Real World/Road Rules Challenge: The Inferno 2, Episode 9 - Shut Your Trap, Tina!

Previously, Jodi and Veronica had been nominated into the Inferno. The Good Guys were finally able to win another mission, bringing the totals to Bad Asses having $50,000 and the Good Guys with $30,000. At the Inferno, Jodi buckled under the pressure and Veronica managed to pull out a win, telling the camera that for the first time, the Good Guys aren't going to finish first. Jodi was sent packing, and the amount of tears that I shed were close to negative three.

Dan and Abe have a discussion about Tina and her conspiracy theory that Abe and Mike have an alliance together. Abe says that he has now voted for Mike two times -- it's clear that they don't have an alliance together, but Mike is his friend, and he won't vote for him anymore. Good for you, Abe! Dan says that all Tina does is rants and raves but never truly has anything interesting to say. Well, he has a point.

Switch over to Rachel, Veronica and Tina picking on Tonya. Tonya says she is getting pissed off at the way the three of them always gang up on her. I want to feel bad, but she was right there with them when they were picking on Beth, so I can't sit her and be all "Oh, that poor Tonya!" I simply don't care. Tonya joins the others in a conversation, and they are all talking about family. She hopes that they don't ask her anything, but then we see her revealing that she grew up in foster homes, and isn't close to her family at all. Jamie says that now she understands a little more about Tonya, and how she has had adult problems ever since she was a kid.

The mission clue comes in on their T•Mobile Sidekick. I love giving plugs. You know the drill -- wear your team colors and tennis shoes and be ready in the morning. I think they need to be a little more creative with their challenge clues. They could take a lesson from Tyra on America's Next Top Model. Those girls never know what they are in for next!

Everyone arrives at the challenge and see this huge monstrosity erected. People are already excited and Jamie says that she lives for this stuff. Julie says that she has a fear of heights, and is already scared. Dave says the point of this mission will be to choose an order, then climb the erected monstrosity and collect a certain number of balls, depending on what your position in the order is. If you fall off, you must wait sixty seconds before you can get back on. Once you have your balls, figuratively, the next person can go. The team with the shortest heat time will win.

The Bad Asses will be going first, and discuss their order. Tonya is getting upset again since the other three girls have no faith in her, while Dan has his first flip out on Tina because she is convinced that he is going to have trouble. Dan basically tells her to shut up and let him decide what he can and can't do. Over at the Good Guys meeting, Julie is worried and has no idea if she is going to be able to do this one. If she opts out, her team will have a five minute penalty. The Bad Asses are going first, and Dave lines them up.

The whistle blows, and Veronica is the first to go. She quickly gets the balls, but has an issue with getting them to unclip off her wire, since they are tangled. She wastes some time, but finally gets them free. More of the Bad Ass team goes, and have little problems, but when it's Tonya's turn, the girls start yelling at her to go faster, even though she's moving at the same pace they were. Apparently, Tonya told the girls she goes rock climbing, so they are holding her to a higher standard. Geeze, this is like high school. Tonya makes it back to the bottom, and is pissed that nobody is even telling her she did a good job. Derrick makes his way up, and he ends up falling! Tonya, sitting with Jamie and Julie, tells them that they have to go slow on the part Derrick fell off of. Veronica and Tina overhear this, and start yelling at Tonya for revealing secrets. I don't think this is Watergate, so why are they so upset? Tonya tells Dan that she's sick of the other girls bullying her, and Dan admits that it's getting old. Derrick waits his turn, and heads back on the contraption. Finally, the Bad Asses finish, and their time is somewhere around 31 minutes.

The Good Guys are finished prepping, and Julie has her position, even though she is still nervous. Mike is the first to start the climb, and has a few problems, but gets to the top. Accidentally, though, on his way down, he smacks his crotch on the beam below. It doesn't look very comfortable, and Mike admits that it hurt, but he was able to hold onto his balls. Each of the Good Guys does their thing, and as Julie makes her climb, Rachel swears that she heard some cursing. Julie does indeed blame the devil for having to do this mission, but she finishes it, potty mouth intact. When it's all said and done, the Good Guys win the mission by about four minutes, and get another $10,000, bringing their total to $40,000, compared to the Bad Asses $50,000. Now, each team will nominate someone to the Inferno, and this time it's men only.

The Good Guys do some celebrating at their meeting, but quickly decide that they want to nominate Abe this time to the Inferno. Things aren't so easy at the Bad Ass team's deliberation. CT and most of the girls want Mike, while Dan and Abe both want to go for Landon. Tina doesn't get it, and Dan tells her to shut up again, then voices how he's sick of her yapping and picking on Tonya, not to mention the fact that this Inferno affects her in no way, so to be quiet. Tina is at a loss for words, but just tells him not to say anything when it's time for the women. Dan agrees, and that's all we see.

Dave gathers both teams and says it's time to say who is going into the Inferno. The Bad Asses will go first, and CT says that they decided to switch it up, and they picked Mike. Wow, big shocker. Mike says that it will be a rematch from The Gauntlet, since the Good Guys have picked Abe. Abe steps up, and they put their figurines in the mini-Inferno. This should be good. Dave says that both men have a chance to win the Lifeshield and save themselves, so we'll see what happens.

Later that night, Tonya is in the hot tub and tells the three girls on her team that she is sick of being picked on. Apparently, Veronica doesn't understand why Tonya is upset, so she rallies the girls to laugh at her even more. Tonya tells them she's not taking it anymore and leaves. The other girls do some trash talking, and Tonya starts to follow them. Rachel has no clue what's going on, while Tonya babbles that she has had enough. Honestly, I've had enough from all of them. I swear these people need chaperons. We don't even get a "Next week on the Inferno." Some clips are shown of what is still coming this season, but nothing that I could make some sense out of. This show is making me tired. I'll see everyone next Monday.

Phil Kural is a recent graduate from Temple University, with a degree in journalism. You can reach him at pkural@gmail.com with any feedback that you may have.

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