The term “reality television” connotes something negative. Sure, we see real people doing what we see on television, but the vast majority of what we see is scripted! While they are usually enjoyable to watch, the fact that they deceive you by claiming that everything on the show is “real” and “authentic” does not change the fact that they are deceiving you. With that in mind, let’s see what goes on behind the scenes of these so-called “reality shows”!
South Beach Tow
We can’t deny that the show’s antics are entertaining. Bernice has accomplished incredible feats, such as removing car doors by the hinges with her hands, surviving a massive fall, and apprehending a violator. Even though it’s obviously not real, it’s still a lot of fun!
South Beach Tow
Duck Dynasty
The Robertson family of Louisiana became well-known for their duck-hunting operation. Almost everyone in the cast is related to each other through marriage or blood. On the other hand, the producers appear to enjoy incorporating ‘dramatic’ elements to spice things up. The production team is also said to enjoy adding “bleeps” even when no one is swearing.
Duck Dynasty
Undercover Boss
Do you think it’s a good idea to give workers the credit they deserve? Executives from various companies infiltrate their employees’ workplaces for this show to see how well they perform while working. This, of course, provides them with some insight into the company’s operations. This ostensibly real-life show is actually a set-up. More importantly, they do not keep promises made to different employees. Yikes.
Undercover Boss
Hardcore Pawn
Hardcore Pawn is a documentary about the Gold family, who own and operate a pawn shop in Detroit’s rough 8 Mile neighborhood. Can you believe the number of strange people who pass through their shop each day? Aren’t many of the arguments presented on the show implausible? In fact, this is the case. According to many of the people who appeared on the show, the “fights” were staged. What are the chances that Ashley, Les, and Seth will get into a fight with a customer in each episode?
Hardcore Pawn
Project Runway
It’s not true that a popular show automatically means it’s “fake.” Many contestants have expressed dissatisfaction with the judging portion of the competition, including Daniel Esquivel and Jack Mackenroth. Esquivel has spoken out against the show’s producers, accusing them of tailoring it to sensationalize the contestants to the extreme.
Cake Boss
This show was an instant success. The team led by business owner Buddy Valastro created beautiful and intricate cake designs for us to admire. In reality, however, things aren’t quite as dramatic as they appear. For starters, Valastro only comes to the shop when they’re filming something. Some of the events are also staged, such as weddings.
Cake Boss
Ghost Hunters
In recent years, this show has gotten a lot of attention. It has spawned a slew of spin-off shows since its inception. On the other hand, many people believe it was staged. Donna Lacroix, a former case manager, gave an interview in which she essentially confirmed what everyone had suspected.
Ghost Hunters
The Jerry Springer Show
This doesn’t surprise us in the least. Without a doubt, this is one of the oddest television shows ever produced. If you haven’t figured it out yet, the guests and storylines aren’t entirely accurate. The crew, for example, encourages the audience to applaud.
The Jerry Springer Show
Keeping Up With The Kardashians
This is a show that I’m sure we’ve all heard of. It debuted in 2007 and followed the Kardashian-Jenner family’s lives. It starred a large cast and detailed many of their personal experiences. Given this, it’s not surprising that they had to reshoot and edit some shots in order to maintain a consistent viewing experience and timeline. According to court documents from Kim Kardashian’s divorce from Kris Humphries, at least two scenes involving Kris Humphries were scripted or reshot. The famous family also makes extensive use of the editing process.
Keeping Up With The Kardashians
Storage Wars
After he was fired, former star David Hester stunned the world by revealing that the show is scripted. The items discovered in the storage lockers, he claims, were staged. In addition, many of the auctions are bogus. Even the cast interviews, he claims, are scripted!
Storage Wars
Jersey Shore
In 2009, the first episode of this TV show aired. Even if the actors are true friends, the show is not obligated to depict their lives accurately. According to a number of locals and extras, much of what happened on the show was pre-planned. According to an attorney who lives across the street from them, the walkabouts were being practiced. Aside from that, it’s been reported that they reshoot scenes from various angles on a regular basis. To be sure, the dialogue and facial expressions are flawless.
Jersey Shore
Say Yes To The Dress
This well-known bridal reality show follows brides-to-be as they shop at Kleinfeld in New York for the perfect wedding gown. The truth is that the producers screen those who show up for the bride-to-appointment for added drama, and those who are outspoken are asked to stress or repeat a comment. Furthermore, the interior of the boutique is much smaller than the exterior. When they see what we have to offer, many visitors are taken aback.
