First to post again! Man, I need to get a life.

Wow, this episode was amazing. I completely hated the idea of the fresh meat too, but it seems to be working well, at least initially.

I really hope that the Coral hospitalization thing is only temporary, and I loved that Tonya has to lock up all of her things in plastic bags out of fear of getting it thrown in the pool. Bad karma from Beth, who would make this show complete.

Very promising start!

The only thing that would prevent Coral and Evan from winning is Coral's apparent hospitalization. Otherwise, Evan's athleticism and Coral's being smarter than everybody else will prove too dominant. That being said, Darrell and Aviv are my darkhorses.

Oh, and besides the fact that he is a giant toolbag loser, do you think the "alumni" hate Wes so much because of his attempt to mirror Abe in every single way, except replace " has anger issues but is generally well liked(abe)," with "insufferably lame and egotistical, and the only one buying into his own bullshit (wes)."

Loved loved loved it. I thought it was going to be terrible but I was entertained from start to finish. I was hoping that Melinda and Wes and Jo would try to not live together after the room mess up from Danny's loss, and that everyone would tell them "too bad." Too bad that Danny's partner had to go though, she seemed cool.

yar, shiver me timbers.

it's not 1990.

take.
out.
the.
comically.
large.
nosering.

Coral and Evan Forever!

Those two are going to kick ass. He's athletic, and everyone is scared of her. She's hilarious. Loved when she told the newbie that when the whole MTV thing didn't work out she'd see her on Girls Gone Wild.

Best part of this show, that the alumni actually consider this their "job".

And who the hell ever gave Tina any street cred? She's the most unathletic of the bunch. And she's icky. I hate when she runs her mouth.

This is going to be a great season.

Agreed, gunnit -- I can't stand Tina. She talks so much smack but she can't back it up during the actual challenges. Just because you're loud doesn't mean you're physically fit.

I think this is going to be a great Challenge. I was nervous about the whole Fresh Meat idea because I thought it would be Alums vs. Newbies and they would all just get picked off, but this pairing thing is a great idea. Makes alliances more important, which means more lying and scheming and fights!

Melinda makes me want to throw up. Anyone who can't be away from his/her significant other for three whole weeks needs a big-time reality check. Does anybody see any redeeming qualities in Wes that would make Johanna want to date him? I can't wait until that fight they previewed between the two of them. I hope they break up on TV!!

Awesome recap, J-Unit; it was a very full hour! A couple partner mixups in the paragraphs about the voting though -- Should be Theo and Chanda, and Danny and Ev.

Wes desperatelly needs a tan, altho i feel like he would just turn red. He is just to icky to look at.

Tonya basically just sucks at life.

J-Unit i enjoyed the comment about Darnell, I had almost forgotten about him! He was always good for a laugh.

I can't believe how stupid the Austin cast is. They're going up against seasoned veterans and they immediately call negative attention upon themselves. They deserve to be targeted. It's just unfortunate that they're paired with innocent people.

Wes is a complete dumbass. What women see in him is a complete mystery to me.

I was originally turned off by the idea of 12 unknowns like everyone else. But when I saw the previews of this season and saw the alumni coming back, I knew this season would kick his ass.

Let me start of by saying everyone in the Austin cast, except Johanna, annoys me. Danny and Wes are huge tools and Melinda is a whiny, codependent slut. Did I mention she's ignorant too? (Watch the After Show to hear from Coral the comment she made about "colored women"). That Ev girl made me want to punch her. She walks into the game thinking she's gonna call all the shots, I'm so glad she got eliminated. I'm glad people are targeting the Austin cast cause they're annoying as hell.

As far as the other alumni, I'm so happy to see Coral back. She's funny and a great player. I bet her and Evan make it to the end. Tonya is definitely going to get into some fights, not to mention with her partner Johnnie (who's kind of an asshole). I'm not exactly sure how Tina will do this season. She's not exactly the best girl there, and she doesn't have her Mean Girls to back her up. (BTW, it would really be great if Veronica was back!). Although she does know how to play the game dirty. I think Darrell, Theo, and Derrick are the only real competition out of the male alumni.

