Before social media took over the world, television was the primary source of entertainment for everyone. As a result, a plethora of shows has been created to cater to a variety of interests, ranging from automobiles to weddings, as well as cakes and pawn shops. These types of shows are commonly referred to as “reality shows” because they are alleged to depict the day-to-day lives of people and the activities that they engage in. Then how would you react if we told you that a large number of these shows were staged and weren’t actually “true?” You would begin to realize that a lot of these shows aren’t as true as they claim to be once you begin to notice the patterns in their stories. Here are a few shows that you might have thought were true at one point.
South Beach Tow
The shenanigans on South Beach Tow are absolutely hilarious, and no one can deny that. Bernice is one of our favorite characters on the show, and we love her. You might recall how she used her hands to keep herself from falling and then immediately caught a violator after that. While it’s obvious that the show is a hoax, we don’t believe that makes it any less entertaining to watch.
South Beach Tow
Duck Dynasty
The Robertsons of Louisiana are the subject of this television show. The show is primarily concerned with the family’s duck-hunting business, which they own and operate themselves. Almost everyone in the cast has a connection to someone else, whether by blood or marriage. The above statements are all correct, but in order to keep things interesting, the producers tend to incorporate “dramatic” elements. On top of that, according to some reports, the production team includes “bleeps” even when there isn’t a single curse word spoken.
Duck Dynasty
Undercover Boss
It’s likely that if you’ve ever worked with a disgraceful coworker, you look forward to the prospect of seeing them punished. On the show, the bosses infiltrate the crew in order to find out what happens when they are not around to supervise. After all, this is a useful method of determining what tasks need to be completed within the organization. It is, in fact, a scripted production. Even worse, the bosses do not follow through on their promises to their employees.
Undercover Boss
Hardcore Pawn
When you’re watching the Gold family run their pawnshop in Detroit’s rough 8 Mile neighborhood, you’ll find it entertaining. Is it true, on the other hand, that the store attracts a large number of strange customers? If you’ve ever thought that the arguments presented on the show were too unbelievable to be true, you’re right: they were. According to a couple of people who attended the show, all of the ‘fights’ were staged in advance. To be completely honest, it’s hard to believe that Les, Seth, and Ashley will get into a fight with a customer on a daily basis.
Hardcore Pawn
Project Runway
Just so you’re aware, even if a show is extremely popular, it is still possible for it to be a hoax. Many contestants, including Jack Mackenroth and Daniel Esquivel, have voiced their dissatisfaction with the show’s judging, which has been widely reported. And to be more specific, according to the latter, the producers had a tendency to design the show in such a way that the contests were sensationalized to the greatest extent possible.
Project Runway
Cake Boss
This cooking show, which was hosted by Buddy Valastro, a successful business owner, quickly gained popularity among viewers. We have never seen such beautifully detailed and intricate cake designs as those created by the team at the event. Despite the fact that it was a dramatic performance, not everything was as it appeared. Valastro, as you may have noticed, is only present at the shop when they are taping. Aside from that, the producers also organize weddings and other social gatherings.
Cake Boss
Ghost Hunters
In addition to increasing in popularity over time, this show has also paved the way for a number of additional spinoffs to be created. It has, on the other hand, been accused in the past of being a phony reality television show. Former case manager Donna Lacroix believes that the viewers were correct in their assumptions about the situation.
Ghost Hunters
The Jerry Springer Show
Is this really that out of the ordinary? After all, this has got to be one of the most bizarre things anyone has ever seen on television in their entire life. It is not necessary to be the most perceptive person on the planet in order to recognize that it is not as genuine as it claims to be. To be clear, the storylines and guests featured on the show are completely fabricated.
The Jerry Springer Show
Fixer Upper
The show’s featured property owners had already completed their purchase of the property before filming began! So they are only acting at the beginning of each episode when they are deciding which house they will live in. Joanna’s furniture and décor, which she selected and arranged herself, are also out of their price range, and they will be unable to keep them unless they pay more money. Furthermore, the entire house has not been completely redesigned and reconstructed. Chip is also said to have refused to work on the house unless the cameras were present as well.
Fixer Upper
Keeping Up With The Kardashians
In 2020, how can you possibly be alive if you haven’t heard of this show? The Kardashian-Jenner family is the focus of the show, which premiered in 2007 and has been running since then. People kept a close eye on their family members as they passed through various stages of life. This knowledge helps to explain why they were forced to reshoot and edit several scenes to make them more coherent and cohesive. Russell Jay claimed in the divorce documents filed by Kim Kardashian and Kris Humphries that two or more scenes involving Humphries were reshot or scripted, according to the documents. It turns out that the show’s editors play a significant role in injecting drama into the proceedings.
Keeping Up With The Kardashians
Storage Wars
As soon as David Hester was dismissed from the show, he made it widely known to the entire world that the show is guided by a script. A similar statement can be made about the interviews that they conduct. It was also claimed by him that the producers had hidden some interesting items in the storage lockers. Aside from that, he claimed that the auctions were a hoax and that he had been duped.
Storage Wars
Jersey Shore
The rest of the world first met the cast of the show in 2009, when the show premiered in the United Kingdom. Despite the fact that the stars are real-life friends, the show does not portray their lives in their entirety. According to extras and locals, many of the events depicted on the show were planned ahead of time in advance. According to a lawyer who lives across the street, he claims to have seen them practicing the walkabouts. It has also been reported that they reshoot scenes from a variety of different viewpoints in addition to the foregoing. Every facial expression and line of dialogue that we see and hear has been essentially practiced by them.
