The Challenge: USA season 1 explained

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Num Contestants:28
Winner:
Location:Buenos Aires & Patagonia, Argentina[1] [2]
Season Number:1
Num Episodes:12
Network:CBS

The first season of premiered on CBS on July 6, 2022. The season featured twenty-eight cast members from Big Brother, Love Island, Survivor, and The Amazing Race competing for a monetary prize.[3] [4]

Format

The Challenge: USA consists of a daily challenge, winner's selection and an elimination round. For the first seven episodes, players compete as male/female pairs which change for each cycle of the game.

From episode 8, the game changed to an individual format, and elimination rounds were designated to one gender. Players compete in daily challenges individually, where the last-place player of the designated gender is automatically sent to the elimination round to compete against the same-gender player later selected by the winners. The winner remains in the game and receives all the money in their opponent's bank account while the loser is eliminated.

Twists

Contestants

Male contestants[5] Original seasonFinish
Survivor 41Winner
Runner-Up
Runner-Up
Big Brother 12Fourth Place
Fifth Place
Big Brother 21Episode 10
The Amazing Race 23Episode 8
Big Brother 23Episode 7
Big Brother 23Episode 6
Love Island 3Episode 5
Big Brother 23Episode 4
The Amazing Race 32Episode 3
Love Island 1Episode 2
Love Island 3Episode 1
Female contestantsOriginal seasonFinish
Winner
The Amazing Race 33Runner-Up
Love Island 2Runner-Up
Big Brother 20Fourth Place
Survivor: Heroes vs. Healers vs. HustlersFifth Place
Big Brother 23Episode 11
Love Island 3Episode 9
Love Island 1Episode 7
Love Island 3Episode 6
Big Brother 23Episode 5
Survivor 41Episode 4
Survivor: Cagayan Episode 3
Big Brother 23Episode 2
Love Island 2Episode 1

Gameplay

Challenge games

Arena games

Final Challenge

The remaining contestants were flown to Patagonia for the Final Challenge, where they would race up Cerro López mountain. Players complete a series of checkpoints in male-female pairs to earn points based on their placements. However, due to uneven numbers after Ben's departure from the competition, each female player would have to complete a checkpoint individually. The male and female players with the most points at the end of the Final Challenge are declared the winners of the season. To take home the money they currently possess in their bank account, players must finish the Final Challenge. If, at any point, a teammate quits, their partner is also out and both players' bank accounts are reduced to $0.

The first pair or individual to complete each checkpoint receives 5 points each; second receives 4 points; third receives 3 points; fourth receives 2 points; fifth receives 1 point. After each checkpoint, the Algorithm determines new pairs for the next checkpoint.

Day one

Day two

Game summary

EpisodeWinnersArena contestantsArena gameArena outcome
No.ChallengeLast placeWinners' pickWinner(s)Eliminated
1Down To Do the MathAngela & TysonAzah & KylandCely & JavonnyKnot So FastAzah & KylandCely & Javonny
2Yeah BuoyJustine & TysonCayla & JamesCashel & TiffanyKnowledge Is PoweredCayla & JamesCashel & Tiffany
3Hang On ManAngela & KylandJames & TashaCashay & DomenickPlug and PlayCashay & DomenickJames & Tasha
4Falling Off the KnowledgeAlyssa & KylandDavid & JustineShan & XavierSmash In Puzzle OutDavid & JustineShan & Xavier
5Barreled TreasureCashay & TysonAzah & CincoLeo & SarahA Dark TurnLeo & SarahAzah & Cinco
6ContainmentDavid & DesiEnzo & JustineDerek & ShannonSpelling EebEnzo & JustineDerek & Shannon
7Wreck-Reational DrivingCayla & DomenickAlyssa & LeoKyland & KyraBall & ChainAlyssa & LeoKyland & Kyra
8Having A BlastAngelaEnzoLeoHall BrawlEnzoLeo
Ben
9Collect FourDannySarahCashayIn a RollSarahCashay
Desi
10Code CrossingAngelaDavidEnzo Balls InEnzoDavid
Ben
11Getting TiredDomenick & TysonAngelaAlyssaPole WrestleAngelaAlyssa
Sarah
12Final ChallengeDanny2nd & 3rd: Domenick & Tyson, 4th: Enzo, 5th: Ben
Sarah2nd & 3rd: Cayla & Justine, 4th: Angela, 5th: Desi

