TJ Lavin, best known for his extraordinary talent as a BMX rider, host’s MTV: The Challenge: Battle of the Exes which brings 13 former lovers, flings and one night stands and pair them up together for a chance to win $300,000. “The Challenge,” which premiered Wednesday, January 25, takes place in the beautiful Dominican Republic and offers challenges both physical and emotional. TheCelebrityCafe had the chance to speak to TJ to find out what is in store for viewers this season.
TheCelebrityCafe: Prior to arriving in the Dominican Republic, did the contestants have any idea that they were about to be paired up with their exes?
TJ Lavin: They’re not supposed to have known, but I think it was a dead giveaway when every person on the plane happened to of been romantically involved with another person on the plane. I think somehow they hear or figure it out; these kids are smart man, these contestants are always smart. They have been around the block, ya know, a lot of times they know what the game is before I even do. They look and immediately know, “Oh, this is this and this and this!” I’m thinking, “What the hell!? How do they even know that!?” I don’t put anything past them, they’re very smart.
TCC: Which is more difficult in this game, the physical challenges or emotional challenges of living in the house with one another, both exes and enemies?
TJ: I would have to say living in the house has got to be more difficult. The challenges are still very difficult, but you get all of this. You fall 30 feet into the water the wrong way then you’re definitely hurting. But, I’m a BMX dude so when you come from that, they crashes on the challenges really aren’t that bad. So, sometimes they get it pretty good, I mean, these are pretty “normal” people trying to do extraordinary things sometimes, so they can hurt pretty badly. But I think for the most part, living in the house with your ex would be pretty bad.
TCC: Paula calls The Challenge, “Drama’s wet dream.” As a host, what do you say to that?
TJ: I think that Paula probably knows exactly what she is talking about. I mean, she lives in the house so she definitely knows the drama! I just have to second the motion there for sure.
TCC: You had mentioned that LeRoy was one of the strongest competitors, to look on the opposite end of the spectrum, would you say is the weakest?
TJ: Oh…wow…that would be a really rude thing to say [laughing]. One of the weakest in the past would be Beth. But that was simply because she was too old, she just didn’t want to be there that’s all! I can’t really say, I think somebody who works on themselves a lot, and somebody that does everything when it comes to mentally and physically and really takes her herself into account is Robin. So Robin tries to do her best and tries to see and do her best in the challenges. She tries to see what’s ahead of her and tries to make herself into whatever she has to get through the next challenge.
TCC: Can you tell me how you went from being a BMX rider to hosting MTV’s The Challenge?
TJ: Yeah, my friend was at my house for a backyard BBQ, a big party we had here, we got along really well and he happened to move his way up as the talent guy for MTV. He always kept me in mind, then he called me in ’06 and asked if I would be interested and I thought, “Oh yeah, for sure!” Sure enough, I would fly back and forth from Trinidad and other places as I was hosting. So, I had no idea that would be my new job! It kind of took over when I crashed in 2010. I’m really glad I had that side job that turned into my real job. Justin is the production guy, he’s really cool, he came and visited me in the hospital and told me that they had The Challenge in mind. He told me, you’re going to be the guy so focus. I had to go from brain injury to focus by February 1st. Honestly, I couldn’t really see that well when we got there, but, it worked out so I am really thankful to have such a strong production crew who stood behind me with my brain injury and all. I have a really hard time remembering lines, but they are all very patient and kind; makes it a lot better and a lot easier.
TCC: In your opinion, what is the key to surviving in this game?
TJ: I think being objective, like taking yourself out of the game and making it a business decision through this game. So everything has to do with money, so if you take your emotions out of it and make an objective to win this challenge and make money. I think that would be a lot better than, “we’re a team and we’re going to do this, I know I used to love you, but we’re going to do this.” I think if you make a business decision to say, “Alright, we are going out there to get the money, I like somebody else and you like somebody else, but let’s just stick together and make this happen,” I think that would be a better decision.