From the name itself, reality programs are entertaining because they are supposed to show what is happening in a famous person’s life, whether it be dramatic or dull. But everyone is hooked when a storyline has moments that stir the pot.
According to a CivicScience survey, most Americans watch reality shows, and around 60 percent of women tune in. However, we hate to break it to the viewers, but not everything that they see on the small screen is real, just like the following instances:
America's Next Top Model $40-a-day Allowance
Much has been said about “America’s Next Top Model,” the competition where aspiring beauties face challenges and judges decide if they’re worthy of being in the industry. However, despite the glitz and glam that the show projected, the aspiring models were only given $40 per day!
The cycle 9 contestant Sarah Hartshorne tweeted in 2021 that aside from the disappointing talent fee, they had no residuals and had to buy their own food during their whole stay in the series.
“Lifetime Supply” Isn’t Really What It Seems
As kids (or adults), winning a lifetime supply of something is the dream. Imagine never running out of something for the rest of your life—that’s a great deal. However, this also comes with a fine print, and game shows are geniuses in using this “too-good-to-be-true” gimmick.
According to a Redditor, their teacher won a lifetime supply of WD-40 in the show “The Wheel Of Fortune Australia,” but since an average usage of a can of this product is for 20 years, the contestant only won four of them.
MTV’s “Parental Control” Is Script Controlled
People who grew up in the early '00s know that reality TV was definitely out of control, like the concept of this MTV show called “Parental Control.” Parents would choose the person their child would date only because they disapprove of their kid’s current partner.
In reality, some of the “couples” from the show reportedly were not even together. They just met on set and were tasked to follow the ridiculous script they were given. Well, helicopter parenting was seemingly a form of entertainment then.
The Staged Snooki And Angelina Fight
Another product of the early '00s is the reality TV show “Jersey Shore,” which has become a pop culture phenomenon despite the controversies and its perpetuation of discrimination. One of the most memorable scenes in the second season was Snooki and Angelina’s big fight.
However, while looking closely, one can see continuity errors throughout the scene, including Jwoww’s socks, which appeared and disappeared in some scenes, proving that this may have been shot multiple times. People were distracted by their loud voices, so it was tough to notice.
Not So Brave
We are often amazed by how survivalists are in TV shows and competitions. With their wit, strategy, and will to live, we felt comfortable in our cushy homes as we watched them sleep in their makeshift houses and eat suspect food. However, what we see is only part of the story.
A former contestant of “N*ked and Afraid” revealed that they were provided food and water to go down with the medicines given to them on the set. Seemingly, they’re not as tough as we thought them to be.
Top Chef On-screen, Bottom Feeders Off-screen
Watching cooking competitions is drool-worthy. But despite all the delicious-looking dishes and the scrumptious meals they cook for the judges, “Top Chef” contestants reportedly didn’t eat well during the whole competition, which is ironic given that this is a cooking show!
Former challengers Shirley Chung and Brooke Williamson divulged that during their time in the show, they rarely ate properly, and some even lived off instant noodles for a month. This is bizarre, considering the amount of food that the competitors produce.
Continuity Error In ‘Love Is Blind’
Eagle-eyed “Love is Blind” viewers noticed a weird glitch during an episode in season 2. In the sequences where Sal and Mallory were talking about their relationship, one TikTok user detected the varying amount of food on their plate between scenes, pointing out that the narration was heavily edited just to create a more dramatic narrative.
Others pointed out that this was also why the show used golden goblets instead of glass ones so that the amount of drink wouldn’t be noticeable in every shot.
Former Kardashian Nanny Has An Interesting Side Job
People can say everything about the Kardashian-Jenner clan, but the family remains to be the talk of the town. Avid viewers of the clan’s E! reality TV show would remember the inappropriate nanny they hired during the early runs of the program.
As it turned out, the said nanny was actually Bree Olson, who was still an unknown adult performer at the time and is now known as actor Charlie Sheen's goddess. She said she was cast for the “role” through her acting agent.
‘Next’ = Sham
Before we were swiping left or right on random strangers online, there was “Next” on MTV. It was a crazy dating show during the early '00s where contestants would have the opportunity to date five single “daters” one at a time.
The star would shout “next” if they want their current date replaced by another. Yes, it may be a ridiculous format, so we’re glad to hear that this was a fully scripted show and that some of the qualities and fun facts of the people joining were exaggerated.
