MTV has been paving the way for reality television series since like...forever. The network has given us some of the best content from Jersey Shore, The Hills, Real World, and of course, Catfish. The series first aired back in 2012 with Nev Schulman and Max Joseph as the hosts.
The premise of the show was to uncover the mysteries behind online catfishing, helping those who are tied up in relationships with someone they've never met before. The series came about following Nev's encounter being catfished, sparking an interest in creating a show surrounding these wild Catfish moments.
Although the show appears to be as real as it gets, there are always a few details that strike us as surprising. With 8 seasons under Nev's belt, it's no shock that there are some things that are true and some fake when it comes to the show. It is reality television afterall!
Updated on September 3, 2021, by Michael Chaar: MTV's hit series, Catfish has been keeping us entertained since its debut back in 2012. While Max Joseph stepped down following six seasons, original host Nev Schulman and Kamie Crawford have taken over. Throughout the many seasons of the show, fans have always wondered what the behind-the-scenes look like, mainly when it comes to whether the show is fake or not. While the events that transpire are, in fact, true, there's a lot that happens that viewers don't see. From signing waivers, sending participants therapists, all the way to the catfishers actually contacting MTV first, the show has its way of operating pre and post-production. As for fallacies surrounding the show, it's a real reality series!
14 True: Participants Sign Waivers Before Appearing On The Show
Catfish, like most reality shows, require everyone that appears on their show to sign waivers before any filming ever takes place. Marshall Eisen MTV's senior vice president of news and docs said to Vulture in part, "We never know 100 percent for sure if the catfish is going to go through with this."
13 Fake: Catfish Is Semi-Scripted
Many have questioned the authenticity of the show, and it's easy to see why they would. Some things are too good to be true. Even if sometimes things on the show just don't add up, Catfish is not scripted on Nev or Max's part. It's as real as reality shows get, or at least that's what they want us to believe. The series does use an element of pre-production when it comes to the actual catfish though. While fans think MTV seeks out situations, it's actually the opposite!
12 True: MTV Sends Therapists To Involved Parties Post Production
If you've ever watched Catfish before then you're aware of the intensity and dark turns it takes sometimes. There are a couple of episodes that left us concerned for the person's well-being. According to Vulture, MTV avails a therapist to everyone that appears on the show. Kinda makes sense, as the whole experience has got to be nerve-wracking.
11 True: People Try To Catfish MTV Just To Get On The Show
The internet has made it easy to take a peek into the lives of the rich and famous, and for that reason, there are people who'll do anything for 15 minutes of fame... including lying about being Catfished. The show has paved way for some crazies, so it's great MTV has a therapist on hand. Anything for that 15 minutes, right?
10 Fake: The Relationships Between Catfishers And Catfished Are Always Romantic
MTV has been called out for selling the idea that the relationship between the catfisher and catfishee is always romantic. It goes without saying, but it's a more entertaining narrative that gets more people tuned in. According to Vice, Nev, and Max are thought to stage the confrontations on the show too. Either way, we will still tune in!
9 True: Max And Nev Have Known Each Other For A Long Time
Catfish cybersleuths Max Joseph and Nev Schulman have incredible chemistry and part of the show's allure is the duo's witty banter. They are so great together, it only makes sense Joseph and Schulman are real-life buddies. Despite, Joseph leaving the show to focus on directing documentaries and movies, the two remain close.
8 True: MTV Edits The Show However They Want
The show may be real but some aspects of it definitely seem staged and that's owing to the show's editing. MTV has been called out for manipulating and twisting storylines to make the show more entertaining. That makes many question the credibility of the show but most reality shows do this nevertheless. Considering the editing plays such a major role in the storyline, it's no surprise that there's such a focus on post-production.
7 True: The Catfish Usually Contacts The Show First
The premise of the show is that the catfishee contacts Nev and Max asking for help tracking down the elusive person they've been talking to online. However, according to The Sun, it's usually the catfish that makes contact with the show and not the catfishee. Hmmm, we get why many perceive the show to be scripted!
6 Fake: Nev And Max Solve The Cases In Record Time
Max and Nev researching the catfish is our favorite part of the show. Them following clues and piecing them together in a manner that would put Nancy Drew to shame is entertaining. The show edits it in a manner that makes it seem like it's done in record time but the truth is uncovering the truth requires quite a bit of time.
5 True: The Catfish Always Has A Microphone On When The Crew Arrive
The show always makes it seem like Nev and Max's meeting with the catfish is spontaneous and sometimes requires an amount of coaxing, which can't be the case, because the catfish is already miked when the cameras get there. It only makes sense, as viewers have to hear them clearly. While Nev and Max aren't the ones micing them up, the crew gets there beforehand to set everything up.
4 Fake: Max And Nev Are Always Kept In The Loop
While the hosts are kept in the dark regarding the direction each episode is headed in, the producers already know who the catfish and the catfishee are - they signed waivers beforehand and background checks were conducted on them. It goes without saying, Joseph and Schulman are moderately impressive detectives.
3 True: Background Checks And Psychological Assessments Are Carried Out
A lot goes on behind the scenes before and during the filming of Catfish. While it might seem like random people email the show out the blue, the truth is far from that. As mentioned earlier, all participants sign waivers before appearing on the show. That's not all, MTV carries out background checks and psychological assessments on the participants too.
2 True: Manti Te'o Made The Show Popular
Who can forget the episode where New Orleans Saints football player, Manti Te'o was catfished? The nation mourned with Te'o when the death of his girlfriend was reported. There was no girlfriend, however, and the athlete was catfished. Te'o single-handedly made Catfish popular. There's no such a thing as bad publicity, right?
1 True: Some Episodes Don't Make The Final Cut
There's no denying that Catfish is entertaining, and every episode takes you on a rollercoaster of emotions or annoys the heck out of you. There has been speculation regarding an episode that only aired once owing to the fact that the catfish filed a lawsuit against MTV and then there's an episode that just wasn't aired after filming.
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