T.J. Lavin has hosted “The Challenge” across the globe, but Thailand left an impression that outlasted the shoot.
“It was one of the most incredible and fun places that I’ve ever been. I absolutely loved it. Not to mention, foot massages on the daily were amazing. The people are the sweetest in the world for sure,” he tells Variety. Away from the cameras, he found a new favorite mode of transport. “I had no idea that we never needed a car in Thailand. Scooters are my way of traveling, specifically by motor scooter. Absolutely love them,” he says.
That affection for the country runs through Season 42, now airing on Paramount+ following its MTV debut. The season brings back the franchise’s ‘Cutthroat’ format, splitting 24 competitors into three teams battling for a share of $500,000. For executive producer Justin Booth, the return to Thailand was less about scenery and more about what the country’s crews and locations made possible. “We came back to Thailand for a few reasons, but primarily because of the strength of the local production staff and the opportunity to explore locations we hadn’t worked in before,” he tells Variety. Filming across Bangkok, Pattaya and the wider Chonburi region, he adds, “gave us the ability to maximize our production value in ways we couldn’t have done elsewhere.”
That production value, Booth says, comes down to talent. “Thailand has some of the most professional and polished art department personnel anywhere in the world, and you’re able to access that level of talent at a better price. That allows us to maximize what we put on screen,” he says. He rates the country’s infrastructure above most places the show has filmed. “The local production support, the personnel, and the access are all fantastic, and I’d say they’re better than what you find in most places around the world,” he says.
Thailand didn’t just sit in the frame, either. Lavin says the heat and humidity became part of the competition itself. “The humidity really added to the physical demands. The air can feel so thick at times that even some of the easiest tasks become difficult, let alone a serious Challenge,” he says, pointing to one task in particular as a season standout: “The very first Challenge that we did where they had to run through the streets was filmed in downtown Bangkok. I think that made it really cool.”
Booth traces some of that texture to how reality television engages with a location differently than scripted work does. When the cast heads into a city or town, he says, “they’re experiencing that location in a way that’s very similar to what a visitor might experience,” a dynamic he sees as distinct from how scripted productions typically present a destination.
Reviving ‘Cutthroat’, last used by the franchise in 2009, changes how contestants have to play. “It was a huge success when we did it in 2009, and we felt like this was the right time to bring it back. We had the right cast, and the format felt right for this particular season,” Booth says. Season 42 marks a shift from the paired and individual competition of recent seasons, he notes, back toward a team dynamic the franchise hasn’t explored in years – the dynamic he says viewers should watch closest as the season unfolds.
Lavin says the adjustment to team play came easier to some than others. “I think everyone really did well in their teams. The veterans really know how to play. So they knew what they had to do, and the rookies didn’t know any different, so they didn’t have to adjust,” he says. He’s just as bullish on the rookie class itself. “All of the rookies not only have great gameplay, but they also have strong performances. I think you’ll be very surprised by the veterans for a reason. They know what to do and how to do it.”
Without spoiling what’s ahead, both men are teasing more to come. Lavin points to a franchise staple as the moment worth circling. “Every season has a mini final, and this one is no exception. If I were a viewer, that’s something I’d be looking forward to,” he says. He’s cagier about the rest, but not by much. “I have a really good feeling about this season because everything that’s happened could have been produced. It was so good, but it wasn’t. I have a feeling that we are gonna have some heated rivalries in the future,” he says.
Both also see Thailand’s presence on screen as more than production logistics. Lavin thinks the show can move viewers to book flights. “I definitely think people want to travel where they see on television and/or on social media. I think it has a lot to do with where they decide to go. Thailand is one of the most beautiful places in the world,” he says.
Neither is done with the country yet. Booth confirms the franchise would return without hesitation, citing unfinished business with the destination. “We’d love to come back to Thailand. We’ve always enjoyed our time there and the productions we’ve done there. Even after this season, there are still so many parts of the country we haven’t explored, and we’d love the opportunity to see what else Thailand has to offer,” he says.