‘Chopped’ Has Some Chopped Parts
Cooking competitions are filled to the brim with pressure—there’s the time limit, the unfamiliar kitchen, loads of talented chefs/home cooks, and the industry’s best judges. However, in reality, there are a few tweaks that we don’t see during the show.
A former contestant from “Chopped” spilled that the ovens in the show were already preheated and that boiling water was already provided. He also said they were familiarized with the pantry and the equipment before each round, which makes sense, too.
‘Storage Wars’ Stores Secrets
Watching “Storage Wars” is like seeing a treasure hunt in action. Bidders from different backgrounds and varying personalities “compete” with one another to get the most profit in the storage unit that they bid for.
Sometimes, storage units are filled with junk, but there are moments when contestants would find interesting pieces that are worth thousands! However, according to former cast member Dave Hester, this is a hoax. He revealed that sometimes the production team would put those “treasures” in those lockers.
Magic Glass In Love Island
Continuity is probably every reality TV show editor’s biggest enemy. If there are multiple takes, everything must be in the perfect place, or else the audience would know. In this supposedly heartbreaking “Love Island” scene where Jack Fowler dumped Laura Anderson, her wine glass magically moved in different shots, making fans wonder if it was a sham.
Although this was supposed to be a sad scene, fans became more focused on the event being “staged.” Interestingly, the production denied these claims.
Secret Relationship In ‘Terrace House: Boys & Girls in the City’
The Japanese series “Terrace House” is a lot calmer than other reality TV shows we usually watch, that’s why it is a surprise to find out that the then 18-year-old Riko Nagai and 29-year-old Hayato Terashima were already secretly dating during the program.
Apparently, despite projecting that they were still in the getting-to-know-each-other-better stage, the two had already been fooling around off-set. Nagai, an aspiring idol, wanted to protect her image. That's why they kept the relationship on the hush-hush.
The Real Pressure On Project Runway
“Project Runway” is one of those shows where the audience can feel the pressure that each contestant faces. However, this is just a snippet of what the participants experience throughout the program.
Chloe Dao, the season 2 winner, divulged that competitors woke up at 6 a.m. to work on their project until midnight. Then, they still had to film confessionals, which would take hours. They would only sleep from 1 a.m. to 3 a.m.; hence they all felt terrible during the final challenge.
‘Pretty Wild’ Is Sorta Staged
“Pretty Wild” is another reality TV show in the early '00s that made headlines because of one of the stars of the show, Alexis Haines (then Neiers), who was arrested on the pilot episode for being a part of the Bling Ring—a group of young thieves who broke into houses of celebrities.
Viewers who have seen the documentary “Bling Ring: Hollywood Heist” would probably remember Haines confessing that the arrest on the first episode was staged. She revealed that the producers knocked on their door, not the police.
Secret Chest In The Woods
In “Survivor,” we watched the contestants try to live and outwit each other using only the things they have and found in the woods or at the beach. Apparently, the forest provided them with everything—even contact lenses, bug spray, medicines, and sunscreen!
According to former contestant Elaine Stott, there was a chest in the forest containing these essentials for the participants of the show. Yes, they slept in makeshift houses and sacrificed normal living for the program, but knowing these things just made it less exciting.
The ‘Off-Cam’ Auditions
In talent show competitions like “American Idol” and “X-Factor,” one of the most exciting parts is watching the soon-to-be contestants’ tryouts. This is where we get to meet the aspirants and know their inspiring backstories.
Apparently, these auditionees already did an “off-cam” audition before facing the celebrity judges we see on TV. With this in mind, it makes us wonder about those bad singers and performers that appear on TV. Were they given a chance just for a comedic factor, or do pre-audition judges have lower standards?
House Hunters Or House Stunters?
With more young adults unable to buy houses, some of them live vicariously by watching real estate shows like “House Hunters.” This show features couples who are looking for an abode and are usually given three options. At the end of an episode, they can only choose one.
However, some people claim that this is just a big stunt as one couple said they had already bought the house they chose and went along with the script just for the show.
The Drag Race Tea
“RuPaul’s Drag Race” paved the way for many drag queens to gain an audience and popularity, but to be a part of the competition, there’s a list of many activities they have to perform and condense to just 20 minutes.
Brooke Lyn Hytes from season 11 spilled the tea about the audition process for the competition. The Canadian drag queen said competitors basically had to do all the popular challenges from the show—Snatch Game, acting, runway looks, and lip-syncing—in a 20-minute video.
