mental intensity. Era IV was the first time we awarded $1 million in prize money in a single season,” Harkin noted.
Since “The Challenge” debuted, the show has filmed over 500 episodes in 29 countries around the globe. A total of 380 cast members have been on the series, and the show has awarded $18 million in prize money.
“The Challenge” is streaming on Paramount+.
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‘The Challenge’ Showrunners Look Back on 40 Seasons