Before social media took over everything, TV was what everyone used for entertainment. Because of that, a lot of shows have been made to cater to different interests, from cars to marriages, as well as cakes and pawn shops. Shows like these are often called “reality shows” as they supposedly depict the day-to-day lives of people and what they do. But what if we tell you that a lot of these shows are staged and aren’t actually “true”? Well, once you’ve noticed the patterns, you would start to realize that a lot of these shows aren’t true more than what they claim to be. Here are several shows that you might’ve thought to be true.
South Beach Tow
How can anyone deny how hilarious the shenanigans on South Beach Tow are? Bernice is our personal favorite character on the show. Remember how she used her hands to keep herself from falling and then caught a violator right after? The show is obviously fake, but we don’t think that makes it any less entertaining to watch.
South Beach Tow
Duck Dynasty
The Robertsons of Louisiana are the focus of this show. The family owns and operates its own duck-hunting business, which is the show’s main focus. Everyone on the cast is related to one another, either by blood or marriage. This is all true, but in order to keep things interesting, the producers tend to add “dramatic” elements. Not only that but it’s also been claimed that the production team adds “bleeps” even when no one is cursing.
Duck Dynasty
Undercover Boss
If you’ve ever worked with a deplorable coworker, you probably enjoy the prospect of seeing them punished. On the show, the bosses infiltrate the crew to find out what happens when they are not present. After all, this is a good way to figure out what needs to be done within the company. It is, in fact, scripted. Worse yet, the bosses do not keep their promises to their employees.
Undercover Boss
Hardcore Pawn
It’s entertaining to watch the Gold family run their pawnshop in Detroit’s rough 8 Mile neighborhood. Is it true, however, that a lot of strange people frequent the store? If you’ve ever thought the arguments on the show are too unbelievable to be true, it’s because they are. The ‘fights’ were all staged, according to a couple of people who went on the show. To be honest, it’s difficult to believe Les, Seth, and Ashley will get into a fight with a customer every day!
Hardcore Pawn
Project Runway
Just so you know, even if a show is very popular, it can still be very fake. Many contestants, including Jack Mackenroth and Daniel Esquivel, have expressed their dissatisfaction with the show’s judging. To be more specific, the latter claims that the producers had a tendency to tailor the show in such a way that the contests were sensationalized to the maximum extent possible.
Project Runway
Cake Boss
This cooking show, which was hosted by Buddy Valastro, a business owner, quickly became a hit with viewers. The team created the most beautiful and intricate cake designs we’ve ever seen. While it was a dramatic show, not everything was as it seemed. Valastro, you see, is only at the shop when they’re taping. Apart from that, the producers also put on weddings and other events.
Cake Boss
Ghost Hunters
This show has not only grown in popularity over the years, but it has also paved the way for additional spinoffs. It has, however, been accused of being a phony reality TV show in the past. According to Donna Lacroix, a former case manager, the viewers were correct in their assumptions.
Ghost Hunters
The Jerry Springer Show
Is this really that unexpected? After all, this has to be one of the most bizarre things ever seen on television. You don’t have to be the most perceptive person on the planet to notice that it isn’t as genuine as it claims to be. To be clear, the storylines and guests are completely untrue.
The Jerry Springer Show
Fixer Upper
Even before filming began, the show’s featured homeowners had already purchased the home! It means they’re only acting when they choose between the houses at the start of each episode. Joanna’s furniture and décor, which she chose and arranged, are also not in their budget, so they can’t keep them unless they pay more. Furthermore, the entire house has not been completely redone. Chip is also said to not work on the house unless the cameras are present.
Fixer Upper
Keeping Up With The Kardashians
How can you be alive in 2020 if you haven’t heard of this show? The show was first released in 2007, and it follows the Kardashian-Jenner family. People kept an eye on the family members as they passed certain life milestones. Knowing this, it’s not surprising that they had to reshoot and edit several scenes to make them more coherent and cohesive. In Kim Kardashian and Kris Humphries’ divorce documents, Russell Jay claimed that two or more scenes involving Humphries were reshot or scripted. It turns out that the show’s editors are heavily involved in adding drama to the show.
Keeping Up With The Kardashians
Storage Wars
When David Hester was fired from the show, he made it known to the entire world that the show follows a script. The same is true of the interviews they conduct. According to him, the producers also planted interesting items in the storage lockers. Aside from that, he claimed the auctions were a hoax.
Storage Wars
Jersey Shore
In 2009, the cast of the show was introduced to the rest of the world. While the stars are real-life friends, the show does not depict the truth about their lives. Many of the events on the show, according to extras and locals, were planned in advance. A lawyer living across the street claimed to have witnessed them practicing the walkabouts. Not only that but it’s also been reported that they reshoot scenes from different perspectives. They have essentially practiced all of the facial expressions and dialogue that we see and hear.
