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‘The Challenge: All Stars’: A Twist From an Old Season is Revealed in Premiere

'The Challenge: All Stars' is finally here via Paramount+, and fans are already seeing the game unfold. During the premiere, host TJ Lavin explained the daily challenge involved male and female captains -- and he brought back an old classic twist that fans are sure to remember.

MTV’s The Challenge introduced reality TV fans to plenty of iconic stars over the years. Now, original players from the show are back to compete for $500,000 on The Challenge: All Stars. Now, the premiere of the show is here — and there’s a twist fans may remember from an old season already coming into play.

[Spoiler Alert: Spoilers ahead for The Challenge: All Stars premiere.]

‘The Challenge: All Stars’ cast features players from old seasons of MTV’s ‘The Challenge’

Fans of MTV’s The Challenge remember the most iconic cast members over the years — and now, many of them are back. While they may not be as young as the new players on the newer seasons of the show, they still have plenty of physical prowess, social game, and heart to win them the big money. Two players from Double Agents are competing on All Stars, too — Darrell Taylor and Aneesa Ferreira.

So, who else from early Challenge seasons came back to compete? Bustle notes fan favorites like Derrick Kosinski, Eric “Big Easy” Banks, Jemmye Carroll, Trishelle Cannatella, Beth Stolarczyk, and, of course, Mark Long, are all back — and that’s just to name a few.

And I think that just shows you how relevant the genre is and how people are just yearning for that nostalgia,” Long, the player who spearheaded the idea, shared with People. “We had a bad year last year and I think, when you watch programs like this, that you’ve identified with and you’ve grown up with the cast members, it brings you back to the time when you just felt so good about things and life was easier and the music makes you smile.”

The season premiere features an old twist

Fans can officially watch MTV’s The Challenge stars compete against each other in the first episode. Entertainment Weekly explains the cast first arrives at their Argentinian mansion, which is a huge departure from the cold climates of the more current Challenge seasons.

The first daily challenge involves swimming and math, and there’s immediately some strategy when it comes to team captains. Each team has a male and female captain. The captains of the winning team get an advantage, but the captains of the losing team get punished.

Once the daily challenge is over, host TJ Lavin provides more information — and the twist. The premiere involves a male elimination, so the male team captain of the winning team is safe. As for the female captain of the winning team, she receives the Life Saver.

Fans of the show may recall the Life Saver in past seasons. The person holding the Life Saver can save someone from going into an elimination, giving them the opportunity to shake up the game entirely. However, the female captain doesn’t use the Life Saver in the premiere.

When did ‘The Challenge: All Stars’ premiere and how can fans watch?

Emily Schromm (L) and Paula Meronek from MTV's 'The Challenge' sitting together and laughing at a reunion party
Emily Schromm (L) and Paula Meronek attend MTV’s ‘The Challenge: Rivals II’ final episode and reunion party | Mike Coppola/Getty Images
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‘The Challenge’ Star Jemmye Carroll Explains Her Return to Reality Television for ‘All Stars’

While fans of MTV’s The Challenge are still deep in Double Agents, All Stars provides a hit of nostalgia fans know and love. All Stars premiered on Wednesday, March 31, 2021, and fans can watch weekly on Paramount+.

There haven’t been any formal announcements for a season 2 of All Stars yet, but it seems the players would love to jump back in the game if given the opportunity. Long and Ferreira both said they believe the show will be renewed.

We’re excited to keep watching the original players battle it out for the grand prize!

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