There’s So Much More In ‘Below Deck’
For those who love to see what’s going on inside luxurious yachts without spending much or getting seasick, then “Below Deck'' is a must-watch. It follows the lives of “yachties” who are crew members aboard the glamorous boats catering to their guests’ demands.
Despite showing the members’ everyday life on deck, Captain Lee Rosbach said that what we see on TV is a much-abridged version of what they film. He said that they have 45,000 hours filmed but only show around 900 hours in the final cut.
Heidi Pratt And Her So-Called ‘Job’
It’s hard to forget “The Hills” aired during the boom of reality TV in the early '00s. It is a show surrounding the lives of Lauren Conrad and her friends Heidi Pratt (then Montag), Audrina Patridge, and Whitney Port as young adults trying to make it big in their chosen careers.
It is said that Pratt’s job at the Bolthouse was just a publicity stunt. Because it is fake, then the story where she was fired was also fabricated. Television really has a weird take on “reality.”
‘Love is Blind’ Has Some Blindspots
At a time when dating can be done even through the phone, “Love is Blind” still thrives. It follows attractive young adults who are ready to settle. A unique feature of the show is that contestants may only talk with each other in a pod where they can’t see each other for the first ten days.
Well, apparently the show has left some blindspots for the audience because many were surprised that during the second season, Kyle already had a deep connection with Deepti and regretted not proposing to her.
Production Can’t Keep Up With The Kardashians
“Keeping up with the Kardashians” has been on TV since 2007, and one of its early plots is Khloé’s arrest for driving while intoxicated. They showed the whole thing on screen while also projecting the celebrity’s explanation that she did it because she missed her dad.
Though it might be a good sob story, it actually happened in March of that year, months before they even started filming for the show. So, all that we saw was just reconstructed and a ploy for the girls to reclaim the story.
Middle Of Nowhere, No Way
One of “N*ked and Afraid’s” appeals is throwing these individuals in the middle of nowhere. It adds to the thrill that these participants try to survive in a place beaming with wild flora and fauna, with no other humans aside from them and the production crew.
Well, according to a former contestant, the middle of nowhere is more of a hyperbole. Even though during shots it seems that their location is far from civilization, she said that they can actually hear DJ music from a party nearby.
(Not) Filmed In Front Of A Live Studio Audience
One of the elements of a classic game show is the live audience and more specifically their reactions. It makes the show more engaging and lively. However, the crowds we see on TV are sometimes just paid actors—yup; they also hire audience members!
Sometimes, those actors do not even get to watch the show live. The production would just ask them for reactions, varying from surprise to shock, to happiness, and they would pretend that they are in “Deal or No Deal,” or other game shows.
Product Placement Anywhere!
It is no secret that shows need funding from different brands to keep the running. Sometimes it is shown blatantly, while others use the power of product placement. Just like in “Property Brothers,” the team always featured furniture from Wayfair and even showed how to order their products from their website.
A Redditor also mentioned that when his wife joined a tattoo competition where she was given a particular pair of headphones to wear while filming. The weird thing was that she wasn’t allowed to actually listen to music!
‘Room Raiders’ Is Scripted
The early '00s really had weird concepts for dating shows—and we’re looking at you, MTV. One of their memorable shows was “Room Raiders” where a contestant, who is a “raider,” looked into the rooms of three potential dates.
There were no pictures of the owner of the room, so the raider had to decide who they were going to date based on their rooms. With this silly format, we are happy to know that this was also just a front.
Deavan And Jihoon’s ‘Drama’
In reality TV shows, the production team sometimes needs to interfere to create more storylines and drama for the sake of ratings. Drama is the primary seasoning in this type of program.
Just like in “90 Days Fiancé,” when people start judging how Jihoon takes care of Deavan’s daughter. On the show, Drascilla was almost hit by a car, and Deavan’s family started to criticize Jihoon for it. But, Deavan said in an Instagram Live that it was just two scenes edited together for more drama.
‘Below Deck’ Gets Iced
Everything should be caught on camera in reality TV shows, but sometimes, cameras have to adjust to catch what is going on. In an interview with Captain Lee Rosbach, he revealed there would be times when young yacht crew had to be “iced” or advised not to move or talk while the production crew were fixing the camera angles so they wouldn't miss anything.
He added that if there was an event where they had to move from the boat to a restaurant, they would get iced for a moment, temperature-wise.
