Reality TV is all around us, from home renovation shows to programs like Pawn Stars. However, what you see on screen isn't always as real as it seems. Producers go to great lengths to create fake scenarios, stage scenes, and even write scripts.
After learning these facts, you'll never see your favorite reality shows the same way again. Share these surprising revelations with your friends to let them in on the secret too!
Pawn Stars might seem real, but it's not. The people and shop are genuine, but customer interactions are staged. Stars like Rick Harrison don't work at the counters and scenes are planned beforehand. Items are cleaned, vetted, and customers sign consent forms. It's a TV show, not a real pawn shop.
Most families on the show don't plan to move; HGTV renovates their homes. Couples' arguments are staged, and the big problems are known beforehand. The houses they explore aren't for sale, and some stay in their renovated homes. Hosts Hilary and David are actors, not renovators.
Before Duck Dynasty aired, the stars looked different - no beards, fancy clothes. Those fights you see? They're planned, not real. Producers create tension, and the cast acts it out. Even the swearing is sometimes added in!
House Hunters is a show where people find homes, something we all understand. But here's the catch: the houses they visit aren't real options. Surprisingly, the families have already bought a house before filming begins. The big budgets and interactions you see? All scripted and staged for TV magic.
Some drama on Jersey Shore might be real, but a lot is exaggerated. Producers picked people who stayed overnight, fights were staged, and most weren't from New Jersey. And guess what? "Snooki" was just a joke nickname that stuck.
TV psychic Theresa Caputo isn't as mystical as she seems. Researchers discovered she does extensive social media stalking on people before her readings. This, combined with clever tricks, creates an illusion of psychic abilities. So, next time, think twice before believing in TV psychics' magic.
Fixer Upper isn't fully real. Yes, the family's reactions are genuine, but the fancy furniture you see on TV isn't theirs – it's taken away after filming. Conversations are live, but guests sometimes redo things for better shots. So, it's more like a story based on truth than a real documentary.
The picky couple on the show already bought a house. They're just pretending to look at other homes for TV. To be on the show, buyers must have a home already. No real house hunting here!
On Mountain Men, what you see isn't always real. The tough personas are just for TV, and the stars have more money than it seems. The dangerous moments? Most are scripted, like a wolf encounter that used friendly dogs. It's all part of the show!
HGTV's show "Designed to Sell" tackles a tricky situation when guests aren't selling their house soon. They create a fake open house, using friends and family as pretend buyers. Guests film different endings for sell-or-not-sell scenarios. Despite some hidden repairs, the show cleverly adapts to the challenges.
The Mediterranean family home shown in "Keeping Up With the Kardashians" exterior shots isn't Kris Jenner's actual residence. The real house was vacant during filming and was used as a stand-in until it was sold in 2018. The show often stages conflicts and even fake marriage proposals for higher ratings, making it more scripted than real. In essence, much of what we see on the show is a carefully crafted performance.
On Catchfish, they say victims contact producers fearing catfishing, but it's actually catfishers who apply. The show investigates them, and they agree to be edited for the story. So, surprised catfishers are just acting, skilled at deception.
American Pickers involves haggling for items, but prices are set beforehand, say guests. Producers, not pickers, find locations, sending reps a month before filming. 'Hobo Jack' is not a hobo but a collector who didn't use that name before the show.
A show about cakes, like Cake Boss, might sound funny, but many people enjoy it. The surprise moments on the show are planned, not real. Customers actually talk about their cake designs before the show. It makes sense, right? People want to know what their expensive cake will look like!
Doubts surround The Biggest Loser's staff training, leading to rumors of drug use among contestants. The scale on the show is a prop; real weigh-ins occur days earlier. Editing makes contestants seem lazier, raising authenticity concerns. The show's credibility is questioned.
HGTV does give away a fancy home every year, but there's a catch. The winners have to pay 40% of the home's value in taxes to the IRS. This huge tax bill often makes it impossible for them to keep their dream homes, turning their excitement into stress. So, winning isn't always what it seems on TV.
Deadliest Catch uses fake elements and editing tricks for dramatic TV, harming the fishing industry. TV crews, paid by producers, ignore fishing quotas, driving up costs for regular fishermen. The show's edited storylines mislead, like splicing separate storms to seem bigger, causing real industry problems.
Storage Wars, a popular A&E show about storage locker auctions, faced controversy when star David Hester sued, alleging fake production. Hester, known as "The Mogul," claimed producers planted valuable items to enhance the show's appeal. After a lawsuit, A&E and Hester settled, but the producers never admitted or denied planting items, leaving the truth uncertain.