Episode progress

Contestants! colspan="12" scope="col"
Episodes
1234567891011Finale
Danny$1,000$1,000$1,000$1,000$1,000$1,000$1,000$1,000$6,000$6,000$6,000$245,500
Sarah$1,000$1,000$1,000$1,000$2,500$2,500$2,500$10,000$15,000$254,500
Cayla$1,000$2,000$2,000$2,000$2,000$7,000$7,000$7,000$7,000$7,000
Domenick$1,000$1,000$2,500$2,500$2,500$7,500$7,500$7,500$7,500$10,000
Justine$1,000$6,000$6,000$7,000$8,000$8,000$8,000$8,000$8,000
Tyson$6,000$11,000$11,000$11,000$16,000$16,000$16,000$16,000$16,000$16,000$18,500
Angela$6,000$6,000$11,000$11,000$11,000$11,000$11,000$16,000$16,000$21,000
Desi$1,000$1,000$1,000$1,000$1,000$6,000$6,000$6,000$11,000$11,000$11,000
Enzo$1,000$1,000$1,000$1,000$1,000$2,000$11,000$18,000
Ben$1,000$1,000$1,000$1,000$1,000$1,000$1,000$6,000$6,000$11,000$11,000$0
Alyssa$1,000$1,000$1,000$6,000$6,000$6,000$12,500$12,500$12,500$0
David$1,000$1,000$1,000$2,000$7,000$7,000$7,000$7,000$0
Cashay$1,000$1,000$2,500$7,500$7,500$7,500$7,500$0
Leo$1,000$1,000$1,000$1,000$2,500$0
Kyland$2,000$7,000$12,000$12,000$12,000$0
Kyra$1,000$1,000$1,000$1,000$1,000$1,000$0
Derek$1,000$1,000$1,000$1,000$1,000$0
Shannon$1,000$1,000$1,000$1,000$1,000$0
Azah$2,000$2,000$2,000$0
Cinco$1,000$1,000$1,000$1,000$0
Shan$1,000$1,000$1,000$0
Xavier$1,000$1,000$1,000$0
James$1,000$0
Tasha$1,000$1,000$0
Cashel$1,000$0
Tiffany$1,000$0
Cely$0
Javonny$0
Competition
  • The contestant won the Final Challenge.
  • The contestant withdrew from the Final Challenge.
  • The contestant was disqualified from the Final Challenge.
  • The contestant was removed from the competition for medical reasons.
  • The contestant won the daily challenge and earned $5,000 for their bank account.
  • The contestant was not selected for the Arena.
  • The contestant won the elimination in the Arena and received their opponent's bank account money.
  • The contestant lost in the Arena and was eliminated.

    Team progress

    For the first episode, players chose their own teams prior to the "Down to Do the Math" challenge. From episode two to episode seven, and the Final Challenge, teams were decided by the Algorithm. From episode eight, players competed as individuals.

    ContestantsEpisodes
    1234567891011Finale
    DannyShanDesiAzahKyraAngelaAlyssaJustineIndividual
    Game
    CaylaAngelaSarahJustineIndividual
    Game
    SarahEnzoKylandCincoDerekLeoBenTysonTysonDannyDomenick
    CaylaDavidJamesXavierTysonDerekLeoDomenickDannyDomenickTyson
    DomenickJustineShannonCashayAngelaDesiAngelaCaylaAngelaJustineCaylaSarah
    JustineDomenickTysonLeoDavidBenEnzoDannyTysonDomenickDanny
    TysonAngelaJustineAlyssaCaylaCashayKyraSarahJustineSarahAngelaCayla
    AngelaTysonLeoKylandDomenickDannyDomenickEnzoDomenickDannyTyson
    DesiCincoDannyEnzoLeoDomenickDavidBenEnzo
    EnzoSarahAlyssaDesiCashayKyraJustineAngelaDesi
    BenAlyssaShanKyraAzahJustineSarahDesi
    AlyssaBenEnzoTysonKylandDavidDannyLeo
    DavidCaylaKyraShannonJustineAlyssaDesiCashay
    CashayDerekCincoDomenickEnzoTysonKylandDavid
    LeoTiffanyAngelaJustineDesiSarahCaylaAlyssa
    KylandAzahSarahAngelaAlyssaShannonCashayKyra
    KyraCashelDavidBenDannyEnzoTysonKyland
    DerekCashayTashaShanSarahCaylaShannon
    ShannonJamesDomenickDavidCincoKylandDerek
    AzahKylandXavierDannyBenCinco
    CincoDesiCashaySarahShannonAzah
    ShanDannyBenDerekXavier
    XavierTashaAzahCaylaShan
    JamesShannonCaylaTasha
    TashaXavierDerekJames
    CashelKyraTiffany
    TiffanyLeoCashel
    CelyJavonny
    JavonnyCely

    Episodes

    Notes and References

    1. Watch T.J. Lavin throw shade at the Big Brother alums on The Challenge: USA. Bucksbaum. Sydney. Entertainment Weekly. June 21, 2022. June 29, 2022.
    2. Web site: The Challenge: USA Finale Recap: Who Won the Money and a Chance to Compete in the World Championship?. Caruso. Nick. TVLine. September 14, 2022. September 15, 2022.
    3. Ross. Dalton. May 31, 2022. 'Big Brother' and 'The Challenge: USA' summer premiere dates revealed. May 31, 2022. Entertainment Weekly.
    4. Web site: Longeretta. Emily. 'The Challenge' Franchise Expands With CBS and International Spinoffs, 'All Stars' Season 3 Gets Premiere Date. Variety. June 7, 2022. February 15, 2022.
    5. Web site: Thompson . Eliza . Tyson! Xavier! Tiffany! 'The Challenge: USA' Cast Revealed . . June 8, 2022 . June 8, 2022.
    6. 'The Challenge: USA' Episode 11. The Ringer. Tyson Apostol. Amelia Wedemeyer. September 15, 2022. 40:12. September 18, 2022.
    7. The Challenge: USA | Finale Exit Interviews. Rob Has a Podcast. Rob Cesternino. Brian Cohen. September 15, 2022. 8:47. September 18, 2022.