I was a happy camper watching these shows until someone told me the truth about Iron Chef secret ingredients which totally changed how I viewed the show. I decided to discover the truth behind some of the other shows I might have watched.
I’ll preface this by saying that these are all things that I’ve read online or heard from other people. These may be rumors or they may be true. Only the people involved with the shows know “for sure”.
7 Disappointing Reality Show Secrets:
For Sale…or is it?
Think you’re actually watching home owners shop for a new house? WRONG! To even be on the show, these “prospective buyers” must already have a contract on one of the homes and be closing on the home within a month in order to be on the show. That’s right, as they’re browsing the three “options”, they already own one.
Word is that some of the other homes toured may not even be for sale. So basically the show is watching a prospective buyer look at the home they’ve already bought, along with a couple of other homes that may or may not be on the market.
I know, I agree, I used to think some of these shows were legit but after a while you think-um am I a sucker? this looks rigged! also you just have to suspend disbelief at times- I still watch many shows but in the back of my mind know that It may or may not be rigged! happy watching!
That’s exactly what happened with Love it or List it. At first, I thought “oh cool!” then as I saw more episodes, I noticed the repeating format…the generic “for sale signs”…and I just starting thinking, “hey, is this for real?” I guess I was being overly optimistic that we would see the actual “love it” or “list it” decision.
I love, Love It or List It, just to see the remodels and homes. It has frustrated me however that none of these real estate experts seem to understand the word “Budget.” Usually it is determined by the mortgage lender and based on borrowers income, credit rating and savings so they should know exceeding the “Budget” is a no-no.
oh yeah, those generic for sale signs are a dead give away, and I’ve seen them crop up on several other HGTV home shows. Who do they think they’re fooling? well I guess some people because they still have their shows on air.
I’ve also heard that the food the judges on Iron Chef America were prepared in advance (like the day before). Not sure if that is entirely true….just a random tidbit I heard recently.
Really? I thought the sous chefs prepared the actual plates(but after the 1 hour was up.) Disappointing if the judges are kind of eating day-old leftovers.
those forsale signs are obviously fake yes, but they also could just be there to cover up the information on the house for saftey concerns and what not. so I’m sure at least some of those houses are actually on the market.
those forsale signs are obviously fake yes, but they also could just be there to cover up the information on the house for saftey concerns and what not.
I knew about the House Hunters one, but the Top Chef one was new to me. That’s a strange way to decide the outcome, but at least he does taste the food first :-p
Come to think of it, that sounds like a pretty nice job. Take pictures of food. Eat food. Win!
I knew about the Storage Wars one, I also heard that the female’s on the show were given plastic surgery so that they would be more attractive.
I’m disappointed in the Restaurant Stakeout. I love that show, but thought the same thing about the advice at the end. I hate that it’s fake…bummer.
That’s unfortunate but I can’t say it’s that surprising given the emphasis that “Hollywood” places on looks/appearance.
We knew a couple of these – the Iron Chef and House Hunters – but my husband said there’s no longer any point in watching “Love It or List It” knowing that not one aspect of it is real! Can reality TV go back to being somewhat “real” please? 🙂
I remain a fan of the decorating and house-hunting shows but recently we downgraded our cable to save money and don’t get the channels anymore. Just as well!
Hard core pawn in detroit mi.Dont get me wrong people in detroit are crazy being from mi I know but These are actors acting and the women being the windows taking money and pawn are actresses . I think one of them is on a Devry university commercial.
House Hunters in particular has gotten more obvious – I saw one last month in which a lady looking for a house for herself and her son didn’t even bring her son to the other two houses. 🙂 There’s probably a limited number of people out there who want to be on those shows for what they pay and are also good enough actors/actresses to make it look real – and I think HGTV has run out of people!
This makes me glad I don’t have a TV.
I still would love to be on a reality show!!
This is why I do not like reality TV. I had known about the Iron Chef though – it would be impossible for them to cook the dishes without knowing the ingredient first.
i know realities aren’t well completely real but i had no idea about all these things.. enjoyed reading it! thanks 🙂
This is why I do not like reality TV
I like the idea of an unofficial 5th judge.