The Price To Be A Ninja
Every “American Ninja Warrior” contestant has a unique look and attitude. This gives them the edge and identifier among other warriors. Some may think that it is scripted to add color to every participant’s personality, but apparently, this is not the case.
According to season 8 competitors Akiva Neuman and Logan Broadbent, each member provides their own makeup and outfit. They also pay for the transportation to the set and even their hotels and accommodations. Every warrior really has the dedication and passion for doing the terrifying obstacle course.
‘Chopped’ Has A Secret Rule
In “Chopped,” every contestant hopes to impress the judges that they’re going to serve food. They have to create something delicious from whatever the show provides them. It may be hard to think of what to cook especially if faced with a difficult ingredient to work with.
However, viewers didn’t know that there was another rule in the show: no bread pudding for the dessert round. The judges are sick of the bread pudding so they have to be more creative in the last round.
‘Shark Tank’s’ Long Deliberation
“Shark Tank” helps aspiring entrepreneurs with great ideas get a headstart in the competitive entrepreneurial world. Aside from getting publicity on TV, they also have a chance to get investors for their business concepts.
For us viewers, it seems that each aspiring business person’s presentation is just a few minutes, but in reality, the conversation with judges usually lasts for more than an hour. According to Dave Vasen, what we see on TV was just a short version of what they experienced.
Afraid Of Cavities In The Wild
Being in the wild makes one resourceful, especially regarding hygiene. Dani Beau, a “N*ked and Afraid” alum, is one of the cast members who used her creativity to keep her dental hygiene well, probably making her dentist proud.
She shared in an interview that she used freshly cut green wood as her toothbrush. She frayed out its edges and then buffed her pearly whites with it. She added that they even made a floss out of the inner bark of the tree.
Auctions In Project Runway
In “Project Runway,” we saw many creations that can rival any established designers. The program gave birth to many iconic artists like Christian Siriano, Chloe Dao, and Leanne Marshall. It is crazy to think that their early masterpieces have become a big part of the show.
Well, owning their creations is expected, especially if we know that the clothes were not to be kept by the aspiring designers. According to former contestant Seth Aaron Henderson, clothes were auctioned off immediately, which seems bittersweet.
Practice Trampoline On ‘American Ninja Warrior’
“American Ninja Warrior” is a show that makes viewers wonder if the stunts are fake or not. While the production team and the contestants maintained that everything is real, season 8 ninjas Akiva Neuman and Logan Broadbent revealed that participants could practice on a trampoline before going to the obstacle.
This gives the contestants the same experience and helps them assess how the actual course would feel based on the height, fall, and impact of the fall and launch.
How To Avoid Being A Walking Spoiler
Reality dating shows like “Love Is Blind” are often filmed earlier, so there may be outcomes that we don’t know about when we start watching a show. According to Nick from season 2, they couldn’t be seen as couples in public while the show is still airing.
He said that during the last week of promos for the show, they just binge-watched “Dawson’s Creek.” They were also told to lead their lives but not post details on social media out of fear of spilling some details.
‘Shark Tank’s’ Golden Rule
According to former contestant Dave Vasen, “Shark Tank” competitors shouldn’t tell anyone about the storyline of any episode before it airs. Even if it is will be broadcast on the same night, no secrets should be released.
This is a very understandable move to avoid any spoilers or leakage about the judges’ decision or other matters. Vasen even claimed that the production crew said they wouldn’t think twice about cutting participants out of the show if they broke the golden rule.
Long Dates In ‘Love Is Blind’
According to “Love Island” season 2 alum Jarrette, the amount of time a person dates in the contest increases as the number of the person they date decreases. At the start of the show, participants have 15 women to get to know but this number gets fewer as the program progresses.
He explained that during the eighth or ninth day, their dates go as long as five hours for the whole day — that is up to 3 hours during daytime while night outings last for up to two hours.
Love Island Contestants’ Prep
As one of the most influential dating shows, “Love Island” sure has a lot of rules for its contestants. Chris Williamson, a former competitor of the show, said that before the filming starts, contestants must participate in a weeklong media lockdown.
We don’t know about this because it was not aired. After all, he said it was boring. Certain topics couldn’t be discussed during their stay, including anything about the outside world. Participants also can’t talk about brands and many other things.
