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Eric "Big Easy" Banks is a Fresh Meat contestant drafted by Katie Cooley. He was a finalist on The Gauntlet III and All Stars 1. He also competed on Fresh Meat, The Duel, The Duel II, Cutthroat, and Battle of the Seasons (2012).

Biography[]

Retrieved from MTV.com

Fresh Meat[]

If Chris Farley had an MTV love child, it would be Eric: He's a big guy with an even bigger personality. Some may see his size as a hindrance on The Challenge, but there's more than one way to play the game, and his life-of-the-party persona could be enough to endear him to his teammates and carry him into the winners' circle. This single Southern charmer brings a fresh and funny perspective to the RW/RR Challenge.

The Duel[]

If Chris Farley had an MTV love child, it would be Eric: He's a big guy with an even bigger personality and heart. We got to know this Southern charmer during Fresh Meat, when he partnered up with Katie. Some may see his size as a hindrance on The Challenge, but there's more than one way to play this game. Might this life-of-the-party persona be enough to endear him to his teammates and carry him into the winners' circle?

The Gauntlet III[]

Often targeted for elimination because of his size, Eric uses his sense of humor to keep himself in the game. However, when push comes to shove, Eric has brute force on his side, and with Veterans having to face off against their own team in the Gauntlet, there aren't many that would want to run the risk of taking him on. If there's an underdog with a shot of making it to the end, the money is on Eric.

The Duel II[]

A big guy with an even bigger personality, Eric is widely known as "Big Easy." He's an average guy who believes in working hard and playing hard, perhaps with more emphasis on the latter. He has recorded an album and is working for a marketing company in Chicago, with designs on opening his own company sometime this year. We last saw the Southern charmer on The Gauntlet III, where his team lost because he passed out and was unable to finish the Final Challenge. Does he have the stuff to last in The Duel II?

Cutthroat[]

Things have changed for Eric in a big way since we last saw him on The Duel II. He proudly states, "I wanted to do a healthy weight loss, but for me it had to be a full out lifestyle change." Successfully shedding thirty-five pounds hasn't stopped this lovable guy from going by his old nickname, 'Big Easy.' Even so, Eric is looking to be known for more than his size and infamous collapse during The Gauntlet III finale. This time around, Eric is playing to change minds and secure a win.

Battle of the Seasons (2012)[]

Our seven Real World teams got a rude awakening when Team Fresh Meat arrived as the "surprise" team on Battle of the Seasons. Brandon, Camila, Eric, and Cara Maria bring toughness and experience to the table, but could their late entrance to the game be a disadvantage? As Cara Maria explains, "Being the surprise team, all it does is single us out, there is nothing good about it." Camila arrives in Turkey fresh off her victory in Battle of the Exes, while Eric went a long way toward shedding his "Big Easy" nickname, losing 70 lbs since his last Challenge appearance. "People wanted to use my size against me and let's just see what people want to say about me now," he boasts. Armed with newfound confidence, Eric unexpectedly finds love with one of the game's biggest divas. Rounding out the team is two-time finalist Cara Maria and veteran Brandon, who hopes to redeem himself after making an early exit on Rivals. "For whatever reason, I always get the short end of the stick when it comes to a team or a partner. I'm back to try to prove that I can lead a team to a Final," Brandon declares. Will Fresh Meat's social game measure up to their muscle? Or will drama derail this dysfunctional bunch?

Fresh Meat[]

Challenge History[]

Episode Challenge Partner Result
1 Stuck on Me KatieFMIcon
Katie
SAFE
2 Bushwhacked SAFE
3 Hang On SAFE
4 Jail Break SAFE
5 Climber's Paradise SAFE
6 Rollin' in Oats SAFE
7 Crossed Paths SAFE
8 Incredible Deflating Kayak SAFE
9 Swimming with Sharks SAFE
10 Human Ox Pull OUT

Elimination History[]

Episode Elimination Partner Opponents Result
10 Beach Course KatieFMIcon
Katie
TinaFMIcon KennyFMIcon
Tina & Kenny
OUT

The Duel[]

Challenge History[]

Episode Challenge Partners Result
1 Reaching Out WIN
2/3 Ring Toss SAFE
3 Pass with Care Robin SAFE
4 Roller Derby SAFE
5 Push Over SAFE
6 Flying Leap SAFE
7 Throwback Beth ELIM
8 Rafty Race SAFE
9 Pole Dance Team Eric SAFE
10 Dine-N-Dash Team Svetlana SAFE
11 Stacking Stairs Aneesa OUT

Elimination History[]

Episode Elimination Opponent Result
7 I Can NehemiahDuelIcon
Nehemiah
WIN
11 Pole Wrestle BradDuelIcon
Brad
OUT

The Gauntlet III[]

Challenge History[]

Episode Challenge Team Result
1 Tug of War Veterans WIN
Piñata Pit WIN
2 Screw You WIN
Roped In WIN
3 Wring Out WIN
Blind Man's Maze SAFE
4 Push It WIN
Man Overboard WIN
5 Assembly Required SAFE
Walk the Plank WIN
6 Pole Push WIN
I Dig You WIN
7 Over the Edge SAFE
Mexican Blanket WIN
8/9 Chill Out SAFE
Well-Balanced SAFE
9 Army Strong LOSER

Notes[]

  • Eric was medically disqualified from the "Army Strong" Final Challenge after collapsing due to dehydration.