Jersey Shore
Say Yes To The Dress
The bridal reality TV show follows brides-to-be as they shop for their dream wedding gown at the Kleinfeld store in New York. However, the truth is that the producers had already chosen these women. To add more drama to the scenes, they ask the ladies to repeat or emphasize their comments. Furthermore, the shop is much smaller than the show would have you believe. Many people who go to the store to look around are surprised to learn that this is the case.
Say Yes To The Dress
Long Island Medium
Theresa Caputo, a medium, claims to be able to connect clients with their deceased loved ones. While the premise of the show is intriguing, we can understand why some viewers were skeptical from the beginning. She has been at the center of a controversy because she allegedly has access to information about the show’s viewers and clients. Background checks, questionnaires, and social media help producers get to know these people. They then inform Caputo of their findings.
Long Island Medium
Cupcake Wars
This show begins with four contestants representing various bakeries from across the United States. They compete against each other in three rounds of cupcake baking in the hopes of winning a spot in an event with a thousand cupcakes. Almost always, the first round includes a challenge that requires the use of unusual cupcake ingredients. However, there are rumors that they know the ingredients even before they are revealed on the show.
Cupcake Wars
Naked And Afraid
Participants are taken to exotic locations, stripped naked, and filmed as they attempt to survive on their own as part of the show. Some contestants have revealed that things on the show are not always as they appear. For one thing, it is heavily reliant on the editors. Aside from that, the production team provides amenities that are not readily available in the wild to the participants. Supplements, prescription medications, and tampons are examples of what we’re talking about. Oh well, it was difficult to believe the premise from the start.
Naked And Afraid
Basketball Wives
The show’s stars are women who are married to some of the NBA’s biggest names. However, it turns out that not everyone is pleased with the way things are run. Matt Barnes, a former cast member, has spoken out about how staged and scripted the show is. Tanya Young backed up this claim. She revealed that the producers planned to pit the ladies against one another in order to create drama.
It was difficult to believe the premise from the start.
Basketball Wives
The Hills
This show appears to have checked off every box on the reality TV show checklist. On the show, teen angst, backstabbing, and lovers’ quarrels were all too common. It appears to be heavily scripted. Spencer Pratt and Heidi Montag once had to shoot the same scene 15 times, according to him. This was when she believed she was “pregnant,” to which he reacted angrily. The show’s producers also admitted to casting multiple people for the show. This includes Lauren’s co-worker’s best friend.
The Hills
Last Comic Standing
This show was on the lookout for undiscovered talent while it was still on the air. It provided these individuals with cash prizes or exposure in exchange for competing. In reality, the producers had a greater influence on the vote than the contestants and judges. Everyone was enraged when the winner was announced. Aside from that, the show uses a lot of editing to make good performances look even worse.
Last Comic Standing
The Apprentice
This reality TV show is credited with bringing the current President of the United States into the spotlight. The plot revolves around a group of businessmen and celebrities who are interviewing for a job at Donald Trump’s company. The producers, like the other shows on the list, wrote a script for the firing segments. Furthermore, the contestants were informed that they would be “fired” prior to the scene taking place. Worst of all, according to us, the winner received nothing more than bragging rights.
The Apprentice
Love Island
When you combine The Bachelor and Survivor, what do you get? This show is the answer to that question. If you’ve never heard of it, the premise is that singles spend the summer on a tropical island together. The promise of money, victory and romance at the end of it all entices them to pair up and hook up. Everything about the show is scripted, according to Reddit, from the intimate scenes to the arguments. On television, only the most “realistic” versions are shown.
Love Island
Breaking Amish
Allow us to reveal the truth about this enthralling television show. According to Jezebel, the stars of the show had left the community a long time ago, based on official documents. This contradicts the claims made in the show. After all, this was their “first time” venturing into the outside world.
Breaking Amish
Britain’s Got Talent
The British version of the popular American talent show features a diverse range of contestants demonstrating their abilities. It features dancers, acrobats, magicians, and anything else you can think of. A dog even blew the audience away at one point. The “Jules and Matisse” dog act was declared the winner in 2005. The results had been rigged in reality. Because the real Matisse was too scared to perform such an extreme stunt, the producers used a dog that looked like Matisse.
Britain’s Got Talent
Restaurant Stakeout
Willie Degel, a restaurateur, installed cameras in a restaurant that had been struggling. This was done in order to figure out what was wrong. Employees who were not working properly were supposed to be caught by the system. After that, he’d confront them and, if necessary, fire them in a dramatic manner. This is almost entirely fake, for your information. Before filming began, the Food Network contacted the restaurant’s owner and conducted a screen-test on the employees, according to the owner of the restaurant in the first season. Aside from that, customers were instructed to be as loud as possible.
