T.J. Lavin has hosted “The Challenge” across the globe, but Thailand left an impression that outlasted the shoot.
\n\n“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.
\n\nThat 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…
Original source: https://variety.com/v/tv/