The Duel II[]

Challenge History[]

Episode Challenge Partners Result
1/2 Last Man Standing Team Colors SAFE
2 Freezing as Puck Aneesa SAFE
3 All Shook Up SAFE
4 Luging My Mind Katie SAFE
5 Don't Let Go Jenn SAFE
6 Dangle Duo OUT

Elimination History[]

Episode Elimination Opponent Result
6 Duel Pole Dancing DerekDuel2Icon
Derek
OUT

Cutthroat[]

Challenge History[]

Episode Challenge Team Result
1 Gas Problems Blue Team SAFE
2 Brain Buster WIN
3 Bed Head ELIM
4 Bottleneck Stampede OUT

Elimination History[]

Episode Elimination Opponent Result
3 Die Hard VinnyCutthroatIcon
Vinny
WIN
4 Swat LukeCutthroatIcon
Luke
OUT

Battle of the Seasons (2012)[]

Challenge History[]

Episode Challenge Team Result
1 Don't Cross Me Team Fresh Meat ELIM
2 Oil Change ELIM
3 Hook, Line and Sinker SAFE
4/5 Don't Weigh Me Down QUIT

Elimination History[]

Episode Elimination Partner Opponents Result
1 Hall Brawl CaraMariaExesIcon
Cara Maria
LaceySeasonsIcon WesSeasonsIcon
Lacey & Wes
WIN
2 Balls Out CamilaExesIcon
Camila
DannySeasonsIcon MelindaSeasonsIcon
Danny & Melinda
WIN
5 Water Torture DevynSeasonsIcon JDSeasonsIcon
Devyn & JD
QUIT

Notes[]

  • Eric withdrew from the game during the "Water Torture" elimination after feeling unable to win.

All Stars 1[]

Challenge History[]

Episode Challenge Partners Result
1 Deep Blue Dive Silver Team WIN
2 Ancient Challenge History SAFE
3 Melt Away Copper Team SAFE
4 On the Ropes Copper Team SAFE
5 Connect Em All Copper Team SAFE
6 Escape the Room Gold Team WIN
7 Rib Cage Pass ELIM
8/9 Final Challenge KellyAnne TENTH
Ruthie
Aneesa
Jonna
Jemmye

Elimination History[]

Episode Elimination Partner Opponents Result
7 Ring Cling JiselaASIcon
Jisela
KendalASIcon NehemiahASIcon
Kendal & Nehemiah
WIN

Trivia[]

Fresh Meat Contestants
DarrellFMIcon AvivFMIcon
TinaFMIcon KennyFMIcon
WesFMIcon CaseyFMIcon
DerrickFMIcon DiemFMIcon
TheoFMIcon ChandaFMIcon
ShaneFMIcon LinetteFMIcon
CoralFMIcon EvanFMIcon
KatieFMIcon EricFMIcon
Katie & Eric
TonyaFMIcon JohnnieFMIcon
JohannaFMIcon JesseFMIcon
MelindaFMIcon RyanFMIcon
DannyFMIcon EvelynFMIcon
Winners
Finalists
Eliminated
Medically Disqualified
The Duel Contestants
JodiDuelIcon
WesDuelIcon
BradDuelIcon
SvetlanaDuelIcon
AneesaDuelIcon
CTDuelIcon
DiemDuelIcon
EvanDuelIcon
KinaDuelIcon
EricDuelIcon
Eric
RobinDuelIcon
DerrickDuelIcon
BethDuelIcon
NehemiahDuelIcon
CaseyDuelIcon
KennyDuelIcon
PaulaDuelIcon
TylerDuelIcon
TinaDuelIcon
JohnnyDuelIcon
Winner
Runner-Up
Eliminated
Disqualified
Cutthroat Contestants
BradCutthroatIcon
DunbarCutthroatIcon
ToriCutthroatIcon
TylerCutthroatIcon
AbramCutthroatIcon
CaraMariaCutthroatIcon
LaurelCutthroatIcon
LukeCutthroatIcon
SarahCutthroatIcon
EmilyCutthroatIcon
JennCutthroatIcon
PaulaCutthroatIcon
DerrickCutthroatIcon
JohnnyCutthroatIcon
TheresaCutthroatIcon
CamilaCutthroatIcon
DanCutthroatIcon
BrandonCutthroatIcon
MelindaCutthroatIcon
ChetCutthroatIcon
KatieCutthroatIcon
TyCutthroatIcon
EricCutthroatIcon
Eric
AyiiiaCutthroatIcon
ShauvonCutthroatIcon
VinnyCutthroatIcon
MandiCutthroatIcon
JDCutthroatIcon
EmileeCutthroatIcon
DerekCutthroatIcon
Winner
Finalist
Eliminated
Disqualified
Medically Disqualified
Quit
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