Kareem Abdul-Jabbar: "MTV is basically urinating in its own swimming pool" by showcasing "fame desperados" on The Challenge

The Hollywood Reporter

"Now in its 21st year and 33rd season, MTV's The Challenge is one of the most entertaining reality shows on television," writes the NBA superstar-turned-pop-culture columnist. Abdul-Jabbar adds that "any show that lasts as long as The Challenge also says something about the culture that supports it. In this case, some good things and some bad things." He writes that his main criticism "is that MTV, which initially cast The Challenge with standouts from The Real World and Road Rules, started including people from other reality shows, including Are You the One?, The Bachelor, Big Brother and Love Island. This made the show a throbbing scrum of needy fame desperados, each competing to have a popular 'story' that will guarantee their return and get them more followers on social media, which they can then monetize. Watching these shameless professional reality show personalities struggle so hard for significance diminishes the relevance and fun of the show. By bringing them in, MTV is basically urinating in its own swimming pool."