We use to watch Storage Wars until Dave said that it was rigged. Sad…maybe they start out as “real” shows and then as people get hooked, the producers and whatnot start getting creative to keep people’s attention??
The only time I watch TV is when I’m house sitting. I like the cooking shows.
Storage wars doesn’t surprise me. Got to have them find something fun.
All of these ‘secrets’ make me glad I don’t have a TV to watch them on.
Not surprising, unfortunately. I’ll be happy when the reality trend finally dies.
Go with the premise that if it is on TV it is faked, reality or not and you’ll never be fooled again. I’m watching Love it or List it right now and the woman playing the part of the wife was so unbelievable when trying to defend the poor condition of her (supposed) home that I had to laugh and think, take better acting lessons please.
re: “love or list it”. I know this is a made up show, but I just want to reach through the T.V. and shake these people and yell “clean the darn house! you’ll find LOTS of room.” …and again, I know it’s not real, but I also want to shake Hilary and drag her into the real world about her upscale, custom ideas. you can purchase ‘off the rack’ for half the cost and the same bang as the custom stuff she uses.
I was upst to find out trip flip wad fake. I googled casting calls for trip flip to get the details.
You have to already have the trip planned and buy your own tickets.
So that guy who randomly pics people is faking.
They are not random they are cast.
My wife got me watching Food network and HGTV and it was a big lie. Just like Santa Claus and the easter Bunny. BACK To Sports Center and Family Guy….You lost me at your lies HGTV!!!
Sincerly
Sleepless in West Frankfort.
My biggest disappointment was finding out that Cash Cab was fake. The contestants aren’t just picked up off the street; the producers screen potential ones in bars, etc. Also, they don’t get to keep the money they are handed if they win; they get a check later on.
The worst of them all is Mystery Diners! So horribly fake.
I had heard about Robert Irvine. I heard he also said he cooked for the Queen of England. Food Network took his former show away from him because of it. Now he has Restaurant Impossible. I have a hard time watching him. I really have a problem with people who lie.
I used to enjoy the show.especially the after pictures and results.but seriously,has there ever been 1 episode where they didt run into an expensive snag or problem so the owners never as in never got what theh wanted so they could make afair assessment whether to sel or stay.makes me crazy. I talk to the tv. Of course they found that. Whatever problem they found.
Interesting read. Real or fake I still enjoy seeing design ideas on HGTV. I watch for entertainment and ideas rather than to see “reality.”
I like “Love it or List it” but after 10 shows it follows such a predictable pattern that it’s become boring and I fast forward a lot. One spouse unhappy one happy, have big ideas (one for open concept), run into 2 surprise “budget” problems, and the third house is magical – then pick what you like better. I’d like to see one renovation not have 2 big problems, and see them not completely tear apart a house so they can actually do what the homeowners asked. This pattern leads me to believe the entire thing is a sham.
I like “Love it or List it” but after 10 shows it follows such a predictable pattern that it’s become boring and I fast forward a lot. One spouse unhappy one happy, have big ideas (one for open concept), run into 2 surprise “budget” problems, and the third house is magical – then pick what you like better. This pattern leads me to believe the entire thing is a sham.
Last year I was in a shop in Bklyn, NY that was featured in What Not To Wear and then spun off into their own show on TLC. The owners said it was a terrible experience. The situations were staged like having good customers come in and cause a problem or be difficult.
Hi, another hoax is “Alaskan Bush People”. The premise is this family lives in the “bush”…the Alaskan wilderness. Not the typical show I watch, but the beautiful scenery as well as the question can anyone really do this caught me. As you look into it, no it is not true, sometimes filming in the “bush” is actually across the parking lot from the hotel Discovery put the family up in. They have a FB page created by true Alaskans who point out dicrepencies and have real info. Now I like to watch it in a “where’s Waldo” kinda way ( if you live off the land in the bush….,did you see the potato chip bag in the far corner? Must’ve been from the bush deli…..lol
I applied to be on house hunters 2 years ago. They emailed us and were interested but let me know that they do not assists in the buying process and we already had to have the house! What fun is that? We were to fake everything!!