Reality Shows That Are Totally Fake
Reality Shows That Are Totally Fake
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Reality Shows That Are Totally Fake
Pawn Stars 
Pawn Stars is as fake as TV gets. Sure, all the people are real. And sure, they really do run the pawn shop. But the customer interactions aren't. Not only do stars like Rick Harrison never work the actual counters - they prefer to find more private settings - but all of the customer interactions on TV are carefully arranged beforehand. Before filming begins, any item a person wants to sell to the pawn shop is cleaned and vetted, while the customer must sign a consent form. Honestly, though, this shouldn't be a surprise. If you don't trust real pawn shops, why would you trust a TV show about one?
Pawn Stars
Love It or List It 
First of all, most families on this show never truly consider moving out of their homes. Would you if HGTV was going to renovate it for you? The arguments between couples are forced by producers (if they're putting you on TV, you listen), the big "structural problem" twists are well-known by everybody beforehand, and all those alternative houses the couples explore aren't even truly for sale. If you think that's crazy, here's one better: There are couples who have recorded "listing it" endings (i.e., selling their renovated home) who are actually happily living in it instead. Perhaps the harshest truth? The two hosts, Hilary and David, have very little to do with the renovation process. They're just actors. Bummer.
First of all, most families on this show never truly consider moving out of their homes. Would you if HGTV was going to renovate it for you? The arguments between couples are forced by producers (if they're putting you on TV, you listen), the big "structural problem" twists are well-known by everybody beforehand, and all those alternative houses the couples explore aren't even truly for sale. If you think that's crazy, here's one better: There are couples who have recorded "listing it" endings (i.e., selling their renovated home) who are actually happily living in it instead. Perhaps the harshest truth? The two hosts, Hilary and David, have very little to do with the renovation process. They're just actors. Bummer.
Duck Dynasty 
Take a look through a few photo albums of the Duck Dynasty stars before their show hit the air, and you'll find a bunch of clean-shaven, sharp-dressed guys who'd look more at home on a yuppie golf course than in the woods. As for the crazy arguments between the characters - and yes, they are characters - those are scripted, as the stars themselves have explained that producers come up with tense situations, and the cast simply finds ways to end up in them. Sometimes "bleeps" are even inserted into their pseudo-arguments, just to make it sound like they're swearing more. Cheating!
Take a look through a few photo albums of the Duck Dynasty stars before their show hit the air, and you'll find a bunch of clean-shaven, sharp-dressed guys who'd look more at home on a yuppie golf course than in the woods. As for the crazy arguments between the characters - and yes, they are characters - those are scripted, as the stars themselves have explained that producers come up with tense situations, and the cast simply finds ways to end up in them. Sometimes "bleeps" are even inserted into their pseudo-arguments, just to make it sound like they're swearing more. Cheating!
House Hunters 
House Hunters is all about finding the right spot to live. Everyone can relate to it, either from experience or in their dreams. However, the very concept that the show rests on is a lie, because by the time families are filming their episode, they've already purchased a house. Wait, "What about the other houses they visit?" you ask. Lies. Fake houses. Those unrealistically massive budgets are also simply made up by producers, and as you can imagine, all the interactions are a bit (a lot?) staged.
House Hunters is all about finding the right spot to live. Everyone can relate to it, either from experience or in their dreams. However, the very concept that the show rests on is a lie, because by the time families are filming their episode, they've already purchased a house. Wait, "What about the other houses they visit?" you ask. Lies. Fake houses. Those unrealistically massive budgets are also simply made up by producers, and as you can imagine, all the interactions are a bit (a lot?) staged.
Jersey Shore 
While some of the obnoxious shenanigans on Jersey Shore are probably real, many eyewitnesses have claimed that scenes are exaggerated for effect. For example, anybody who stayed at the house overnight was vetted by producers, rather than being a nameless club pickup. That brutal fight between Vinny and Pauly in Italy? Staged. Most of the cast aren't even from New Jersey! As if that isn't disillusioning enough, get this: Before Jersey Shore, nobody called Nicole LaValle "Snooki." The show's application asked for a nickname, her friend suggested Snooki as a joke… and, as you can see, it stuck.
While some of the obnoxious shenanigans on Jersey Shore are probably real, many eyewitnesses have claimed that scenes are exaggerated for effect. For example, anybody who stayed at the house overnight was vetted by producers, rather than being a nameless club pickup. That brutal fight between Vinny and Pauly in Italy? Staged. Most of the cast aren't even from New Jersey! As if that isn't disillusioning enough, get this: Before Jersey Shore, nobody called Nicole LaValle "Snooki." The show's application asked for a nickname, her friend suggested Snooki as a joke… and, as you can see, it stuck.