This season will definitely make up for the painfully boring "Gauntlet 2".

oh my goodness what was theo doing on last comic standing last night, what now he some type of comedian. Is that is new "job".. hilarious. he made the cut too! oh well at least he's good eye candy.

Jo and Wes breaking up on tv would be the highlight of my summer tv viewing.

when melinda said 'i feel like i've lost danny forever' i wanted to scream.

Oh gosh, this one is going to be good! Like everyone else, the idea of the new people was a little weird to me, but pairing them all up is going to create so much drama, I love it!
Why can't I remember who Darnell is? The name is familiar...

i love, love, LOVED this episode! mostly bc i take huge pleasure in seeing the austin cast targeted. mostly bc i hate the austin cast (i.e the members that are there). sadly, i can say that wes & jo haven't broken up bc wes is from ks (where i'm from) and he likes coming back to overland park w/ jo and running around town in hopes that someone might care. as for melinda & danny, how happy was i to see danny go???? i really can't stand those two and the things danny says defy just about every thought i've ever had that he might, at least, have a brain in his head. next gone: melinda. my summer is sooooo set bc of fresh meat!!! team coral & evan forever!!! p.s. did anyone else notice in the previews coral & evan kiss??? coral manages to snag all the guys....well abe & evan, but hell, i want them!!

Ash,
Darnell was on the Road Rules awhile back, and was probably best known for being the first legitimately fat and obese person to appear on these shows. He was generally loud, lazy, obnoxious, and had a gap in his teeth you could drive a truck through. However, he is probably best remembered for instigating that Abe was a racist, which caused Abe to beat the crap out of him and thus get kicked off the show for assaulting him.

oh, where are thou, crazy, violent Abe?

Well if the alumni think this is their "job", then I am all for watching Wes get his ass kicked by a kangaroo while on the clock!

Actually when I first heard about this season I was more upset that the Austin cast was going to be there. I was not looking forward to Danny & Melinda becoming a Randy & Kina clone. So glad Danny is gone. Just three more to go- feel sorry for their fresh meat partners as they have no chance of surviving.
When I saw Theo on Last Comic Standing I thought "isn't his job doing the Challenges"? Who does he think he is coming in there and trying to show comics how to do their job? I don't see him lasting long.

Oh, and great recap, J-Unit. I laughed and giggled and chortled and- well, you get the idea.

Thanks CommonSense, I do remember him now... unfortunately.

Even though I do love the RR/RW Challenges, wasn't sure how this one would be... Oh yeah, it's lookin' great!

A mohwak? Just when Wes couldn't be uglier. Yeah, MTV4ME, what does Johanna see in him? Someone tell me that!

You had me laughing k37744(Post#5, shiver me timbers indeed, Coral is such a pretty woman, why does she wear that thing?

And nice recap J-Unit!

Ash, J-Unit and Commonsense are thinking of Donell not Darnell.

Let me start of by saying everyone in the Austin cast, except Johanna, annoys me.

Darnell was on the Road Rules awhile back, and was probably best known for being the first legitimately fat and obese person to appear on these shows. He was generally loud, lazy, obnoxious, and had a gap in his teeth you could drive a truck through. However, he is probably best remembered for instigating that Abe was a racist, which caused Abe to beat the crap out of him and thus get kicked off the show for assaulting him.

All in all, I think this is going to be the best challenge to come down the pike in ages.

As soon as those idiots from Austin started acting like they owned the place it was obvious they were going to be the main target.
Wes is a dick. I never watched RW-Austin and judging from what everyone wrote about that season, it's no big deal.
I am so glad Coral is back, if only Mike and Abe were there that would be great.
This was a fun recap J-Unit.

Wasn't Eric in one of the Austin Powers movies?

Wes is so stupid and disgusting. And I cannot stand it when some moron gets a "mohawk" and thinks they are super cool because of it. I hate.

CORAL IS MY HOMEGIRL.

I need to watch this whole thing over + the overdrive preview they had at the end.

She totally dissed on Danny's boston accent one time when he was reading those text messages. Hilarious.

