Is That Show Real or Fake ?

I'm a huge fan of reality TV, when I pick up the remote I completely skip over movies and sitcoms, I'm scanning for something from the world of real TV.

Many of us are entertained by the unscripted entertainment of reality television, but sometimes there might be one episode or a number of events that cause us to wonder "Is that TV show real or fake?".

I for one tend to loose interest when I realize that everything is scripted, after all, I'd like to believe that the real world drama is more entertaining than made up entertainment.

I decided to explore some of my favorite programs and some of the more popular shows on television to find out what's real or not. Do real TV shows simply deceive & trick the audience? Feel free to cast your vote in the polls, join in on the debate and have your say In the comments.

Images on this real or fake show page are in the public domain

Over the top rowdy outrageous risqué are just a few of the words that come to mind for the Jerry Springer show. Typically guests will end up fighting each other over an existing issue or secret revealed on the show.

The show almost always begs the question can such an outrageous story be true, and if it was would the parties concerned really put it on national television? How likely is it that these confrontations would turn into physical altercations that not only start at the drop of a hat but also die and start again like a switch.

There's a lot to be said about what makes this show seem fake but the frightening part is the fact that it could actually be real!

Maury in the case of your show, "you ARE NOT" telling the truth!...or are you?

Paternity tests and lie detectors are a staple of the Maury show. The story changes but often the results are the same. If a female has been on the show with a failed paternity once chances are (no matter how much she says she is 110% certain this time he's the father) he isn't the father either.

Maury you made us believe your guests were real but our poles "detected that was a lie" ...or did they?

We know the popular "Get the hell off my stage" - but is it all staged?

A number of guests come on this show accused of child molestation, abuse or some other serious moral vice punishable by law.

It's hard to believe that these guests often come on the show to take a lie detector to supposedly clear their name only to be proven guilty. Surely by now they know it's impossible to deceive a polygraph so why would they time after time go on television to prove their guilt? Seems unlikely, is it all just a script?

Is the show catfish really just "bait and switch"

Catfish the tv show definitely seems legit, two guys on a mission to help someone find out if their internet love is someone who is essentially real or fake, but is the show fake? On the surface it seems real, but some elements seem scripted.

The show presents itself as simply a project by two guys investigating a story, Nev does most of the investigation and Max records it all, so why is there at least one additional camera operator? That aside, it all seems true until someone who they are waiting to meet for the first time for instance shows up with a not so well concealed mike or some other snafu? These incidence make it seem at least slightly misleading, so it begs the question is it real?

Most of us know by now about props being used in WWE for the dramatic effect, but that aside is it mostly real? Is it only the story lines & scripts that are fake but otherwise it can be considered a true sport?

Are the moves and sometimes injuries real or is it simply a stage for choreographed moves and acrobatics? Can wrestling really be considered a sport or are we simply watching the performance of actors dancers and acrobats?

Is this show a Quack? If it's not real then it's just one for the birds.

The show would have us believe that despite the millions made on duck calls the men of duck dynasty live simple lives possibly not unlike the lives they lived before their fortune.

Well they sure look the part, but looks can be deceiving. It might seem a little Beverly Hillbillies, but are the for real?

Is Mermaids The New Evidence or The body found real? We smell something fishy!

Title title seems false, but the fact that this is a documentary styled program aired by Animal Planet which appears to present evidence from experts and witnesses you can't help but pay a bit of attention.

Would animal planet present a documentary that's completely false, and even come out with a follow up claiming even more new evidence? Should we expect from them truth in programming?

Stay tuned, next we'll take a look at some more programs that sometimes seem misleading, deceitful, unrealistic or otherwise mostly untrue including Cheaters, Paranormal activity, Bar Rescue, Hell's Kitchen, Tabitha Takes Over, Real Husbands of Hollywood, Hotel Impossible, All Worked Up, The Legend of Mick Dodge, Love & HipHop, The Bill Cunningham Show, Bridezillas, Naked & Afraid and more.