Restaurant Stakeout
Dance Moms
Were you ever under the impression that all of the brawling on Dance Moms was excessive? If that’s the case, we admire your foresight. You are absolutely correct! In an interview with USA Today in 2015, Maddie Ziegler stated that dramatic moments are sometimes set up and staged. She said, “It’s hard to do a reality show when there’s so much crying and drama. The producers set it up to make us all yell at each other… The moms have a fake fight sometimes. Afterward, they just start talking and laugh about it.”
Dance Moms
Hell’s Kitchen
We doubt this show would be the same without Gordon Ramsay’s foul-mouthed hostship. This has to be one of the most entertaining reality television shows on the air. However, keep in mind that the show follows a script. Customers who consume the meals are paid extras.
Hell’s Kitchen
Toddlers And Tiaras
Do you find yourself cringing a little when you catch even a few minutes of the show? We don’t understand why, but some people are huge fans. In any case, Ranker has stated that many of the events depicted on the show are staged. Stars are told, for example, to repeat what they say and to add drama to the show. These things are done, of course, to make everything more interesting.
Toddlers And Tiaras
Survivor
This show’s premise sounds like a real-life adaptation of The Hunger Games. The contestants are divided into teams and left alone in the wilderness to complete various challenges. It’s disappointing to learn that the majority of the challenges and competitions on the show are staged. For some of these, producers have admitted to using body doubles. Apart from that, the participants are required to act out various scenes. A previous contestant on the show claimed that her eviction was also rigged.
Survivor
American Idol
American Idol debuted on television in 2001 and quickly became a hit. It all starts with singing auditions across the country until the judges find someone worthy of the title. The vast majority of hopefuls will not succeed, but not for the reasons you believe. Even before the auditions begin, scouts are said to have been dispatched to look for great singers.
American Idol
Catfish
Max and Nev host the popular MTV show. They try to figure out “who is really behind these profiles.” We know it’s an unusual premise, but it’s intriguing because so many people catfish nowadays. Despite this, the show isn’t quite as honest as it claims to be. The producers are rumored to do everything backwards! Catfishers, it appears, are the ones who apply to be on the list.
Catfish
The Voice
The talent show, according to a potential competitor, is rigged. Adam Wiener, a rock singer, took to Facebook to discuss how the show courted him. He ultimately declined the offer because it was pre-cast. Furthermore, the producers select the songs and musical styles that the contestants must perform. Fans were taken aback by this news and began to doubt The Voice’s authenticity.
The Voice
Property Brothers
We’re also heartbroken to hear about this. A pair of Canadian brothers team up to assist couples in finding the home of their dreams. Unfortunately, some aspects of the show are completely fake. To begin with, Jonathan and Drew do not renovate the entire house, instead of focusing on a few rooms that they hand-picked. Not only that, but certain scenes are reshot in order to add as much “drama” as possible for the audience’s enjoyment. Last but not least, the brothers tend to show homes that are out of their price range, so the couples decide to undertake a renovation project.
Property Brothers
Pawn Stars
Who’d have guessed that this popular History Channel series is nearly entirely scripted? While the Harrisons still own the store, it has since become more of a tourist attraction than anything else. Because of Nevada’s privacy laws, celebrities no longer work regular hours there. Aside from that, before the episode is shot, the cast members have already agreed on a price point with the sellers.
Pawn Stars
The Real Housewives
To be honest, there’s nothing new about the idea that it’s all scripted. However, it was only confirmed after Theresa Guidice testified under oath that this was the case. The meetings between the women have already been planned by the producers. Aside from that, the same can be said for the large fights that occur within the group. Yikes.
The Real Housewives
The Bachelor/The Bachelorette
We can’t deny that watching both of these shows is a lot of fun. Unfortunately, it’s not as natural as the producers would have you believe. According to rumors, the actors are fed the lines beforehand. Apart from that, they manipulate the dramatic contestants into putting themselves in awkward situations for the sake of drama. There will also be a rose ceremony. They already know who will make it to the finals because the cast is so carefully chosen!
The Bachelor And The Bachelorette
The Biggest Loser
Even though viewers are eager to learn how much weight the contestants have lost, the show’s fancy technology is completely fake. In fact, the contestants have been weighed and measured two days prior to the competition. Furthermore, the medical crew on the show’s qualifications have been questioned! They are thought to be unqualified to administer drugs to the contestants. Furthermore, it is edited to make the contestants appear more sluggish and lazy than they actually are.
The Biggest Loser
The Simple Life
Paris Hilton and Nicole Richie doing menial work in small towns across the country, were a hit with viewers. We’ll be the first to admit that the show was hilarious. However, Paris later admitted that the producers asked them to play a troublemaker and a sassy blonde rather than who they are. She also mentioned that playing the airhead and using a baby voice was enjoyable. In fact, she still employs this persona regularly! It’s understandable given the show’s five-year run.
