The Challenge: USA season 2 explained

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Num Contestants:24
Winner:
  • Chris Underwood
  • Desi Williams
Location:Pula, Croatia
Season Number:2
Num Episodes:14
Network:CBS

The second season of premiered on CBS on August 10, 2023, with next-day uncensored episodes on Paramount+.[1] The season features eighteen CBS cast members from Survivor, The Amazing Race and Big Brother competing for $500,000.[2] Unlike the first season which only featured alumni from CBS reality shows who have never appeared on The Challenge, the season expanded casting to also include six veterans of The Challenge whose original shows were on MTV as well as CBS alumni who had previously competed on The Challenge.[3]

Format

The second season of The Challenge: USA features a daily challenge, a nomination process and an elimination round. This season initially had contestants competing in three teams decided during the first episode. The format is as follows:

At the end of Episode 7, teams were disbanded and the game changed to an individual format, with challenge winners limited to only the top performing male and female contestant.

Twists

Contestants

Male contestants[4] Original seasonFinish
Winner
Runner-up
Third place
Big Brother 20Fourth place
Big Brother 19Episode 13
Big Brother 20Episode 11
Episode 10
Episode 9
Big Brother 24Episode 8
The Amazing Race 33Episode 6
The Amazing Race 34Episode 4
Big Brother 18Episode 3
Female contestantsOriginal seasonFinish
Winner
Survivor 42Runner-up
Third place
Are You The One? 4Fourth place
Survivor 43Episode 13
Episode 12
Big Brother 24Episode 10
Big Brother 23Episode 7
Big Brother 23Episode 5
Are You The One? 3Episode 4
Episode 2
Big Brother 24Episode 1/2

Draft

At the start of the season, three captains were randomly selected from the CBS reality players to draft the contestants into three teams of eight. Each team consisted of two Challenge veterans and six CBS reality players, with an even gender split. Italicized names indicate players who were placed on a team by default.

Round
CaptainJoshCassidyDesi
1JonnaCoryWes
2PaulieToriMichaela
3MicheleFaysalMonte
4DustyAlyssa L.Ameerah
5ChanelleSebastianTyler
6BananasAlyssa S.Amanda
7TiffanyChrisLuis

Gameplay

Challenge games

Arena games

Final Challenge

The final eight contestants competed in the Final Challenge, which began the day after the "Hall Brawl" elimination.

Day one

For the first day, players compete in four trials based on four traits needed to become a champion. The top-performing male and female player of each trial earn a one-minute advantage for day two, while the respective last place male and female player incur a one-minute penalty. For each trial, players can also "double down" and call that they will win a trial. This doubles their advantage to two minutes if they win the trial, but also doubles their penalty to two minutes if they place last. Afterwards, players had to participate in an Overnight Stage challenge which went unaired in the episode.

Day two

Players complete a ten-mile race to the finish line at the top of a mountain, departing based on the time advantages or penalties earned during the previous day. Along the way are three "Risk Stations". Players can choose to spend time attempting the challenges at the first two Risk Stations to earn an advantage, while the third Risk Station is mandatory to complete. Additionally, the last male and female player to reach the second Risk Station are eliminated from the Final Challenge.

