Laura Barisonzi/Paramount+
The Problem: All Stars, the Paramount+ spinoff of the long-running MTV reality-competition sequence, has been a breakout hit for the comparatively low-profile streaming platform since premiering final 12 months, because of the present’s devoted cult following and a charmingly aged forged of Actual World and Street Guidelines personalities, largely from the late ’90s and early aughts (with some youthful faces sprinkled in). As we speak, the sequence returns for a 3rd season to a lot hype surrounding the closely requested recruitment of legendary forged members, like two-time winner Wes Bergman and three-time champion Jordan Wiseley—and probably another formidable veterans down the highway.
Nonetheless figuring out the definition of “all-star”—the achievements among the many forged are far and wide— this season requires that every one forged members have beforehand competed in a “remaining,” the days-long, grueling problem that determines the winner on the finish of each season. (Though, followers on social media have already identified that Nia Moore was notably disqualified from Battle of the Exes II proper earlier than she might compete in a single). Likewise, the premise—and all the foundations and twists thrown in and eliminated over the course of the 10-week-long sport—is usually a little disorienting. To not point out the gamers’ messy politics on high of all of it.
All through all of the chaos and unpredictability of the franchise, The Problem—not less than for the previous 17 years—has maintained a grounding power in its admirably chill however no-nonsense host T.J. Lavin, who’s an important a part of All Stars’ profitable method as some of the heartwarming, nostalgic packages at the moment on tv.
“It was fairly computerized,” Lavin tells The Day by day Beast about becoming a member of the spinoff. “For years, Mark Lengthy had been hitting me up. And he was like, ‘We’re going to get this factor on.’ And I used to be like, ‘All proper, cool.’ I imply, this has been two or three years within the making [and] that this man’s been tweeting about it and hitting me up. And so when it lastly obtained the inexperienced mild, I used to be like, ‘Dude, let’s do it.’”
Since taking on for Dave Mirra throughout The Gauntlet 2 in 2005, the outstanding BMX rider has been a nice fixture not simply on The Problem however the as soon as star-churning cable community, which now largely recycles forged members of Jersey Shore for numerous tasks in between Ridiculousness reruns.
As author Clover Hope famous in a GQprofile final 12 months, Lavin’s internet hosting fashion has all the time been “understated” however distinctly commanding. The intense athlete isn’t precisely a drill sergeant, ceaselessly joking with the forged and kindly commending their efforts when he feels they deserve it. (He famously loses his cool every time anybody wipes out in an above-water problem). If his position has one recurring bit, it’s that he notably hates quitters and has no downside telling contestants on to their face how pathetic they're for leaving the present for no matter petty, normally pride-driven motive.
On All Stars although, Lavin’s disposition is noticeably extra mild and cheerful than on the common MTV sequence, not less than in its present, extra tonally severe type. (Within the newest season, Spies, Lies and Allies, he was known as the contestants’ “handler” as a substitute of the host to go together with the espionage theme and had a barely extra stern persona). Followers on social media have observed the host being extra conversational and desperate to cheer on the older bunch as they attempt to show their athleticism versus the twentysomething influencers frolicking round on MTV. This distinction provides a degree of warmness and a friendlier vibe to the spinoff.
“I can say that,” he reluctantly agrees once I ask if he feels extra comfy internet hosting All Stars than the common sequence now.
“I imply, it’s like being with previous associates,” he continues. “You’re most likely much more comfy than for those who’re hanging out with all-new individuals on a company degree. I imply, at some company board assembly, you’re not going to be as relaxed and as chill as for those who’re hanging out with previous associates, proper?”
This metaphor may sound harsh to a number of the MTV contestants who jokingly name T.J. a “father determine,” however one which feels apparent given how a lot the unique present has reworked over the previous 5 years, as casting has expanded to incorporate non-MTV and worldwide actuality stars now that Actual World and Street Guidelines have ostensibly been put out to pasture.
Correspondingly, the dimensions of the present has notably elevated, that includes motion movie-inspired stunts, drone cinematography and an extreme quantity of pyrotechnics, which Lavin embraces regardless of divided reactions from followers.