Long Island Medium 
As they say, don't drink the kool aid. TV has a long history of fake psychic mediums, and Theresa Caputo is yet another example of this. Researchers have dug deep into her methods and found that she does a lot of research on people well before "reading" them. How so? You guessed it: she spies on their social media. Combine that with a lot of misdirection, and voila, "psychic" readings for the win. That doesn't mean real psychics don't necessarily exist - you be the judge, on that one - but if they do, she probably isn't one of them.
As they say, don't drink the kool aid. TV has a long history of fake psychic mediums, and Theresa Caputo is yet another example of this. Researchers have dug deep into her methods and found that she does a lot of research on people well before "reading" them. How so? You guessed it: she spies on their social media. Combine that with a lot of misdirection, and voila, "psychic" readings for the win. That doesn't mean real psychics don't necessarily exist - you be the judge, on that one - but if they do, she probably isn't one of them.
Fixer Upper 
First, the good news: Fixer Upper is a bit less staged than some of the other shows on this list. The bad news? It's still pretty staged. You know that moment at the end where the family sees how amazingly Joanna and Chip Gaines have renovated their house? All that high-quality furniture, and the accompanying decorations, go right back in the moving truck once the cameras stop. It's just for show. Furthermore, conversations and reaction shots are filmed live, but guests have said that they're asked to repeat things they just said, to get a better angle, recording, et cetera. So, honestly, this show fits more in the "based on a true story" category rather than "documentary."
First, the good news: Fixer Upper is a bit less staged than some of the other shows on this list. The bad news? It's still pretty staged. You know that moment at the end where the family sees how amazingly Joanna and Chip Gaines have renovated their house? All that high-quality furniture, and the accompanying decorations, go right back in the moving truck once the cameras stop. It's just for show. Furthermore, conversations and reaction shots are filmed live, but guests have said that they're asked to repeat things they just said, to get a better angle, recording, et cetera. So, honestly, this show fits more in the "based on a true story" category rather than "documentary."
Beachfront Bargain Hunt 
That couple sure seems insanely picky about that house they just turned down, right? Actually, it turns out they've already closed the deal on their real home purchase, and they're simply walking through fake "potential" homes - and citing silly reasons for rejecting them - in order to pad out the TV show's format. In fact, one realtor who appeared on the show said that the requirements for a client were that they had to already be under contract for a home, or a new home owner. No true house hunters allowed, huh?
That couple sure seems insanely picky about that house they just turned down, right? Actually, it turns out they've already closed the deal on their real home purchase, and they're simply walking through fake "potential" homes - and citing silly reasons for rejecting them - in order to pad out the TV show's format. In fact, one realtor who appeared on the show said that the requirements for a client were that they had to already be under contract for a home, or a new home owner. No true house hunters allowed, huh?
Mountain Men 
When it comes to History Channel's Mountain Men, exaggeration is the word of the day. At different times, the show's stars have all candidly admitted that their rough and tumble personas are just a TV act. They also have a lot more money than the show acts like they do. Furthermore, many of the seemingly dangerous incidents on the show are just scripted recreations. For example, one episode which depicted a close call with wolves was actually just filmed with friendly dogs. Good boy!
When it comes to History Channel's Mountain Men, exaggeration is the word of the day. At different times, the show's stars have all candidly admitted that their rough and tumble personas are just a TV act. They also have a lot more money than the show acts like they do. Furthermore, many of the seemingly dangerous incidents on the show are just scripted recreations. For example, one episode which depicted a close call with wolves was actually just filmed with friendly dogs. Good boy!
Keeping Up with the Kardashians 
Kris Jenner's Meditteranean family home, as seen in exterior shots in Keeping Up With the Kardashians, isn't really her home. The actual house was empty, at the time of filming, and was just repeatedly used as a stand-in until the property sold in 2018. However, that's far from the only time the Kardashian drama show has been heavily altered from reality. A lot of the fights that pop up in the show, and sometimes seep over to Twitter, are staged for ratings. At least two marriage proposals were staged. It's all an act.
Kris Jenner's Meditteranean family home, as seen in exterior shots in Keeping Up With the Kardashians, isn't really her home. The actual house was empty, at the time of filming, and was just repeatedly used as a stand-in until the property sold in 2018. However, that's far from the only time the Kardashian drama show has been heavily altered from reality. A lot of the fights that pop up in the show, and sometimes seep over to Twitter, are staged for ratings. At least two marriage proposals were staged. It's all an act.
Catfish 
If you watch Catchfish, you're fed the idea that producers are contacted by the victim, worried they might be getting catfished, and it's the do-gooding hosts who seek out the truth. For the victim's sake, of course. In reality, it is the catfisher, not the victim, who applies to the producers. The catfisher is investigated, made to sign release forms, and must agree to be heavily edited to suit the necessary storyline. So, any catfisher who acts surprised to be found out, well… they're just playing another role. Which, apparently, they're already good at.