Danny made me so mad this whole episode. He was such a sore loser at the end trying to reach the finish line. Basically cussin' out his partner and criticizing her for not carrying enough and running faster. DOUCHEBAG! He is like Terry (survivor) but at age 20 before he joined the miltary and whooped his ass.

Great recap J-Unit!!

Based on this episode, the season looks VERY promising. I liked it a lot! Especially now that I know Danny won't be on the rest of the season. He is so annoying and dumb! Next episode better not focus solely on Melinda being sad, whining about 'missing Danny sooo much' and 'I can't do it without Danny here!!'. I might be physically sick if it happens.

I am cheering for Evan & Coral. I'm so glad she's back! Evan seems like a really cool kid, even though he made me cringe with him getting 'DANNY' stapled to his ass. He's a crazy Canadian, I gotta support my kind, hehe. :)

Yes, I'm definitely a convert to the Fresh Meat. I love that they've gone back to 12 teams of two (like Battle of the Seasons), and I LOVE that Danny was cut first. What an idiot.

I'm loving Fresh Meat and looking forward to what the season has to offer. I hate Danny and am so happy he was eliminated. Hopefully Melinda will stay in the game - that would be sheer torture but sooooo much fun to watch. HA!!

Just realized Danny and Melinda are borderline reminiscent of Holly and Chadwick. If Melinda starts going on about how she was wearing cowboy boots and a sundress when they met, I think we've got trouble on our hands.

I think this season of RW/RR: FMC is going to be HI-larious!

I was kind of hoping Danny would stay for a few episodes - just to watch him get his ass kicked (and maybe lose a few of his new Chiclets, I mean CHOPPAHS). Also, I really wanted to watch him "go all OJ" on Melinda's ass when the other guys started flirting with her. Maybe now that she's around other male Reality TV eye-candy, she'll see Danny for the pathetic douche-bag he really is.

I have to admit I find Johanna as annoying as the rest of the Austin cast. I mean she went to The Clink for stealing from a HOMELESS person - and then felt sorry for HERSELF! Plus, she's willingly, and apparently enthusiastically, dating Wes. Wes STILL looks like he smells like cheese; he is in desperate need of a trip to the Pineapple Gallery Mystic Tan Emporium.

Good catch on the Herpes pic of Tonya, J-Unit! Now we can track on who, and where she's had her pie-hole by the appearance of sores; and people who look uncomfortable in wet bathing suits.

I'm completely lame, but I think Theo's pretty hot, I actually like his goofy sense of humor - he cracks me up. Of course I also still use my Underdog lunchbox - (just for make-up, I swear!) - so I may also be slightly simple-minded.

Couple of things...

Where was Melinda's MTV bought engagement ring?

Isnt this the challenge that Wes gets attacked by a kangaroo?

great recap, J-Unit!

First of all, I was a little wierded out by the "Fresh Meat" idea, but I am glad to see the pairings of alumni/newbies! Now I wonder why the producers waited so long to think of this idea? I wonder if any other alumni got mad that they lost their "jobs".

I was THRILLED to see Danny get his ass sent home on the first episode...countdown to Melinda's meltdown starts in ...3...2...1..(who wants to bet she somehow throws a mission or voluntarily leaves). Although I agree with a previous post, I would have LOVED to see Danny go "psycho-controlling" on everyone in Australia for looking at her. (Hey maybe that's why Wes gets beat up by the kangaroo, protecing Melinda for Danny)

Anyway I am very excited for the new season and all the reviews in the future.

P.S. Jesse is from Albuquerque..which is where I live. If I get "Jesse scoop" I will definatley post it!

Am I the only one that thought that Eric kid was kinda hot???

Isnt this the challenge that Wes gets attacked by a kangaroo?

yay for recap! This looks like it will be a fun season. Although I'm a little disappointed that the Exiles are basically races in different locations in Australia.

Those puzzles were a complete joke, you can solve them in 30 seconds especially the second one with the sticks.

As everyone has said, I too thought the fresh meat concept would be lame, but instead it is AWESOME.

