Johnny "Bananas" Devenanzio has gone through grueling obstacles to take home six wins on MTV's The Challenge, but none of that could've prevented him from how 'vulnerable' he feels while hosting NBC's Celebrity Sleepover. While speaking exclusively with Screen Rant, Johnny opened up about his adjustment to his TV transition.
Challenge fans have watched The Real World: Key West alum eat the most disgusting animal parts, entertain in-house feuds with some of the fiercest competitors, and race to the finish victoriously. But most recently, Johnny took a break from competing to challenge himself in new ways. His new show Celebrity Sleepover shows the reality star wearing cozy pajamas while seated in his living room interviewing celebrity talent. Johnny has been used to being the star of the show and ruffling feathers to get more camera time. But this time around, Johnny is taking a back seat to find out the latest from Cynthia Bailey, Tiffany Thiessen, and more.
During an exclusive chat with Screen Rant, Johnny spoke candidly about letting his "guard down" with his new hosting gig. "For reality TV and The Challenge, you're in a shark tank," Johnny explained. "Everybody is looking for a chink in your armor or a way to get through to you and find your soft spots, and exploit those or take advantage of those. Whereas, for Celebrity Sleepover and hosting, it's different." After almost twenty years of competing on The Challenge, Johnny is finally experiencing the comfort of having the pressure off him and in his control. "I can be more of myself; I could let my guard down," he confessed.
You would think battling it out against skillful players would make Johnny feel more "vulnerable." But the Total Madness winner actually says it's the other way around. "I could be more vulnerable and more open, and more like who I truly am in essence, and let that shine through," Johnny said. "And I think in Celebrity Sleepover it really does shine." With the show being very "playful," in tone, Johnny is able to let more of his humorous personality shine through. "They come in their PJs, and we have a sleepover. They're welcome to have cocktails if they want, and that provides a fun environment," he said.
There's something else Johnny is able to do on his new show that we didn't get to see him do much of on The Challenge. "We really do drill down and have some very real-life, deep conversations," he said. With the new heights Johnny has taken his career in television, the six-time Challenge winner is proud of his expansion. "It's a really good thing for me, I think, to help me grow and expand and become a more complete television personality," Johnny said. It looks like Johnny might be taking an extended break from The Challenge to perfect his hosting skills and keep growing his portfolio.