Bridezilla show isn't real. Producers make women act dramatic, angry, and teary for better TV. They do many takes until it looks intense. Cameras following add stress.
In today's time, we know TV shows are edited heavily, but contestants often don't realize this. They talk sincerely about their feelings on camera, but editors pick the most dramatic moments. Producers guide contestants to create more drama on the show. This behind-the-scenes process is a common practice nowadays.
In 'Chrisley Knows Best,' more than half the talk is scripted, and scenes are redone if not funny enough, a source revealed.
The show's dramatic opening with a truck in icy water was created using mini models. Cast members admit the show is scripted and edited to portray heroes and villains, a standard reality TV practice. While ice road trucking is dangerous, the series exaggerates risks for dramatic effect, typical in such shows. So, what you see might not be as perilous as it appears.
The Bachelor and The Bachelorette have been on TV for a very long time. But, it's not all about true love; many couples break up, and some don't even get married. The show often creates dramatic stories through scripting and editing. Producers pick popular contestants and set up situations to make them winners or runners-up.
Go ahead, believe that The Real Housewives isn’t scripted. However, do you know who disagrees? Teresa Giudice, a real housewife in New Jersey, who during a public court trial was caught swearing, under oath, that the show was scripted. Well, that’s that. Most of the fights are planned, staged, and/or dramatized for TV, the stars are all actors and the fancy lifestyles seemingly exhibited on the series hide the fact that many of them are actually facing crippling debt, and simply living above their means via heavy credit usage. Doesn’t sound so great, when you think of it that way.
Contestants disclosed that civilization was nearby during filming. In one instance, music and local kids were heard and seen nearby. The show's editing manipulates storylines and events. For example, a contestant's food poisoning was misrepresented as her fault.
The Property Brothers, Jonathan and Drew Scott, are TV stars who used to work in real estate. Now, they act on camera, but the house-hunting process on their show is staged. Clients are already supposed to have a home under contract. Their on-screen stress is just acting; that's what the Scott brothers do.
Months before American Idol, scouts and producers pick main contestants and bad performers. These singers go through multiple auditions before facing the judges. Surprisingly, contestants often don't know if they're chosen for talent or entertainment value until they perform on stage. The show's selection process is more scripted than it appears.
Breaking Amish was a show about Amish youth in NYC, but it was fake. TLC didn't fact-check. Stars claimed to be newbies but had prior relationships and issues. The truth surfaced, leading to the show's quick end.
On Mystery Diners, restaurant owners ask host Charles Stiles for help, but it turns out the show is fake. Former employees revealed that the misbehaving workers are actors, not real staff. In one case, a supposed chef was actually an actor with a production studio.
TruTV's South Beach Tow features real companies, Tremont Towing and South Beach Towing, but the incidents shown are exaggerated and often made up, according to former employees. The show focuses on these tow companies dealing with car owners, mixing real-life events with added TV drama. The rival towing company causing trouble is entirely fictional.
RuPaul's Drag Race is a drag competition where contestants dress up as celebrities, lip-sync, and face drama. Phi Phi O'Hara, a former contestant, revealed producers manipulated drama behind the scenes, creating conflicts for entertainment, and shedding light on reality show manipulations.
"Basketball Wives" is a reality show featuring NBA players' wives, including Shaunie O'Neal, Tasha Marbury, and Jackie Christie. Despite its name, the show isn't all real; former cast members revealed it's heavily scripted and producers create drama behind the scenes, making it different from what viewers might expect.
Southern Charm, a reality show on Bravo, might not be as real as it seems. Some of the main stars didn't live where the show claimed, raising questions about its authenticity. Scenes were edited to create drama, making viewers wonder what's truly genuine.
MasterChef, an old UK show from the 90s, has spin-offs worldwide. In the US version, contestants might face fake drama and dialogue, often not true to who they are. Unlike the US, MasterChef Australia stays true to real cooking without added drama.
Chopped is a cooking show where chefs compete against each other. They make meals with surprise ingredients and judges pick the best dish. But sometimes, the drama is staged, ingredients are changed, and emotional stories can influence who wins.
Judge Judy Sheindlin's TV show was popular for 20 years because of her sharp humor and grumpy demeanor. She heard weird cases, mocked people, and gave rulings. But here's the catch: all cases were decided before the show, so everything was just an act.