Evan and Coral all the way!

Although I avoid MTV Overdrive on general principle, the Coral interview is well worth it. Hollabackboy, I was amazed
by Melinda's ignorant "colored women" comment and to Coral of all people! Melinda must have a death wish.

Can't wait for the awful Austin cast to get kicked off.

I love all the Abe references in this comments section. I miss Abe! I especially love how racist he was on his season of Road Rules, but then Coral turned him around. Back then I thought Abe was on his way to Grand Wizard status and then to fall in love with Coral. Ah the power of black women! Seriously, we're amazing.

wouldn't it be perfect if melinda stayed on the challenge for awhile without danny and breaks up wih him for someone in the cast! she just dates whoever is around.

Is MTV Overdrive online? Can I view it on a Mac w/current OS X?

Did Melinda really use the term "colored"? How can anyone with access to technology, education and who exists in the public forum not know better? I am seriously horrified - did anyone object to her terminology?

How could she live with Nehemiah and Johanna, and not realize how utterly offensive that is? I am so bothered by this... I like to laugh at the stupidity of people's actions on these shows, but this just isn't funny - it's frightening. The last time I heard that term it was in 6th grade, and we were reading Mark Twain - and I believe we all knew it was an offensive term - and it was 1977.

Melinda sucks.

*SimonOKOK* - I think Eric has that kind of Oliver Platt/Chris Farley charm - !

Thanks for the recap, J-Unit. Echoing like others, I was hesitant about the new theme, but was pleasantly surprised with the twists they brought in. Well done.

I've never watched an episode of RW:Austin, but the moment I saw Wes, he immediately looked annoying and, when he opened his mouth, it just confirmed it. I really don't understand what Johanna sees in him. Danny sounds dumb and Melinda seems annoyingly naïve. Thank wickedness, they're being targeted, especially after that whole room incident they pulled.

I enjoy Coral in moderation. Tina looks and sounds like someone you just want to slap. Derrick seems like he might play it a bit more low-key this season. Tonya's weird as usual. I don't remember what Darrell or Shane were like. Katie seems okay. One of the things I remember from Theo was the little star he had under his eye during his season; it was like a target for my fist.

I wonder what the "fresh meat" will do after the season (will they do it backwards and do a season of RR or RW after the Challenge or will they just fade to nothing?). Ev exuded pretentiousness, so I guess it's lucky for her that I didn't get to hate her more. Evan looks like he's the stereotypical dumb jock and pretty much proves it when he lets Wes staple Danny's name to his rear (he deserves tetanus for that). Johnnie looks belligerent (incidentally, Tonya seems to do better when she's motivated by spite, but I'm not sure he's going to provide the right kind for her).

SimonOKOK (#34), you're not the only one. Not sure how the tiny girl/big guy dynamic is going to work for him and Katie, but I hope they stay long enough 'cause he's the first sort of eye candy for me from Bunim/Murray. What can I say? I likes 'em thick. ;-p

#39

Yeah, I was actually surprised. I didn't know Melinda was so ignorant. When Coral was talking about her hair being dried out, I think Melinda said Coral has to use special shampoo for "colored women". That really gave me a reason to dislike her.
I wish Coral would have cussed her out and embarassed her, but she said she took the high road and walked away.

Overdrive is located on overdrive.mtv.com. I think if you have something basic like Windows Media Player on your computer, you can watch it(which is what I have, because my computer's not that high-tech and I can watch it).

I loved the Coral interview, though, because she's so funny in her opinions about everyone. I could not stop laughing throughout it.
Can I also point out that the Ev girl, who I did not like at all, who called everyone else "dumb" got disqualified for not following the directions that were RIGHT IN FRONT OF HER and that she read aloud.

Best part of the episode was scenes from the next when Tina says "I'm not fresh meat! This isn't my first challenge! ARE YOU SEEWEEOUS?" Stupid lesbo Elmer Fudd wannabe. She's so hateable.

kenny is a hottie

j-balls,

didn't see the episode yet but i'm down for some tina hate. she's a strong contender for a smackdown. seeweeously.

girl's got a mouth issue.

a 'missue' if you will.