Jersey Shore
Say Yes To The Dress
In this bridal reality television show, brides-to-be are followed as they shop for their dream wedding gown at the Kleinfeld department store in New York. The truth, however, is that the producers had already decided on these particular women. They ask the ladies to repeat or emphasize their comments in order to heighten the dramatic impact of the scenes. In addition, the shop is significantly smaller than the show would have you believe it to be. This is something that many people who visit the store to take a look around are surprised to learn is the case.
Say Yes To The Dress
Long Island Medium
She claims to be able to connect clients with their deceased loved ones through the mediumship of Theresa Caputo. We can understand why some viewers were skeptical about the show’s premise, even though the premise itself is intriguing. Due to allegations that she has access to personal information about the show’s viewers and clients, she has been at the center of a slew of controversy. Background checks, questionnaires, and social media are all used to help producers get to know the people they are working with. They then report back to Caputo on their discoveries.
Long Island Medium
Cupcake Wars
Beginning with four contestants representing various bakeries from across the United States, the show moves on to the next round. Each of them competes against the other in three rounds of cupcake baking in the hopes of winning a spot in an event that will feature one thousand cupcakes. There’s a challenge in the first round almost every time, and it almost always involves using unusual cupcake ingredients. It is believed, though not confirmed, that they are aware of the ingredients even before they are revealed on the show.
Cupcake Wars
Naked And Afraid
Part of the show’s format involves taking participants to exotic locations, stripping them naked, and filming them as they attempt to survive on their own. It has been revealed by some contestants that things on the show are not always what they appear to be at first. For starters, it is heavily reliant on the editors’ decisions. Aside from that, the production team provides the participants with amenities that are not readily available to them in the natural environment. We’re talking about things like supplements, prescription medications, and tampons, to name a few examples. Regardless of the outcome, it was difficult to believe the premise from the beginning.
Naked And Afraid
Basketball Wives
Among the show’s stars are women who are married to some of the most prominent figures in the NBA. It turns out, however, that not everyone is pleased with the way things are being conducted. The show’s staged and scripted nature, according to Matt Barnes, a former cast member, has been brought to light. Tanya Young provided evidence to support this claim. They planned to pit the ladies against one another in order to generate drama, she revealed. It was difficult to accept the premise right from the beginning.
Basketball Wives
The Hills
This show also seems to have checked off every box on the reality TV show check list to the best of our knowledge. Tendencies such as teenage anxiety, backstabbing, and lovers’ quarrels were all too common on the show. According to the appearances, it is heavily scripted. According to him, Spencer Pratt and Heidi Montag once had to shoot the same scene 15 times in order to get it right. As a result of her mistaking her period for pregnancy, he became enraged and expelled her from the house. The show’s producers also admitted that they had cast a large number of people for the series. This includes Lauren’s coworker’s best friend, as well as her own best friend.
The Hills
Last Comic Standing
The producers of this show were on the lookout for undiscovered talent while it was still airing. In exchange for participating, it provided these individuals with cash prizes or exposure opportunities. In reality, the producers had a greater influence on the vote than either the contestants or the panel of judges did. When the winner was announced, the entire audience erupted in rage. Aside from that, the show makes extensive use of editing to make otherwise excellent performances appear even worse.
Last Comic Standing
The Apprentice
Several people believe that this reality television show was responsible for bringing former President of the United States into the public eye. An interview for a position at Donald Trump’s company takes place in the film, and the story revolves around a group of businessmen and celebrities who attend. The producers, like the producers of the other shows on the list, wrote a script for the segments in which the characters were fired. In addition, the contestants were informed that they would be “fired” prior to the scene taking place on the stage. Even worse, we believe that the winner received nothing more than a piece of paper to display on their wall.
The Apprentice
Love Island
What do you get when you combine The Bachelor and Survivor? You get… The answer to that question can be found in this show. Basically, if you’ve never heard of it before, the premise is that singles get together and spend the summer on a tropical island. The promise of money, victory and romance at the end of it all entices them to form a team and begin dating each other. According to Reddit, everything about the show, from the intimate scenes to the arguments, is scripted. Only the most “realistic” versions of the films are shown on television.
Love Island
Breaking Amish
Allow us to expose the truth about this exciting television show to your attention. On the basis of official documents, the stars of the show, according to Jezebel, have been away from the community for a long time. This is in direct opposition to the claims made in the show. They had to remember that this was their “first time” venturing out into the wider world.
Breaking Amish
Britain’s Got Talent
The popular American talent show, which has a British version, features a diverse range of contestants who demonstrate their abilities. Dancers, acrobats, magicians, and just about anything else you can think of are featured. At one point, the audience was completely taken by surprise by a dog. In 2005, the “Jules and Matisse” dog act was crowned as the winner of the competition. In reality, the results had been manipulated. Because the real Matisse was too scared to perform such a dangerous stunt, the producers used a dog that looked like Matisse to do the job for them instead.
Britain’s Got Talent
Restaurant Stakeout
Willie Degel, a restaurateur, decided to put cameras in a restaurant that was having financial difficulties. This was done in order to figure out what was wrong with the computer. Employees who were not performing their duties properly were supposed to be identified and disciplined by the system. After that, he’d confront them and, if necessary, fire them in a dramatic fashion to get their attention. For your information, this is almost entirely a fabrication. According to the owner of the restaurant featured in the first season, the Food Network contacted the restaurant’s owner and conducted a screen-test on the employees before filming began. Customers were also instructed to make as much noise as they possibly could aside from that.
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