At this point, we all should know that most TV shows are a little fake. There has to be some sort of control to make good TV, right? Some of these shows take it too far, but others do it just right.
The Great British Bake-Off
Yes, even the simplest, sweetest show can be a bit scripted. According to cast members, each judge will have a positive comment and a negative comment about their bake. Then, the producers splice what they want to use together.
Bakers Are Prepared
This one isn’t much of a secret as it is just a fact of the show. Usually, the surprise bake isn’t a surprise at all. All of the contestants are aware of the challenges months in advance so that they can prepare.
Long Island Medium
TV psychics are a bummer to watch. You really want it to be real, but that’s just not the case. The Long Island Medium actually does research on her clients before they appear on the show. It’s never a random person off the street.
Using Social Media
She uses the power of social media to get some information on her “clients.”
Pawn Stars
Most people know at this point that Pawn Stars is one of the most scripted shows on television. The findings aren’t real, the customers are actors, and nothing is as dramatic as it is. Rick Harrison doesn’t even work at his own pawn shop…
It’s All Planned
All of the “customer” interactions are scripted and arranged before they begin to film. Every item brought to the pawn stars’ attention isn’t new or a surprise.
America’s Got Talent
The audition rounds that we see are not real whatsoever. They were tons of different prelim auditions before people can actually “audition” on TV.
Not Just Talent
The producers basically typecast for who they want on the show. If they don’t have the right look, they won’t be on the show. Simple as that.
The Voice
Sure, you can sing. But do you have the heartbreaking backstory that the producers want? Apparently, the application form for The Voice asks about peoples’ very vulnerable experiences.
Gotta Get That Sob Story
The show loves to sell a good story. The producers are able to spin the story and give the audience a reason to root for someone. That’s a bit sadistic, isn’t it?
Love It or List It
Who doesn’t love Hilary and David? Unfortunately, they don’t have anything to do with the process of designing the hold house and buying the new one. This has been exposed before, but it’s still quite interesting.
Nothing’s a Surprise
Usually, the people on the show know if they are moving or just living in their renovated home.
Love Island
Wow, shocking. Love Island is the fakest of them all. The cast is told what to do, what to say, and who to pick a fight with. They also fake love interests.
Lots Of Money
Apparently, each cast member is paid £75,000 just to be on the show. Sign me up!
Jersey Shore
Look, we all know that these people are actually crazy party animals. But, a lot of the situations were made up. Any “randoms” that showed up at the house were brought in by producers.
Snooki Fact
Nicole actually put down “Snooki” as a joke on her Jersey Shore application. Somehow, it stuck! She goes by Nicole now, though.
Duck Dynasty
Everyone’s favorite hicks. Literally, everything about this show is fake. These guys aren’t even friends in real life. In fact, it’s all just an act. None of these dues even looked like this before the show started!
Fake Curses
A lot of the time, the bleeps put over curse words are actually just exaggerated. The editors put them there to make it seem like they curse a lot, but they don’t. That’s just kinda weird.
House Hunters
Each couple already chose a home that they are moving into. The producers find other ones for sale that they can pitch so that the couple can pretend to choose their dream house. It just creates drama.
Fake Budgets
Do you ever wonder how someone who makes arts and crafts for a living can afford a million-dollar house? That’s because it’s fake. The producers create a fake budget.
Fixer Upper
There are a few things about Fixer Upper that are fake. Everything about Chip and Joanna is real (thankfully) but some of the show is fake…
Reshoots and Fake Sets
The people on the show can never keep the furniture without buying it. Technically, it’s staging, which is pretty normal for housing shows. Also, some of the reactions are fake. They have to reshoot multiple times to get the perfect angle and lighting!
Catfish: The TV Show
Honestly, Catfish is a pretty real show. But, the way they go about getting the catfish is a bit tricky. A lot of the time, the catfish will contact the producers of the show with a guilty conscience (or looking for attention). Max and Nev are not in on it, though. They really have to figure stuff out!
Cake Boss
Don’t worry, Carlo isn’t as crazy as he seems on the show. Any fights or disagreements are fake and just for the show. Before filming, everything is discussed and the client knows what they’re getting.
Property Brothers
The brothers are mainly just hosts. Yeah, they do some of the research and handy work, but not much! In fact, they both have backgrounds in acting.
Survivor
Survivors is honestly quite real. The only thing that they don’t show us is them getting healthy meals off camera. They can’t be totally lacking nutrition!
The Biggest Loser
The trainers on this show are not professionally trained. The scale isn’t real. The contestants are exposed to unhealthy eating and training habits just to lose weight. This is… A bad show.
The HGTV Dream Home Giveaway
Sure, it’s a free home. But can you afford the taxes? Most people who win homes are forced to sell it anyway due to the high property taxes. Such is life.
Naked and Afraid
The crew doesn’t let the contestants truly live off the land. The survivors are usually giving medicine, tampons, and supplements so that they don’t get too horribly sick.
Keeping Up with the Kardashians
This show has been on for an extremely long time and a lot of change for them. Still, no matter how dramatic things in their life get, they will still have orchestrated outings, fights, and drama.