As much as I can't stand Wes, I was so glad that Danny's punk ass went home first. How Melinda can be around such an obvious insecure douche bag like him is beyond my comprehension. Although she isn't exactly the sharpest tool in the shed either. Also, Tonya is so freakin' gross.

I'm officially on the Coral & Evan bandwagon. Love the new concept!

Coral was hilarious on MTV Overdrive. I loved it when she said she hopes Tina's partner can carry her fat ass over any obstacles over four feet tall. Classic!

Loved it. Loved it. Loved it. Loved it.

Excellent recap J-Unit!

Loved this first epi., even though Mrs. GiadaFan makes fun of me. Well, if she gets to watch "So You Think You Can Dance," I get my guilty pleasure, too!

As much of a freak that Coral is, it's good that she'll be around to bitch-slap some of these newbies.

Evan and Coral all the way. I think I'm in love with Ecan. He is FOYNE! FOYNE!!!!

And EW! What is up with Wes kicking those boys out of their room because of intimacy issues? He deserves to be targeted. Assholes.

I loved the recap! I was so glad to see Danny go home, I can't stand him or Melinda. I don't understand how guys think she is hot. Her hair looks like she hasn't washed it in days, and her face and body aren't great. She's ok looking but nothing special. I can't stand Wes either, but I actually like Johanna and as many others have said, i can't fathom what she sees in him.

Also Chee-Z-TeeVee Addict (#39) I can't access overdrive on my mac with OSX either. I got a message saying it is not compatable with macs. If you have comcast on demand, they sometimes air the overdrive stuff on there.

Cout_Love (#32)- I was wondering the same thing, where is the engagement ring Danny "bought" Melinda?

Loved the recap!
Hooray for Evan and Coral! Definately happy to see that Coral is back and I can't wait for her to put these newbies in their places and "Beat bitches up!"
Also loving that the Austin cast is being targetted. Wes is a blithering idiot, Johanna should be smacked for seeing anything in Wes, Melinda is an ignorant cry baby, and Danny, he walks around like his shit don't stink ((Eh hem, particularly when he made an appearance at a club in Alb. New york and was a COMPLETE asshole...wearing his ugly hat and all!)) Needless to say, I'm glad his punk ass went home.

So excited for the rest of this season!

San,
You should read Ev's comments on Danny on their flight home. http://blog.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=blog.view&friendID=82367900&blogID=129830730&MyToken=2e8c2b4a-afcc-4488-b852-c46870272f32
"On the trip home, I listened to you rant about how much you hated Nehemiah and Rachel from your season, saying the harshest things possible about them, things I wouldn't utter even now, simply out of respect for them. You tried to say that Nehemiah made up all kinds of things about you just out of jealousy for you, because he wanted to be like you. Then you bragged about being an Abercrombie model, how your relationship was the greatest and how mine was doomed to failure, and how much you hated your fans who wanted to see you at your club appearances. "

I thought the first episode was awesome! I am pretty much in LOVE with Evan. He is absolutely hilarious and I think him and Coral will win it all!!

I actually really liked the Real World Austin, but now the cast is just annoying and you are totally right, they came in acting like they knew everything. Hopefully they all go home soon.

Ev's comments on Danny were hilarious. I couldn't believe towards the end of the Exile, she was dragging one of the bags (probably Danny's heavy one), tripped, and he just said, "Come on," leaving her to carry the other one as well. What a fucker.

Hey, anniedawg, fellow Albuquerquean here. I have to admit I was sort of jealous of Jesse getting to be on the Challenge, probably just because they won't be recruiting here again for a while. I swear I've seen him somewhere before, too. My mom works for UNM, maybe he came into her office one day or something.

I also was kinda of bummed that jerkoff went home. I was waiting for the domestic violence to start. I just saw the show again and I noticed when Melinda's partner tells her that Dannys worried about what kind of miniskirt she's wearing. I really hope Danny gets his ass beat AGAIN! Had I known then what I know now I would of appreciated the Austin beat down much more.