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Its all thanks to Mark Long, referred to byChallengefans as the series godfather.
Now, Long is serving double duty as the shows executive producer and one of its most fearsome contestants.
How did the idea for anAll Starsspin-off come to you?
Ive thought about it for years.
As I was sitting around during quarantine, I just had a little bit more time on my hands.
And I thinkUS Weeklywas the first to pick up, and it went viral.
So I knew there was an audience for it.
What was it like being an executive producer for the first time?
I did so much pre-production of this show before I even did the deal with Bunim/Murray [Productions].
And I kind of said, Hey, look.
Nothings in stone yet.
But if this thing turns into a reality could I include you?
And 99.9 percent were like, Hell yes, include me.
I definitely think I played a huge part in really putting the gas to the fire to this idea.
So I didnt know the format when we left.
I didnt know the final cast.
I coach the team, and I play.
And I love being the face of the show that brought this idea to life.
What would you say makes aChallengeAll Star?
I always loved the term OG.
So if I had a 100 percent vote in that matter, I wouldve called it that.
But I think how they use All Stars in the series is more like, bigger personalities.
Like, who was an All Star in their personality?
Or who was a fan favorite back in the day?
Or who was someone who had a moment in the challenges that stood out?
What was it like working with this particular group of people?
Did you know most of the cast?
I knew a lot of the cast.
The only people I hadnt met in person were Jonna and Kendal.
The others Ive met and done challenges with many times in the past.
I read in an interview that you wanted to bring back a lightheartedness to the franchise.
Could you expand on that?
Because Ive definitely noticed the regular show taking a more serious tone in the past two seasons.
I just think the fans were yearning for something that was more fun.
A lot of these fans have grown up with us over the years, 20-plus years.
And they miss the nostalgic feel of it and just lightheartedness.
And its going to get even more and more [fun] as we go along.
What was the mood like on the first day?
It was just all those emotions.
The swim [in the first challenge] wasnt that bad.
It was just the water was 49 degrees.
Your body is not used to that, so everyone was breaking down.
You see Arissa kind of have a convulsion coming out of the water.
Kendal got yanked out.
So at that moment right there, we were like,You know what?
This is not going to be easy.TJs going to make us earn our way to that $500,000.
This isnt backyard fun games.
This is going to be legit.
Do you still keep up withThe Challenge?
And are there any competitors youre rooting for these days?
He has opened up his family to viewers and fans to be a part of it.
He would be a great winner in the future.
And I think hes a good, solid personality for the game.
And I know shes really physical and could play the game well.
I could see her winning one in the future.
And I love Jenny.
Its so funny when all these new kids talk all this crap, and then they blow it.
And then theyll lose it in the finals.
So until they win until Fessy wins, he cant compare himself to anyone because hes the sidekick.
Hes not the king yet until he wins one, no matter how big he is.
What are your long-term hopes forAll Stars?
Did you pitch it as a one-time thing, or would you like to see it continue?
So there are plenty of cast members to pull from for many, many seasons ofAll Stars.
And it would be like the Super Bowl ofChallenges.
And Ill tell you what, people will lose their minds.
I think it would be the most-watchedChallengeever in the history ofChallenges if that happened.
This interview has been edited and condensed.