Pop Song Alarm Clock of Big Brother
“Big Brother” is a reality TV show where participants stay in a single house armed with cameras to watch them. However, even though we think we see their lives inside the abode, there are still unknown things.
Andy Herren, a former housemate, said that the production team would play pop songs every morning to serve as the alarm clock between 8 and 11 a.m. and sometimes indicates that the participants need to change their mic packs. After doing it, they can go back to sleep.
Reviewing For Jeopardy
Quiz shows like “Jeopardy!” test the mind and memory of each contestant about different topics. It is amazing to see such bright minds that may make us feel self-conscious about our intelligence. However, just like in any quiz, we can also review before the big exam.
According to super-champ Amy Schneider, she went through the old “Jeopardy!” clues on the website J! Archive before going on the show. This website has kept all the clues from the series classified into seasons.
Untucking Lip Sync Segments
In “RuPaul’s Drag Race,” lip syncing is probably the most vital talent a drag queen should have. If they’re going to be eliminated, they literally have to “lip sync for their life” to save their spot. Well, we have a “Ruveal” for you.
Finalist Brooke Lynn Hytes said that they were given iPods loaded with songs they should study for the lip sync battles. The Canadian superstar added that there would be times when the production would take those gadgets and replace songs throughout the season.
A Recipe for Disaster
We watched many disastrous cakes in the amateur baking competition “Nailed It,” where wannabe bakers show off their “baking skills” by trying to recreate a complicated dessert. With the instructions provided, some did it relatively successfully and baked something edible. However, others had to feed judges raw batter, Rice Krispies, or overdone desserts.
Bakers are pre-destined to fail in the competition. According to Paul Scheer, they didn’t have personal timers or watches while baking in the show, so they had to time their cakes in the oven mentally.
The Fab Five After The Show
“Queer Eye” lets us see how five gays help other people improve their lives by giving them a total makeover. The Fab Five is always ready to help out in the show, but do they possess the same kindness when the filming wraps up?
Neal Reddy from the first season revealed that even after filming, he maintained his communications with the Fab Five. They even hung out with Bobby Berk when he visited Los Angeles and reached out to Jonathan Van Ness when he felt self-conscious.
Friendly Hosts of ‘Great British Bake Off’
Noel Fielding and Matt Lucas seem to be the perfect hosts for everyone’s favorite the “Great British Bake Off.” They’re lovable and funny enough to add an entertainment factor while we watch the contestants create lovely pastries that could be a hit or miss for the judges.
While they appear to be friendly on-cam, Giuseppe Dell’Anno said that they are also the same genuine kind people off-cam. He said that the hosts would eat lunch with them and check on them regularly.
Jeff Probst Could Be Quite Annoying
According to an interview with “Survivor” alum Kareshman Patel, Jeff Probst’s commentary during ring challenges is apparently frequent and irritating. She explained that since challenges were done in one take, Probst had to scream the whole time to let out as many reactions as he could.
Patel asserted that this kind of commentary was constant even though we don’t usually see it on the final cut. She even said that there were times when she screamed back at Probst, which her tribe didn’t approve of.
Being A Friend In ‘Who Wants To Be A Millionaire?’ Is Also Hard
When watching “Who Wants To Be a Millionaire?” Some often wonder how the “phone a friend” lifeline works. Were those pals allowed to search online or to scour books so they could have a definite answer for their soon-to-be millionaire friend?
The answer is a resounding no. Apparently, those friends are reportedly watched by security officers, which would prevent them from doing any funny business when asked for help. So, if we want to join the game show, we must really choose a well-read pal.
‘Cash Grab’ Don’t Just Pick Up Random Passengers
According to a Reddit user, although “Cash Grab” does scout people on the street, there are preparations before actually filming it. They said that after being asked if they wanted to join, passersby had to do a phone interview to gauge their knowledge.
Then, they were asked to go to a certain location with a friend. However, the surprise element is that when they get there, the production would inform them that they have to transfer to another place. When they get in the cab, that’s when the show starts.
What’s The Lava in the ‘Floor is Lava?’
Viewers who had seen “Floor is Lava” on Netflix might have wondered what the crew used for the “lava.” According to Anthony Carbone, producer of the show, they did extensive research to come up with the formula and perfected the texture to resemble the real thing.
He likened the texture of the goo to the Panda Express’ orange chicken sauce. However, another producer Irad Eyal revealed they disapproved of a version that contained chemicals that produced glow-in-the-dark effects because it would be toxic for the contestants.