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[]
Fresh Meat[]Retrieved from MTV.com 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[]Retrieved from MTV.com 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[]Retrieved from MTV.com 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[]Retrieved from MTV.com 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[]Retrieved from MTV.com 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)[]Retrieved from MTV.com 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 | 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 | Katie |
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 | Nehemiah |
WIN |
11 | Pole Wrestle | 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 | 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 | Vinny |
WIN |
4 | Swat | 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 | Cara Maria |
Lacey & Wes |
WIN |
2 | Balls Out | Camila |
Danny & Melinda |
WIN |
5 | Water Torture | 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 | Jisela |
Kendal & Nehemiah |
WIN |
Trivia[]
- Big Easy is the second contestant to be medically disqualified from a Final Challenge, following Coral Smith. He is followed by Abram Boise, Sarah Rice, Nicole Zanatta, Georgia Harrison, Ben Driebergen, Olivia Kaiser, Theo Campbell, and Michaela Bradshaw.
- Big Easy is the first contestant to quit during an elimination. He is followed by Chet Cannon, Theo King-Bradley, and Beth Stolarczyk.
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