Beach Front Bargain Hunt
More like: Beachfront I Already Bought My House. There’s no hunting in this show, everything is already figured out before shooting!
The Apprentice
This show was truly chaotic. Donald Trump would usually just fire people on the spot and leave it up to the editors to figure out why.
American Idol
The best singers are actually scouted months before the show starts filming. Most of the time, the singers have no idea if they’re there for being good or bad!
The Real Housewives
The fights are fake. The relationships are fake. Most of the housewives are in debt. It’s not fun!
Deadliest Catch
Weirdly enough, this show has become the fisherman’s main source of income. They don’t even make half the amount of money that they do for fishing! They’re also known for editing the scenes to make it seem more intense.
Storage Wars
The show plants hidden items in the lockers… At least, that’s what ex-member David Hester said. The producers haven’t denied the claim…
Bridezilla
This show is fake in terms of pushing these already stressed brides to the limit. They’ll fake problems just to see her throw a fit!
Breaking Amish
This is quite a weird show in general. But, most of the actors didn’t “just” leave the Amish world. They’ve been out of that part of the family for quite some time now.
Ice Road Truckers
This road is horrifically fake. There was one scene where one of the trucks actually fell through the ice… That was faked using miniature models! It’s also heavily scripted.
The Bachelor & The Bachelorette
The producers love creating a villain in each season. Also, the relationships never last since they’re basically fake, to begin with.
Extreme Makeover: Home Edition
When volunteers come to help “build the house,” it’s actually just actors. After that’s all done with, real construction folks come in to build the house.
Ghost Hunters
Apparently, this show really hit the fan when they began to add certain things. They would make static sounds and have crew members cause bumps in the night… Allegedly.
Hell’s Kitchen
Gordon Ramsey, your schtick is up! We all know you’re actually nice!!! The customers on the show are paid and chefs are told to play it up.
The Hills
This was one of the very first fake reality shows out there! It was dramatized and edited to make it seem way crazier than it was. Do you see any of these people still friends? Nope!
The X-Factor
The folks are pre-selected for this show, too. Gotta make sure they’re good for TV!
Mystery Diners
This show was actually fake. The workers were actors. The customers were actors. They basically just used the diner as a sound stage.
America’s Next Top Model
Since ANTM has stopped filming, many models have been speaking out about the goings-on behind the scenes. The drama is played up, the girls lie about their lives, and the models are underfed. Jeeze, Louise.
The Real World
It’s pretty funny that The Real World is super fake. The producers carefully hand select the actors, and then they make them act out scenes. Literally.
The Amazing Race
There isn’t anything really sneaky about this show, but it’s definitely not realistic. This show has gotten a lot of flack for showcasing how “cheap” it is to travel when it’s really not.
Made
Sorry, these teens kind of got the short end of the stick. It’s staged!
Basketball Wives
The only thing real about this is their marriages to basketball players. The drama is fake and so are their friendships (for the most part).
Cupcake Wars
I know, right? These contestants know the “surprise ingredient” months in advance, so there’s no real panic…
Vanderpump Rules
This one is known to be super fake. They even reshoot fight scenes if they aren’t good enough!
Undercover Boss
After all of the filming and “learning,” it turns out that the boss never actually learns. Employees have said that the bosses go back to their old ways.
RuPaul’s Drag Race
Listen, we all know that Ru wants drama. Queens have reported that their interviews and sound bites have been taken out of context to create more drama.
MasterChef USA
A former contestant has said that the show will edit things together to create totally fake sentences… How crazy!
Southern Charm
This show got weirdly popular, but don’t worry! It’s fake. The narratives are practically made up.
Matchmaker
These people weren’t actually set up on blind dates. They always met at least once before filming. They were even allowed to talk to them!
Pawn Queens
Yeah… This was just failure from the start. These ladies were actually not pawn stars whatsoever and auditioned for the show.
Cash in the Attic
All of the items are planted in the attic, who figured! The antique dealers aren’t always in on it, though…
South Beach Tow
Truth be told, there’s no tow company rivalry in South Beach. How else can you make towing good for television! Gotta fake it.
Surprise Chef
This one isn’t a surprise. The entire premise seemed fake! Wandering around a grocery store and running into a celeb chef? Yeah, okay.
Tattoo Fixers
The tattoos are real and so are the touch-ups, but the reveals are definitely fake. It’s reshot many times to get the perfect “reaction.”
Bad Dog
Yeah, even the dogs were fake! Just kidding. Kind of. The producers created fake backstories for the dogs to make it more dramatic.
American Pickers
Everything is predetermined before filming. Hobo Jack isn’t even real!
Mountain Men
They’re supposed to be living totally off the grid… But they’re not. It’s all fake and just for the show.
Designed to Sell
People on the show hae said the houses are pretty much slapped together. Things are sloppy and falling apart. Plus, it takes them a while to actually sell the house!
Hunting Hitler
Despite the name, there’s no actual evidence. It’s weirdly faked.
What Not To Wear
TLC’s hit was often refilmed multiple times to get the right reactions from family members for the reveals. Gotta get the shot!
Divorce Court
The couples are real, but they’re not getting divorced. It’s just an act for the money!