“I believe it’s higher when you may have greater, fancier, crazier stunts and all that stuff,” Lavin says. “It’s pure to wish to return to the old-school. However for those who return to the previous Challenges, like when Dave Mirra hosted it, as an example, they’re taking part in round on tricycles on a dock. It’s a joke. It’s embarrassing, what I imply?”
Lavin says he’s grateful individuals “truly care concerning the present” sufficient to critique it and speaks enthusiastically concerning the franchise’s new ventures, together with a CBS model of The Problem supposedly airing later this 12 months, which Lavin simply completed taking pictures and described as “actually, actually enjoyable.” There’s additionally a barely complicated worldwide match going down on a number of networks referred to as The Problem:Warfare of the Worlds, to not be confused with the earlier Problem season titled Warfare of the Worlds that’s within the works.
After I ask Lavin about his ideas on The Problem’s current explosion in popular culture, he says he’s not shocked about it however that he thought it will “occur sooner.” The franchise, which debuted in 1998, has primarily been capable of department out from its cable house over the previous couple of years because of a merger between Viacom and CBS in 2019. Paramount International has since licensed just a few early seasons to Netflix. And the present additionally attracted record-breaking viewership throughout its thirty fifth season Whole Insanity, which aired in the beginning of the pandemic.
Likewise, it was a pleasure to find the present’s new fanbase included a number of the most illustrious names in showbiz: Rihanna and Drake, who social media customers observed following and speaking with a number of the forged on Instagram. @ChampagnePapi himself even reached out to Lavin to let him know he was a supporter. Based on Lavin, the 2 are nonetheless attempting to rearrange a cling in his hometown of Las Vegas.
“We haven’t frolicked but,” Lavin says casually. “It’s as a result of I’ve been filming an excessive amount of. He’s busy. I’m busy. I’m gone from Vegas greater than I'm right here proper now as a result of it’s so many episodes, so many seasons.”
Struggling to make time for dinner with Drake in your individual metropolis–he predicts they’ll meet up when the rapper begins his Vegas residency—appears like an exaggerated boast. Nevertheless it’s merely the character of Lavin’s jet-setting way of life as The Problem’s official mascot, spending months at a time in Croatia, Turkey, Argentina, Panama, Thailand, and an array of different gorgeous, unique places the place the present’s been filmed for nearly 20 years now.
Paramount+
Apart from the times Lavin is taking pictures the semiweekly challenges and the next elimination rounds, the gig appears simply as lonely because it does luxurious. Nevertheless, the 45-year-old, who has a spouse and a daughter, assures me he isn’t holed up in his residence alone, inviting a good friend or member of the family to stick with him “each one or two weeks.” On his days off, whereas the forged is being filmed of their home and doing confessional interviews, he works out and explores whichever metropolis they’re in.
After all, he has to memorize a script—normally the foundations of no matter wacky or death-defying problem the sport producers have concocted. He says he arrives on set two and half hours early whereas the constructions and obstacles are nonetheless being set as much as visualize the sport. He additionally simply doesn’t like losing anybody else’s time.
“I don’t wish to mess up as a result of everybody else’s job is more durable,” Lavin says. “When you have the best job on the crew, then it's good to take it lifeless severe and actually do a superb job in order that no person’s ready on you. That’s type of how I have a look at it. Day by day, it doesn't matter what, I be sure that I’m ready and able to go in order that no person’s ready on me.”
It’s refreshing to listen to that, though Lavin has been a mainstay of MTV for therefore lengthy, he hasn’t turn out to be this domineering, Tom Cruise determine on set, firmly content material in dipping out and in of his position as a bunch and trusting the producers’ imaginative and prescient. He says that other than the producers often asking for his two cents, he doesn’t search to offer artistic enter relating to the present’s format, twists or themes. Total, regardless of being often called the guts of the franchise, he appears to contemplate himself extra of a kidney.
“I'd say about 99 % of it's [the producers],” he says. “Possibly one half of 1 % is me.”