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It’s been 30 years since five strangers climbed into a Winnebago RV and drove across the United States in search of handsome rewards.
After MTV’s success with The Real World, the spinoff, Road Rules, debuted on the cable network on July 19, 1995, introducing the world to Kit Hoover, Shelly Spottedhorse, Allison Jones, Carlos Jackson and Mark Long.
“It was like the Wild West of reality TV back then,” Long, 54, tells PEOPLE. “We didn’t know what it was supposed to look like. We just said, ‘Let’s go on this huge cross-country adventure’ — which that’s how they described it to us when we signed up — ‘and see what happens.’ I think we went to 38 states in three months.”
He continues, “You have to remember, there were no cell phones. We didn’t have GPS to use to take the Winnebago. We used maps. And there was no social media. We weren’t trying to get Instagram likes or followers. So it was a different time, but I think that’s what made it so special. It was such an organic, very lightly produced show.”
Courtesy Mark Long
Long, who is nicknamed “The Godfather” because he has been a presence on reality TV ever since Road Rules, including nine seasons of The Challenge, and loves to dole out advice to other reality stars, admits he recently went back and watched that original season. “It’s really endearing and honest and fun,” he says. “The parts that were supposed to be edgy, that were edgy back then, are so vanilla now. I was laughing, like, ‘Oh my God, Kit and I dropped our towels, and you could see our butts when we jumped in the pool!'”
To celebrate the milestone anniversary, Long is bringing together more than 15 former Road Rules stars — including Rachel Robinson, Darrell Taylor, Veronica Portillo, Susie Meister and Shane Landrum — on July 27 in L.A. to celebrate and share memories. And here, he reflects further on the journey, including his relationship with Hoover (who now hosts Access Hollywood) and how reality TV has evolved.
On his first impressions of Kit, Shelly, Carlos and Allison…
Kit and I got along from the moment that we met each other. It was such a quick, wholesome bond that within the first three days, we were attached at the hip nonstop, and the cast noticed. I did love Shelly Spottedhorse — which I always thought was the greatest name ever. She was like a real deep, kind of rocker girl that might have had a little bit more of a different upbringing than I had, which was nice. Something different. Allison reminded me of a lot of my mom. She was very smart, just happy, and she kind of had that vibe where I loved her as a friend. I was never into Alison in any other way like I was Kit. And then Carlos was just my buddy. Carlos never gave me any problems. He would only give Allison and Shelly problems. He left Kit and I to do what we wanted.
Barry King/Alamy
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On all that driving…
I drove probably 95% of the time. One reason is, I didn’t feel comfortable [with the others behind the wheel]. Like, everyone else was kind of nervous driving, and I was not. So even when I wasn’t driving, I still was like, one eye open, laying in the back thinking, like, “Is this safe right now?”
On breaking the rules — and the law — for sleep and hygiene…
We snuck into so many hotels. [Production] basically said, “If you guys get caught, we’re just a fly on the wall. You’re gonna have to deal with the police.” And we were just so young and stupid. We were like, “Yeah, we know, but we’re just going to try and do it anyway.” So an ample amount of hotels we snuck into and spent the night. Pools we jumped in with soap to wash ourselves because we didn’t have a full shower half the time.
Cr:Juan Cruz Rabaglia/PARAMOUNT+/MTV
On the so-called missions…
We got to do some stuff that you never would dream of. I mean, I was a clown in the Barnum & Bailey Circus. I got to skydive, I almost died skydiving — it was my first time. That was part of the show. We went to Rockford, Indiana, and we had to decorate our own cars for a demolition derby. That was our challenge for the day. So me being an extroverted, very outgoing, physical guy, I said [to production], “If I can convince one of these guys to let me race one of their cars, can we do that?” And they’re like, “Yeah, but if you wreck it, it’s on you.” So the episode actually shows me racing in a race, but that never was even part of the show originally.
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On his relationship with Hoover after the RV…
After the show shot, because we were together 24 hours a day, seven days a week for three months, I went back home to visit, and it was a really interesting transition phase for me, especially because of how close Kit and I got. So Kit came to visit me in Florida, and I remember when she left my parents’ house. I actually got emotional and cried because I had such a tight bond with her. Not that it was maybe like my first true love, but it was like my first true experience with being with someone that long for that many days. I remember my mom coming out in the garage after she left, and I was literally crying, and I was like, “Man, I just, I don’t know why I’m so emotional, but I love that person.”
And their relationship today…
We still talk and text. I’m going to see her when I go out to L.A. in a few weeks. I’m going to go do Access Hollywood with her and Mario Lopez. But there’s an emotional connection there. It doesn’t always have to be like, “These guys should end up married and live happily ever after.” It’s just, she made a big impact.
On some of the biggest changes in reality TV since 1995…
On our days off, Kit and I used to take the Winnebago, by ourselves, and just drive off and have a day on our own. People wouldn’t even know where we were. Now, if you step a foot out of a Challenge house, they’re like, “Get back in!” It’s very strict. … And back then, they didn’t monitor our alcohol at all. Not that we were, like, huge partiers, but now most shows today monitor the alcohol. I think they learned from the previous mistakes. Shows back in the day got a little wild and a little crazy. … Now it’s more polished and structured. They’ll even ask to see your wardrobe ahead of time.
Nowadays, people really get brutalized online. These people are going on, trying to entertain you and just do a show — that’s what the show is. It’s amazing some of the things I see, but I hope it gets better. … MTV and Bunim/Murray offer us a mental health coach that we can call when we get back from filming and have conversations with as many times as we want. I love the fact that the show recognizes how hard it is to put yourself out there and they offer that.
So about that epic Road Rules anniversary reunion…
On July 27, we are probably going to be gathering the most Road Rulers that will ever be in the same room again. I think our tally is over 15 at the moment. It’s going to be at the Brea Improv. You can still get tickets at ChallengeMania.Live. It’s gonna be a huge party.