The Simple Life
House Hunters
On HGTV, this is one of the most popular shows. It’s disappointing to learn that it’s just another phony show. Even before they appear in front of the cameras, the contestants have already decided which house they will purchase! There are times when they have already purchased the property. What makes things even worse is that the show occasionally casts young actors in the role of homeowners.
House Hunters
What Not To Wear
We like the premise of this show, but it isn’t as entertaining as you might expect. The show’s contestants are given $5,000 to get a total makeover and a new wardrobe. However, it turns out that it has a number of flaws. The producers donate their old clothes to charity after discarding them! The participants must also pay tax on the items they purchase. On top of that, the clothes are perfectly tailored to fit them. However, they are also responsible for the cost of the change.
What Not To Wear
Pimp My Ride
You must have heard of this show if you were alive in the early 2000s! It was one of the most talked-about shows on reality television at the time. Xzibit, a rapper, showed up at various people’s front doors and gave their cars a makeover. Since the makeover was purely cosmetic, it appears to be all for show. The car, according to one participant on the show, could barely run when it was returned to them. There were times when it took up to six months to get the cars fixed.
Pimp My Ride
Cribs
Another MTV hit was on the way! It featured celebrities giving a tour of their homes to the audience. The lavish details of the fans’ homes astounded them. It aired for 13 years and featured many well-known celebrities. The truth, however, has since surfaced. After that, a woman sued MTV for portraying her rented house as Ja Rules’ birthplace. Oops.
Cribs
90 Day Fiance
From the beginning, there have been numerous flaws in this show. It primarily exploits foreigners who marry Americans in order to obtain a K-1 visa. It’s made even more difficult by the fact that the couple must marry within 90 days. Their tourist visa will expire if this does not happen. This means they must either return home or face deportation. It’s natural for a show with this premise to be tense, but the producers like to add fuel to the fire in order to make the scenes more dramatic.
90 Day Fiance
Divorce Court
It is undeniable that reality television requires drama to thrive. Nothing can compare to the drama of marital problems and divorces. The problems and drama that arise in marriage are the focus of this show. It listens to both parties in the hopes of reaching an agreement. However, it has been revealed that everything is a hoax. According to a source, their daughter and her boyfriend were approached to appear on the show despite the fact that they were not married. Furthermore, they were given a fictitious backstory.
Divorce Court
The Osbournes
The Osbournes took a walk to allow the Kardashian-Jenners to run. Kelly, Jack, Sharon, and Ozzy seemed to go all out for the show, which included a lot of swearing. This strange but loving family was a hit with the audience. It also featured a lot of antics that made the audience laugh. Unfortunately, because the show was mostly scripted, everything that happened on it was fake. Every episode of the reality show would have producers telling them what to do.
The Osbournes
Teen Mom
To be fair, MTV isn’t known for producing genuine reality shows. This show was very similar to the ones we discussed earlier in the article. It was released after the film 16 and Pregnant, which depicted the experience of young mothers after giving birth. Many of the arrests, breakups, and drama that occurred were true. Unfortunately, the producers enjoyed editing conversations to make them sound more dramatic.
Teen Mom
Beauty and the Geek
As the name implies, this reality show paired beautiful women with nerdy men to compete in challenges. The geeks on the show were depicted as awkward men who couldn’t hold a conversation with a woman. This was far from the case. One of them, it appears, had a girlfriend at the time. Furthermore, the producers are said to have hired actors to play several contestants on the show.
Beauty And The Geek
I Am Cait
Caitlyn Jenner’s gender transition made headlines. This show depicts what it was like for her to stay true to herself despite all of the challenges she faced. Before we continue, it’s important to note that the first season was based on true events. However, the same cannot be said for the one after it. The producers devised fictitious scenarios for season two because the transition had already been revealed to the public.
I Am Cait
Famously Single
The E! Network reality show follows coaches as they try to match single celebrities with people. The stars share a home, attend therapy sessions, and open up about their search for love. Because they aren’t exactly the best actors, fans have been suspicious. It’s easy to see how much of what happens on the show is staged. Other celebrities and people from their past are also thrown into the mix!
Famously Single
Total Bellas
Isn’t it common knowledge that WWE events are staged? We’re not sure why anyone thinks a reality show about Nikki and Brie Bella will be any different. It also revolves around John Cena and Daniel Bryan, their respective beaus. It is obvious that the show’s producers fabricated a number of events. Furthermore, they enjoy exaggerating the fights between Nikki and John Cena.
Total Bellas
WAGS
It was one of the most popular E! shows when it first aired. There are a variety of shows available. It followed the lives of the wives of famous athletes. The show relied on fabricated scenarios that the producers set up among the women in order to keep the audience interested. Although the marriage breakdowns were genuine, the competitiveness and conversations among the women were not. Aside from that, the producers liked to mix things up by bringing in women who weren’t dating athletes.
WAGS