‘The Challenge’ Producers Define Each Era of the Past 40 Seasons — From When the Structure Changed to When Athletes Were Created

What began as pitting “The Real World” roommates against “Road Rules’” competitors in 1998, MTV’s “The Challenge” has expanded into one of the largest franchises on television.

Season 40 was the perfect example of that growth. For the first time, the cast included all returning players, split into four teams — each based on which year they first began on “The Challenge.” As longtime host T.J. Lavin described it: “Era I started it all. Era II introduced Fresh Meat. Era III elevated rivalries and romances, and Era IV brought the game global.”

But which era is the best? That depends on who you ask. Four executive producers from the franchise speak on behalf of each:

ERA 1 Seasons 1-10

Era 1 of “The Challenge” was a time of experimentation. Gen X producers were reimagining what an intense competition show could look like for former “Real World” and “Road Rules” cast members. We weren’t just creating a new format; we were inventing an entirely new genre of programming. It began as a travel-based competition … In those early seasons, the challenges leaned heavily into comedy and offered access to unique, once-in-a-lifetime experiences. 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. Elimination games were introduced, and prize money tripled. By Season 7, the foundational structure of “The Challenge” as we know it today was firmly in place. —Julie Pizzi

ERA 2 Seasons 11-20

Era 2 represents the most fundamental changes in the vision of the franchise moving forward. 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. By doing this, as well as taking the show out of the U.S. on a full-time basis, we were able to shake the gameboard in such a way that the show began producing legitimate players and athletes that I would measure up against any pro in their respective sports. We turned “The Challenge” into the ultimate “Life Game.” — Justin Booth

ERA 3 Seasons 21-30

One of the best upgrades of “The Challenge” occurred in Era 3 with the introduction of 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. One of my favorite things is to be in the field with the finalists to watch them push themselves to their limits and win. — Lisa Fletcher

ERA 4 Seasons 31-40

Era 4 brought 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 4 was the first time we awarded $1 million in prize money in a single season. Our cast lived in the terrifying ‘Bunker’ (a nuclear bomb shelter). We were one of the first U.S. productions to safely film internationally during the COVID-19 global pandemic, and we filmed our 500th episode. The ride of a lifetime! — Emer Harkin

The Challenge by the Numbers

29: The number of countries the series has filmed in since its debut.
564: The number of episodes the flagship series has aired.
380: The number of cast members who’ve been in the series.
160+: The number of countries “The Challenge” has aired in.
560: The number of challenges that have been featured.
$18 Million: The approximate amount of prize money that has been awarded.