Say Yes To The Dress
Long Island Medium
Theresa Caputo established a reputation as a medium who assisted people in communicating with the afterlife. Your reservations about the show are well-founded. Caputo is currently embroiled in a controversy over claims that she had access to client and audience information for her shows. Producers learn about them through questionnaires, background checks, and social media profiles before feeding them to her on stage.
Long Island Medium
Cupcake Wars
The show starts with four contestants representing various bakeries from around the country. In order to be featured in an event with a thousand cupcakes on display, the contestants compete in three rounds of cupcake baking. The first round usually includes a challenge that requires participants to make cupcakes using unusual ingredients. However, there are rumors that the contestants already know what ingredients will be used.
Cupcake Wars
Naked And Afraid
Contestants are taken to exotic locations, stripped naked, and shot while attempting to live off the land on this survival show. Several contestants have voiced their dissatisfaction with the fact that things aren’t always as they seem. According to reports, the strange adventure was well-produced. The production team also provides them with amenities that they would not find in the wild. These items include tampons, supplements, and prescription medication. We immediately recognized that it was too good to be true.
Basketball Wives
The reality show follows the lives of professional basketball players’ wives. On the other hand, not everyone was happy with their appearance on the show. Matt Barnes, a former cast member, talked about how scripted and staged the entire show is. Tanya Young has backed up the claims, claiming that the drama was staged by pitting the wives against one another.
Basketball Wives
The Hills
Everything you’d expect from a reality show was featured on the show. There was backstabbing, teen angst, and relationship drama on a regular basis. It appears that the show is heavily scripted. Spencer Pratt and Heidi Montag both claimed that they were asked to film the same scene fifteen times. When she said she thought she was “pregnant,” he was furious. The show’s producers cast several characters, including Lauren’s co-worker’s best friend.
The Hills
Last Comic Standing
It was all about discovering new talent and giving them exposure or cash prizes in exchange for competing when this show was still on the air. The truth was that, unbeknownst to the judges and contestants, the producers had swayed the vote. Everyone became enraged when the winner’s name was announced. It’s also been suggested that the show skews positive performances to make them appear negative.
Last Comic Standing
The Apprentice
Thanks to this reality show, Donald Trump was reintroduced to the public. The story revolved around a group of celebrities and businessmen who were being interviewed for a position at the current President’s company. The firing scene was obviously added and scripted for dramatic effect. The contestants already knew they were going to be fired before they filmed the scene. The fact that the winner received no actual prize other than bragging rights was perhaps the worst aspect of the show.
Love Island
If you enjoy Survivor and The Bachelor, this is the show for you. For those unfamiliar with the show, it essentially brings together singles for a tropical island summer! The contestants are enticed to hook up and pair off for the promise of money, romance, and a chance to win the competition. According to Reddit, it’s a hoax. From the arguments to the intimate scenes, almost everything in the show is scripted. The producers, according to reports, go over all of the takes and choose the most “realistic” one for the final cut.
Love Island
Breaking Amish
Breaking Amish, unfortunately, was not as authentic as they claimed. According to Jezebel, official documents revealed that the Amish people on the show had defected a long time ago. You might be surprised to learn this if you believed their claims that they had just left the community for the “first time.” It makes you wonder how many shows have been deceiving you all along.
Breaking Amish
Britain’s Got Talent
This show and its American counterpart have a lot in common. It’s a broad-based talent show that showcases just about anything you can imagine. Among the performers are magicians, dancers, and acrobats. One dog brought everyone in the audience to their knees. In 2005, the dog act “Jules and Matisse” took first place in the competition. However, it was a rigged game! The producers used a dog that looked like Matisse because the real dog was too afraid to do the high-wire stunt.
Britain’s Got Talent
Restaurant Stakeout
Willie Degel is a restaurant owner who installed security cameras in a failing establishment. This was done in order for him to figure out what the problem was. The system will catch employees who aren’t doing their jobs correctly, if at all. He’d confront them and, if necessary, dismiss them immediately. It’s an almost entirely made-up story. Before filming the first season, the restaurant owner admitted that the Food Network contacted him and then screen-tested his employees. Customers were also told to be as loud as they could.
Restaurant Stakeout
Dance Moms
Did you think all of the drama and fighting on Dance Moms was just for show? You’re correct if that’s the case. Some of the show’s dramatic moments aren’t real, according to little Maddie Ziegler, who told USA Today in 2015 that some of the show’s dramatic moments aren’t real. According to the young lady, “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
This popular cooking show is hosted by Gordon Ramsay, a flamboyant and foul-mouthed celebrity chef. We’ll admit that the show is entertaining, but keep in mind that everything is scripted. Customers who ate the meals later discovered that they had been overcharged. We can’t deny, however, that the show’s interactions are amusing!
