Just me but I don't like the CBS production of the show. It feels over-produced and dry. I prefer the standard, MTV production - hand-held camera moving around frantically, burly security guards breaking up fights, blurry images that cover nudity during a late-night swim.
I agree completely,
cusefan88, that the non-Challenge cast are not entertaining.
There's trying to replace aging veterans with people who are also relatively old and who do not have appealing personalities. You can't just be good-looking and fit to be on this show; you need to be interesting. We're getting a lot of Big Brother and Survivor veterans whose personalities are based on watching the last 20 years of network reality television programming.
The appeal of The Challenge isn't just people trying to out-strategize and deceive each other. Yes, that's part of it but the messiness is also a huge part.
I want to see Kyle try to hook up with two or three different women in a single season.
I want to see Kenny carrying crampy Wes on his back during a final or CT carrying Bananas like a backpack.
Who doesn't love seeing Tony getting drunk and doing...well, lots of things.
I want to see more immature embarrassment.
The Challenge become popular because (after the first 10-ish boring seasons were done), the competitors did more than just discuss strategy.
It's probably too late to try to do a Fresh Meat season because the age difference between the new people and the veterans is probably too large.
I think they need to lean into recruiting from another type of reality show - maybe Love Island, Geordie Shore, or similar shows. I've never actually seen these but I know Kyle came from Geordie Shore. Contestants don't have to be either good looking or physically tough.
