Meet the Makers: The Challenge
In celebration of **Season 40** of MTV’s **“The Challenge,”** Emily Longeretta moderated a panel featuring industry heavyweights, including **Julie Pizzi,** president & CEO of **Bunim/Murray Productions** and **51 Minds Entertainment,** showrunner and executive producer **Justin Booth,** along with prominent cast members **Leroy Garrett,** **Aneesa Ferreira,** **CT Tamburello,** and **Rachel Robinson.**
“One of the things we really focused on was the cast and what we considered ‘Challenge’ **royalty**,” said Pizzi on this milestone season. Booth elaborated, “I think the **Season 40** of it all was just about having **40 contestants** and making games bigger and better than before.” This ambitious mindset has always been a hallmark of the acclaimed series.
**Rachel Robinson**, who has been part of “The Challenge” franchise since **2002**, emphasized the significance of her participation: despite not competing for a decade and being a mother of three, she felt compelled to join during this landmark season. “The reason I signed on is that I definitely felt the monumental moment of this season and I wanted to have my name a part of it,” she explained. Remarkably, she became one of three winners, two of whom were women. Robinson expressed pride in the karma vote that favored respect among contestants, making her victory all the more meaningful.
“It was really special because all of my kids and my friends’ kids talked about it: ‘You won because you’re a good person,’” she shared. “I thought that was, overall, a great message for kids to see these days.” This sentiment reinforces the inspirational aspect that “The Challenge” encapsulates, making it more than just a reality competition.
Meet the Makers: RuPaul’s Drag Race
**“RuPaul’s Drag Race”** Season 17 winner **Onya Nurve** discussed the profound support she received from her father regarding her drag career. Initially surprised by the casting choice during the makeover challenge episode, she reflected, “I knew he supported me just not to that extent. I was overwhelmed with emotion,” she shared with Variety’s artisanal editor **Jazz Tangcay.**
**Jewels Sparkles,** a fellow panelist and runner-up, acknowledged the significance of showcasing a Latino and Black father on television during this episode. “That is so beautiful, especially in our current political climate,” she noted, receiving applause from the audience. This representation sends an empowering message to viewers across diverse backgrounds, highlighting the importance of parental support.
The panelists also discussed the critical role of shows like **“Drag Race.”** Casting director **Goloka Bolte** emphasized the rich tapestry of representation the show offers. “The top four, the whole cast, could not have come from more different backgrounds. Getting to have all these queer individuals from such diverse backgrounds say, ‘This is who I am’ is crucial. Drag is what has saved many of us,” she commented.
Meet the Makers: The Traitors
In a candid reflection, “The Traitors” Season 3 cast members, including **“Boston” Rob Mariano**, **Dolores Catania**, **Dylan Efron**, and **Bob the Drag Queen**, shared their experiences on the Peacock reality competition series, revealing that it was that much tougher than anticipated. Known for his prowess in competitive reality television, Mariano highlighted the strategic difficulties of this show, saying, “It’s not as physical as some of the other shows, but strategically, it was by far the most difficult show I’ve ever done.”
Despite initially turning down the first two seasons of “Traitors,” Mariano’s eventual participation in the third season reflected its success. “I had to watch the first and second seasons and then decided, okay I’ll do it — after it did really well,” he shared, commenting on the competitive landscape that the show has created.
**Dylan Efron** remarked on the thrill of participation, affirming that he would jump at the chance to compete again. “What’s more fun than an experience like that? It’s like a sleepover on steroids,” he expressed excitedly. Mariano, perhaps already scheming for future strategies, added, “Maybe. Never say never. It’s so hard. **‘Traitors’ really is difficult!”