Hell’s Kitchen
Toddlers And Tiaras
We don’t know about you, but we can’t help but wince when we catch a few minutes of this show. Some people appear to be genuinely enthusiastic about it. According to Ranker, much of the show, like the others on the list, is staged. To add to the intrigue, the stars are asked to rewrite their lines and invent drama.
Toddlers And Tiaras
Survivor
Survivor is a reality show in which contestants are divided into teams and transported to the wilderness, where they must fend for themselves while competing in challenges. Unfortunately, many of the competitions and challenges turned out to be a ruse. The producers admitted that they had to hire body doubles for some of the challenges. In addition, much of the footage had to be reenacted. Stacey Stillman, a former contestant, claims that her eviction from the show was rigged.
Survivor
American Idol
The first episode of this massively popular television show aired in 2001. It is predicated on a simple premise. They held auditions all over the country until they found the true American Idol winner. The overwhelming majority of the tens of millions of hopefuls will be let down. Prior to the auditions, scouts were said to be on the lookout for the most talented singers. Isn’t it heartbreaking to learn that everything was a ruse?
American Idol
Catfish
In this MTV hit show, hosts Max and Nev try to figure out “who is really behind these profiles.” Although catfishing may appear strange at first, it is a common practice. This isn’t to say that everything on the show is entirely accurate. The producers are said to have reversed the application process. Catfishers had to fill out an application in order to be considered for a spot on the show.
Catfish
The Voice
According to a potential competitor, this show is not at all fair. The show approached rock singer Adam Wiener, according to a Facebook post, but he declined. According to him, the competition is pre-cast, with the producers choosing the songs and musical styles to be performed. His revelations drew a lot of attention and tainted the show’s reputation.
The Voice
Property Brothers
As a result, the hearts of a few people will be broken. On the show, Canadian brothers Drew and Jonathan Scott team up to help a couple find their dream home. However, a few elements of the show have been revealed to be fake! To begin with, they don’t renovate the entire house; instead, they focus on a few rooms that the couple has chosen. The show then reshoots scenes to add more “drama” to the scenes for the audience’s benefit. Finally, the couple decides on a renovation project because the brothers frequently show them homes that are simply out of their price range.
Property Brothers
Pawn Stars
Isn’t it amazing how much of the History Channel program is scripted? It’s possible that the Harrisons are the store’s owners and operators. It has since become a tourist attraction, rather than a working store. The stars no longer work there during regular business hours due to Nevada’s privacy laws. Aside from that, they’ve already reached an agreement with the sellers on a price, and many of the items have been thoroughly examined.
Pawn Stars
The Real Housewives
There had been much speculation that this show was scripted, but it was finally confirmed when Theresa Guidice of the Real Housewives of New Jersey swore under oath that it was. The meetings between the ladies had been planned ahead of time by the producers. Their savage squabbles could be described in the same way.
The Real Housewives
The Bachelor/The Bachelorette
We all know how entertaining both shows are, but the truth is that much of it was pre-planned. According to reports, celebrities may have been fed lines. Producers weed out dramatic actors before putting them in dramatic situations with one another. The rose ceremony, as well as the casting, are meticulously planned in order to select the finalists ahead of time.
The Bachelor And The Bachelorette
The Biggest Loser
While each contestant’s weight loss results are eagerly anticipated, it turns out that the fancy technology used to demonstrate their weight loss is a hoax. Two days before the competition, the contestants are weighed and measured. To top it off, the medical professionals on the show have had their credibility questioned several times. Some claimed they were unable to distribute drugs because they lacked the required credentials. Plus, the contestants are made to appear sluggish and lazy when they are anything but.
The Biggest Loser
The Simple Life
Paris Hilton and Nicole Richie worked menial jobs while staying with local families in small towns across the United States, and fans couldn’t get enough. Despite the fact that the show was hilarious, Paris Hilton later admitted that she and her co-stars were forced to play the sassy blonde and the troublemaker by the producers. Paris, on the other hand, admitted that she enjoyed playing the baby-voiced airhead. After five years on the show, she admitted to frequently reverting to this character’s voice.
The Simple Life
House Hunters
House Hunters, one of HGTV’s most popular shows, has been revealed to be yet another fake reality show to add to the list. The contestants had already decided which house they wanted to buy when they first appeared on the show. Some of the contestants have already purchased the house featured on the show. To top it off, it’s been reported that younger actors occasionally play the show’s house owners.
House Hunters
What Not To Wear
The show’s premise is intriguing, but it isn’t as enjoyable as it appears. Each contestant will receive $5,000 to revamp their wardrobe and receive a makeover. However, there are some limitations: the producers must donate all of the participants’ clothing to charity. Furthermore, participants are required to pay tax on all purchases. Finally, the contestants’ outfits are all custom-made to fit them perfectly, which is another expense not covered by the show.