Game summary

EpisodeWinnersArena contestantsArena gameArena outcome
No.ChallengeWinners' picksHopper pickWinnerEliminatedDefectedSwapped
1/2Storm the CastleAmeerahMichele Slam DunkedMicheleAmeerahrowspan="2" colspan="4"
Luis
2Working the PolesBananasJonnaDrop the BallToriJonnarowspan="2" colspan="4"
Tori
3CapsizedAmandaPaulieFire & IceBananasPaulieCory
Bananas
4SideswipedLuisChrisEvil EyeChrisLuis
DesiAmandaDesiAmandaAlyssa S.
5UnboxedCassidyAlyssa L.Block HeadsCassidyAlyssa L.rowspan="2" colspan="4"
Chris
6High-QTiffanyDustyCrank ShaftedWesDustyChris
Wes
7Wreck & RollMichaelaTiffanyTop HeavyMichaelaTiffanycolspan="12" rowspan="14"
Tyler
8Spell-LunkersBananasAlyssa S.MonteToo Cool For SpoolTylerMonte
ToriTyler
9Speed JumpsFaysalCassidySebastianTrick, Trick, BoomChrisSebastian
ToriChris
10Go the DistanceFaysalAlyssa S.CassidyRipped OffCassidyAlyssa S.
MichaelaChrisWesChrisWes
11Slippery BusinessCoryCassidyChrisBarrel TagChrisTyler
MichaelaTyler
12Brain SqueezeChrisJoshCassidyHot WheelCassidyMichele
DesiMichele
13Burst Your BubbleChrisCassidyChanelleHall BrawlChanelleCassidy
MichaelaFaysalJoshFaysalJosh
14Final ChallengeChris2nd: Cory; 3rd: Bananas; 4th: Faysal
Desi2nd: Chanelle; 3rd: Michaela; 4th: Tori

Episode progress

ContestantsEpisodes
1/22345678910111213Finale
ChrisWINSAFEWINWINSAFESAFEWINWINWINNER
DesiRISKWINSAFERISKWINWINSAFESAFESAFESAFEWINRISKWINNER
CoryWINRISKWINWINSAFESAFERISKSAFESAFESAFEWINRISKRISKSECOND
ChanelleSAFESAFERISKWINRISKRISKRISKSAFESAFESAFERISKRISKSECOND
BananasRISKRISKSAFEWINWINWINRISKRISKSAFESAFERISKTHIRD
MichaelaSAFEWINSAFERISKWINRISKSAFESAFEWINWINSAFEWINTHIRD
FaysalWINSAFEWINSAFERISKWINWINSAFEWINWINSAFESAFEFOURTH
ToriWINWINSAFESAFEWINWINWINWINRISKRISKSAFERISKFOURTH
JoshSAFESAFERISKWINSAFESAFERISKSAFESAFESAFESAFEOUT
CassidyWINSAFEWINRISKWINWINRISKOUT
MicheleSAFESAFEWINSAFESAFESAFESAFESAFERISKSAFEOUT
TylerSAFEWINRISKRISKWINSAFERISKRISKOUT
WesRISKWINSAFERISKWINWINSAFESAFEOUT
Alyssa S.WINRISKWINSAFEWINRISKRISKRISKOUT
SebastianWINRISKWINRISKRISKWINWINRISKOUT
MonteRISKWINRISKRISKWINSAFERISKOUT
TiffanySAFESAFESAFEWINRISKOUT
DustyRISKRISKSAFEWINRISKOUT
Alyssa L.WINRISKWINSAFEOUT
AmandaSAFEWINOUT
LuisWINSAFEOUT
PaulieSAFERISKOUT
JonnaSAFEOUT
AmeerahOUT
Color key:

Team progress

Voting progress

Episode
1/22345678910111213
Winners' picksAmeerah
6 of 8 votes
Bananas
4 of 7 votes
Amanda
4 of 8 votes
Desi
3 of 6 votes
Cassidy
3 of 5 votes
Tiffany
5 of 7 votes
Michaela
4 of 7 votes
Alyssa S.
2 of 2 votes
Cassidy
2 of 2 votes
Alyssa S.
2 of 2 votes
Cassidy
2 of 2 votes
Michele
2 of 2 votes
Cassidy
2 of 2 votes
Luis
7 of 8 votes
Tori
5 of 7 votes
Bananas
6 of 8 votes
Luis
3 of 6 votes
Chris
4 of 5 votes
Wes
7 of 7 votes
Tyler
5 of 7 votes
Tyler
2 of 2 votes
Chris
2 of 2 votes
Chris
2 of 2 votes
Tyler
2 of 2 votes
Josh
2 of 2 votes
Faysal
2 of 2 votes
Hopper pickMicheleJonnaPaulieAmandaChrisAlyssa L.DustyTiffanyMonteSebastianCassidyWesChrisCassidyChanelleJosh
ChrisAmeerahLuisPaulieTiffanyBananasAmandaWesTiffanyTiffanyWesAlyssa S.MonteAlyssa S.ToriWesToriMicheleJoshCassidyFaysal
DesiMicheleBananasToriJoshAmandaChrisDustyAlyssa S.WesMonteMonteTylerCassidyTylerToriMicheleJoshToriBananas
ChanelleWesJonnaTylerAmandaWesDustyAlyssa S.JoshMonteTylerCassidyTylerToriCassidyToriBananas
CoryAmeerahLuisDustyAmandaBananasDesiLuisTiffanyDustyTiffanySebastianSebastianCassidyTylerCassidyTylerCassidyChanelleBananas
BananasMonteAlyssa L.MonteMichaelaTylerFaysalWesMichaelaTylerTylerSebastianCassidyTylerChrisCassidyDesiCory
MichaelaBananasBananasToriJoshCassidyWesAlyssa S.MonteMonteTylerChrisCassidyTylerCassidyCassidyFaysal
FaysalAmeerahLuisDustyMicheleBananasMichaelaTylerDesiTiffanyWesMichaelaTylerSebastianCassidyChrisChrisChrisCassidyChanelleBananas
ToriAmeerahLuisDustyDesiMonteMichaelaMonteAlyssa L.TiffanyWesMichaelaTylerTylerCassidyChrisCassidyTylerChrisCassidyChanelleJosh
JoshMonteAlyssa S.MonteDesiLuisChanelleDustyChanelleSebastianSebastianCassidyWesChrisCassidyChanelleBananas
CassidyAmeerahLuisJonnaAmandaBananasAmandaTylerDustyTiffanyWesTiffanyTylerMonteBananasToriWesChrisChanelleChanelleJosh
MicheleMonteJonnaMonteAmandaLuisDustyDustyTiffanyMonteTylerCassidyTylerChrisCory
TylerDustyPaulieAmandaChrisCassidyChrisDustyChanelleSebastianSebastianMicheleBananasChanelle
WesDustyChanelleCassidyChrisCassidyChrisMichaelaMichaelaChrisCassidySebastianCassidyTyler
Alyssa S.MichaelaLuisJonnaAmandaBananasAmandaChrisChrisDustyChanelleSebastianSebastianCassidyBananas
SebastianAmeerahLuisPaulieTiffanyMonteAmandaMonteTiffanyTiffanyWesTiffanyTylerMonteTyler
MonteBananasBananasToriPaulieAmandaSebastianCassidyChrisDustyChanelleSebastian
TiffanyWesCoryTylerCassidyWesSebastianDustyCory
DustyDesiCoryTylerDesiMonteTiffanyChanelle
Alyssa L.MichaelaMonteJonnaAmandaBananasAmandaChrisChanelle
AmandaMicheleChrisToriMonteMichaelaChris
LuisBananasBananasToriPaulieAmandaBananas
PaulieMonteAlyssa S.Monte
JonnaMicheleSebastian
AmeerahBananas

Episodes

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Dana Rose Falcone. Paulie Calafiore, Cory Wharton, Johnny 'Bananas' and More Return for 'The Challenge: USA' Season 2. People. July 13, 2023.
  2. Web site: Longretta. Emily. 'The Challenge: USA' Season 2 Pits 'Survivor' and 'Big Brother' Champs Against MTV Legends: Meet the Cast. Variety. July 13, 2023 . July 11, 2023.
  3. Web site: Bloom. Mike. CBS and MTV Stars Collide! Meet the Full Cast of The Challenge: USA Season 2. Parade. July 13, 2023. July 13, 2023.
  4. Web site: Caruso. Nick. The Challenge: USA Season 2: MTV Legends Bananas, Wes, Tori to Battle CBS Favorites — See Cast List, Trailer. TVLine. 16 July 2023. 11 July 2023.
  5. Rob Cesternino. Week 2 Exit Interview #2 The Challenge: USA Season 2 . Rob Has a Podcast . 21 August 2023 . 21 August 2023.
  6. Web site: Bucksbaum . Sydney. The Challenge: USA season 2 winners reveal what you didn't see in the final. Entertainment Weekly. October 20, 2023. October 20, 2023.