If you watch Catchfish, you're fed the idea that producers are contacted by the victim, worried they might be getting catfished, and it's the do-gooding hosts who seek out the truth. For the victim's sake, of course. In reality, it is the catfisher, not the victim, who applies to the producers. The catfisher is investigated, made to sign release forms, and must agree to be heavily edited to suit the necessary storyline. So, any catfisher who acts surprised to be found out, well… they're just playing another role. Which, apparently, they're already good at.
American Pickers 
American Pickers is all about the haggling, but unfortunately, the haggling prices are determined in advance, according to guests who have appeared on the show. The rundown locations where they find all the great deals are actually located by producers, not the pickers themselves, who send representatives to investigate almost a month before filming. By the way, "Hobo Jack," a.k.a. Jack Sophir, isn't actually a hobo. He's a successful collector who owns multiple buildings, and never called himself Hobo Jack before the TV show got started.
American Pickers is all about the haggling, but unfortunately, the haggling prices are determined in advance, according to guests who have appeared on the show. The rundown locations where they find all the great deals are actually located by producers, not the pickers themselves, who send representatives to investigate almost a month before filming. By the way, "Hobo Jack," a.k.a. Jack Sophir, isn't actually a hobo. He's a successful collector who owns multiple buildings, and never called himself Hobo Jack before the TV show got started.
Cake Boss 
The fact that there's a reality show about cake is almost a punchline unto itself, but hey, a lot of people really like Cake Boss. Unfortunately, the show's storylines are largely staged. Every episode presents customers who appear to be wildly surprised by the amazing, creative cakes they receive from the team, but in reality, these customers have discussed precisely what they want beforehand. Which makes sense. Who would pay hundreds of dollars for a cake, and not want to know exactly what it was going to look like?
The fact that there's a reality show about cake is almost a punchline unto itself, but hey, a lot of people really like Cake Boss. Unfortunately, the show's storylines are largely staged. Every episode presents customers who appear to be wildly surprised by the amazing, creative cakes they receive from the team, but in reality, these customers have discussed precisely what they want beforehand. Which makes sense. Who would pay hundreds of dollars for a cake, and not want to know exactly what it was going to look like?
The Biggest Loser 
There is a lot of suspicion that the medical staff on The Biggest Loser are not properly trained, which would explain all the rumors about them feeding contestants illegal drugs. Even more fake, though, is the famous scale that contestants weigh in on: it's actually just a fancy, useless prop, that doesn't do anything, and customers do their real weigh-ins a full two days beforehand. Much of the show's drama is also created by editing to make contestants look lazier than they really are, which has garnered an increasing amount of criticism as the years go on.
There is a lot of suspicion that the medical staff on The Biggest Loser are not properly trained, which would explain all the rumors about them feeding contestants illegal drugs. Even more fake, though, is the famous scale that contestants weigh in on: it's actually just a fancy, useless prop, that doesn't do anything, and customers do their real weigh-ins a full two days beforehand. Much of the show's drama is also created by editing to make contestants look lazier than they really are, which has garnered an increasing amount of criticism as the years go on.
The HGTV Dream Home Giveaway 
Okay, to be fair, HGTV really does give away a huge, fancy home to somebody every year. That part isn't made up. But TV doesn't show you the real consequences of this wonderful prize: painfully high taxes. If you do get that dream home prize, you owe 40 percent of the prize value to the IRS, which is why almost none of the HGTV Dream Home Giveaway winners have been able to actually keep their homes. Think of it as a nice vacation that suddenly turns insanely stressful.
Okay, to be fair, HGTV really does give away a huge, fancy home to somebody every year. That part isn't made up. But TV doesn't show you the real consequences of this wonderful prize: painfully high taxes. If you do get that dream home prize, you owe 40 percent of the prize value to the IRS, which is why almost none of the HGTV Dream Home Giveaway winners have been able to actually keep their homes. Think of it as a nice vacation that suddenly turns insanely stressful.
Deadliest Catch 
Not only does Deadliest Catch have some fakery going on, but its methods for creating dramatic TV are causing real problems for the fishing industry. How so? Because the TV fishing crews are making money from producers, rather than the industry, so they don't need to make fishing quotas. This means they're able to price out regular fishermen, so it's harder for everyone else to make a living. In addition, the show uses editing to create dramatic storylines, such as when it spliced together footage from two separate storms to look like one big one.
Not only does Deadliest Catch have some fakery going on, but its methods for creating dramatic TV are causing real problems for the fishing industry. How so? Because the TV fishing crews are making money from producers, rather than the industry, so they don't need to make fishing quotas. This means they're able to price out regular fishermen, so it's harder for everyone else to make a living. In addition, the show uses editing to create dramatic storylines, such as when it spliced together footage from two separate storms to look like one big one.
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