What Not To Wear
Pimp My Ride
Pimp My Ride, an MTV reality show, was one of the most popular at the time. Rapper Xzibit would show up at people’s homes and transform their old cars completely. The car makeovers were strictly cosmetic and only for the cameras. Someone on the show mentioned that their car was barely running when they returned it. Furthermore, the repair of these vehicles could take up to six months.
Pimp My Ride
Cribs
Another popular MTV show was Cribs. Celebrities would display their opulent homes in front of a live audience on this show. Several well-known celebrities appeared on the show during its 13-year run. On the other hand, MTV was forced to defend itself after a woman sued, alleging that the network misrepresented her rented home as rapper Ja Rules’ crib.
Cribs
90 Day Fiance
90 Day Fiance has a slew of flaws right away. The show’s main goal is to obtain a K-1 visa for one of each couple’s members so they can immigrate to the United States. The problem is that the couple has only 90 days to get married. Their tourist visa will be revoked if they do not travel before it expires. Naturally, this causes a lot of drama between the couples, but the producers do their best to fan the flames in order to attract more viewers. Participants will be asked to do or say certain things on a regular basis.
90 Day Fiance
Divorce Court
Given how much drama reality television is known for, what could be more dramatic than divorce and marital issues? Divorce Court focuses on the drama and issues that arise during a marriage, listening to both sides of the story and reaching an agreement. On the other hand, it has been revealed that the show is entirely made up. Their daughter and her boyfriend, they claimed, had been approached about appearing on the show. The producers gave the couple a backstory to lie about on the show because they weren’t married at the time.
Divorce Court
The Osbournes
Before there were Kardashians, there were The Osbournes. The band is made up of Ozzy, Sharon, Kelly, and Jack. The show didn’t hold back when it came to swearing, with everyone on it doing so on a regular basis. The strange but loving family dynamic enthralled viewers. With their seeming-to-be-real antics, they even got a few laughs. None of it was real, and the show was mostly scripted. The family was allegedly briefed on what to expect in each episode by the producers.
The Osbournes
Teen Mom
The show Teen Mom is no exception. Teen Mom was no exception to MTV’s lack of authenticity in reality shows. Following 16 and Pregnant, the show focused on the lives of young mothers after their children were born. There was a lot of drama, arrests, and breakups, and no one can deny that. It’s been speculated, however, that the producers would painstakingly edit conversations to make them appear more dramatic than they were.
Teen Mom
Beauty and the Geek
For couples challenges, this reality show wanted to pair attractive women with nerdy men. The geeks on the show were portrayed as socially awkward and unable to communicate with women, but this was not the case in reality. One of the contestants revealed that he had a girlfriend back home. The show has also been accused of using actors to portray some of the contestants.
Beauty And The Geek
I Am Cait
This show chronicled Caitlyn Jenner’s struggle to become her true self, including all of the ups and downs along the way. While the show’s first season was based on reality, the second season was entirely focused on Jenner’s transition, leaving little to the imagination. As a result, the producers started making up Caitlyn’s stories.
I Am Cait
Famously Single
This E! Network reality show follows a group of single celebrities as they try to find people to date. While attending therapy sessions and reminiscing about their search for love, the celebrities live together. On the other hand, these celebrities aren’t the best actors, and many of the scenes are obviously staged. To add more drama to the show, various celebrities and people from their past are brought in.
Famously Single
Total Bellas
It’s only natural that a reality show based on the Bella Twins would be fake, given how fake WWE was. John Cena and Daniel Bryan, Nikki and Brie’s partners, were featured in the series. Many of the scenarios on the show were clearly staged for the cameras, as was much of the drama between Nikki and John Cena.
Total Bellas
WAGS
WAGS, which follows the lives and dramas of sports stars’ wives, quickly became one of E!’s most popular shows. To keep the show interesting for viewers, the producers created drama between the women, and the show was heavily reliant on fake scenarios. The women’s conversations and rivalry were all made up, despite the fact that the marriage breakdowns were real. To add some variety, women who weren’t dating athletes were also included in the mix.
WAGS
Fixer Upper
Before filming could begin, the homeowners, like other house shows, had to purchase the property. This suggests that they aren’t really debating the three houses depicted at the beginning of the episode. The owners will only keep it if they are willing to pay for it because none of Joanna Gaines’ carefully arranged décor or furniture is included in the budget. Neither has every room in the house been remodeled. Meanwhile, it’s been suggested that Chip only works on the house when the cameras are turned on.
Fixer Upper