The Challenge: Vets and New Threats dropped a special episode ahead of the premiere, featuring everyone’s favorite vets and the show’s rookies.
The rookies got some spotlight, literally, as host TJ Lavin interrogated each one in a dark room under a bright light.
That brought out some of the newcomers’ unique personalities, including reality TV stars from Amazing Race, Big Brother, and Survivor.
Cedric Hodges, Blue Kim, and America Lopez joined the show after appearing as houseguests on CBS’s Big Brother.
All three made some noise in the Day Zero episode, through performances in the first daily, or remarks they made.
And Blue Kim may have stood out for many fans, based on what she revealed to TJ during her interrogation.
Blue Kim shared the main reasons she wants to win Season 41
Each of the rookies sat with TJ and got grilled about their backgrounds, including the show they came from. For Blue, it was Big Brother, a show that tends to bring some dishonest individuals into The Challenge.
“I did pretty good. I think I’m pretty well-rounded, but I was just never good enough to win,” she told the host, adding, “When it comes to endurance. I play to win, but I also play smart.”
She told TJ she comes across as “smart and pretty,” which she’ll play up so that people will “underestimate” her. She also told him, “Girl, I’ve been working,” when asked how she prepared for The Challenge.
“I’m actually not a girl,” TJ informed her in one of the funny scenes from the special.
Like the other rookies, Blue got a “Why are you here?” from one of the show’s veterans, Nany Gonzalez. That caused her to become emotional.
“I grew up an immigrant child, so with that, I had to grow up very quickly. My mom, being an immigrant mother, she’s worked so tirelessly, especially recently, she’s gone through some traumatic brain injuries. I’ve seen her persevere through that, so I want to offer her a real vacation to Korea,” a teary-eyed Blue told TJ.
She then lightened the moment by revealing to the host and viewers, “I would also, all jokes aside. I would like to get bigger t***ies.”
“I’m lacking in that department, so I’d like to grow a pair,” she told TJ, who facepalmed.
There has yet to be a reveal of all the prize amounts that competitors could win for the new season. Some recent seasons featured substantial payouts around $500,000 to $1 million for contestants in first, second, and third place.
Fans reacted to Blue’s Season 41 debut
While it was just a special before next week’s premiere, Blue had fans talking about her appearance on The Challenge.
In a Reddit subforum thread about Blue’s debut, many fans seemed to like what they saw from her.
“She was more honest in her 5 mins of challenge screentime than she ever was in her 50+ days of big brother. Opening up about her mom and being honest about the b**b job is the most human she has ever appeared to me,” one Reddit commenter said.
“My opinion of Kyland changed a bit for the better once he was on The Challenge as opposed to BB so maybe that will happen with Blue,” another Reddit commenter said.
“She’s definitely not boring!” and “I need her on every season idc,” other fans wrote in the thread.
As mentioned, Blue debuted in CBS’s Big Brother 25, which also featured The Challenge Season 41 rookie America Lopez as a houseguest.
As of the Season 41 special, Derek Chavez gained Blue as his rookie partner during a selection process based on how the competitors finished a race up a mountain and then down to the Challenge house. Inside the house, Blue roomed with vets Aneesa Ferreira, Aviv Melmed, and Nany Gonzalez to start her debut season.
The Challenge: Vets and New Threats airs Wednesdays at 8/7c on MTV.
