He's Baaaaaaccccck - 'The Challenge' Dropped A Promo For Its New Season And It's The Return Of Johnny Bananas

[Source] - Season 38 is The Challenge: Ride or Dies, and it's bringing back a group of vets who were allowed to pick their own partner for the season. In the same vein as Bloodlines, their partners are their loved ones, but they don't have to be blood relations this time. From best friends to spouses to family, all kinds of seemingly unbreakable bonds will be put to the ultimate test as they fight for their share of a million dollars.

Johnny "Bananas" Devenanzio is back for his first time back since his history-making seventh win on Total Madness. Laurel Stucky makes her long-awaited return after her embarrassing elimination blunder on War of the Worlds 2. Jordan Wiseley, Darrell Taylor, and Veronica Portillo are all back on the main franchise after their time on All Stars 3, making this the first season that Wiseley and his ex-fiancée Tori Deal are onscreen together since their very public breakup. Amber "B" Borzotra is back after winning Double Agents. Even Turabi "Turbo" Çamkıran is back! This lineup is absolutely stacked.

One of the biggest differences from recent seasons? The spy theme is finally gone. "It's been very, very heavily themed recently, very stylish and cinematic, and we just felt for this season, it was time to dive back into those relationships that are the reason that we've all grown up loving The Challenge and keep coming back for more," Harkin say

Oh fuck yeah man. I'm not just saying that because we have a relevant Bananas blog today. It's because Bananas left the show after winning his seventh title - and hopping on with No Quitters the moment the show ended that night, hmm RIPIP - and now he's back. This is where I'm a little upset. We need CT. CT took over the show the moment Bananas left and we (the No Quitters group text) basically debated did CT pass Bananas? Was it CT's show? Or was he taking advantage of a weaker cast. 

That's where we need CT. I know it's a partner one and that's fine. The show needs to mix up the format every year, which has me thrilled that we're finally dropping that dumbass spy theme. It's The Challenge. Get back to the basics. Drinking, partying, fighting, backstabbing and shitty game play. It's what makes it the show. 

We are getting some decent people on this season though, even with CT sitting it out. They need to do something because All-Stars has been dominating the MTV seasons. As for this specific season? I'm intrigued. I like the setup of being able to bring in someone you 'trust.' It will lead to rivals. You also have the most important piece - TJ Lavin. Specifically, TJ Lavin saying he hates quitters. 

I still think at some point we need a true big time season. A battle for the best basically where it's all individual and we have the most accomplished players. CT, Bananas, Landon, Alton, Wes, Mark, Derrick, Laurel, Cara Maria, Jodi, etc. We deserve it after all the Are You The One, CBS and every other show feeding into here now that Real World/Road Rules are dead. 

Bananas back. Hope he stabs someone in the back right at the most pivotal moment of the show again.