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Why werent you there for the final?TJ LAVIN:I was actually a firefighter in Las Vegas.

I was trying to get on the fire department for four years and I finally got on it.

MTV The Challenge Season 25

Credit: MTV

I was like, Dude, I have to go.

So they were like, Okay, cool.

Go do the fire department thing real quick and see how it works out.

So I did and it turns out Im a better TV host.

Im sorry to hear that.Its something that I thought I wanted to do.

Im very glad that I did what I did but it was super militaristic and Im not that guy.

I didnt know what to expect.

I felt very bad for being there, but I tried my hardest….

So its all good.

Talk to me about keeping the million-dollar secret.

I know they knew, but they didnt tell me until about halfway through maybe.

Im glad they didnt tell me, because that was a very hard thing to just keep under wraps.

I dont think I wouldve done that, but you never know.

I dont want to have that kind of stress.

But if you walk out on a million bucks, Ill just think youre stupid.

Did you enjoy shooting those scripted I have a secret moments?I kinda did like that!

It was pretty fun, I cant lie.

His name is Danny Wascou hes the story guy for Bunim-Murray.

He was super into it and that got me into it.

Because theyre not really hurt, theyre just buzzing and they recover quick.

They have a temper tantrum, like Camila kept getting whacked into the pole last season by her team.

That to me was hilarious.

So I loved it.

Have you ever thought about hosting a game show?I have.

Im totally interested in doing something like that, sure.

ButThe Challengeis where I belong, for sure.

Thats where I need to be.

I have a lot of fun when were doing a studio game shows.

Youll see this season theres one and its pretty funny.

Is that why youre wearing a suit in the promo?

Is that the trivia challenge?Yep, thats it.

Was it weird to be wearing a suit onThe Challenge?Yes, very weird.

I dont really wear suits too often, so its pretty funny.

But if you legitimately jumped off a 35-foot cliff, youd probably say that it was 50.

Has there been any questions you thought were too hard or mean?

Have you ever passed on a question out of sympathy?I dont think so.

Or maybe a BMX question once or twice.

Sometimes theres a thing that you really physically cannot get hurt at, so Ill try that out.

But the Bananas versus Derrick one with the hamster wheel was awesome too.

I think he definitely deserves to be back.

Hes awesome and hes a fun guy.

And I really do miss Diem.

She was just such a good, bright spot in these Challenges.

And to say I dont miss Knight, that would be lying.

He was such a good time as well.

His personality, so happy-go-lucky, he was such a cool guy.

The Challenge: Vendettaspremieres Tuesday, Jan. 2, at 9 p.m. on MTV.