"Reality shows" really fake?

**IwannabeinNarnia** · 01-10-2013, 12:49 PM

I LOVE watching all the different "reality" shows like Pawn Stars, Storage Wars, American Pickers, etc. There was a recent story that one of the Storage Wars people is claiming that the show is fake, with items being planted in the storage units to be 'found' to make the show more interesting. I have seen an episode of Pawn Stars and American Pickers where the same item was on both shows.. the item was a supposed belt buckle from the civil war, with a bullet still in it. I can 'believe' one being found, but two? What are your thoughts? Do you think these 'reality' shows are staged?

**Kenny1113** · 01-10-2013, 12:57 PM

Absolutely!!!! That's why I don't watch "reality" TV.

**1DisneyNut** · 01-10-2013, 01:09 PM

This has been known for a while. There is scripted content all throughout so called "reality tv" shows. They actually repeat parts (do retakes) until they get it like the producers want. The shows such as Ice Road Truckers, Gold Rush, etc. all have scripted parts as well. One of the drivers on Ice Road Truckers, Rick Hugh, went on a public rant last year about the show being called "reality" but being full of faked content for the tv show.

**TinkerbellT421** · 01-10-2013, 01:19 PM

99% of them are to a certain extent. Sometimes I find it hard for some one to make believe they are that mean (I.e. The Real Housewives shows), so I believe the personalities are probably acurate, but some of the situations are definitely, set up, rigged, etc.

Though I am up in the air with the whole Storage Wars thing, sometimes the shows seems a bit more dramatic than I can imagine actually being. But knowing someone who owns a thrift store funded basically through "Storage" buying here in RI, I can confirm that a) there are some crazy and strange things found in storage containers, and b) really expensive and collectible items found. So that show is a eh half and half for me.

**magicofdisney** · 01-10-2013, 01:20 PM

We too enjoyed Storage Wars. Now when we watch it, we try to determine which item was planted.

It's not nearly as exciting as thinking these people simply got lucky.

**SBETigg** · 01-10-2013, 02:01 PM

Yeah, fake. But I still enjoy some of them anyway. House Hunters and House Hunters International are actually filmed after the featured couple/individual have agreed to purchase one of the properties, then two other properties are thrown in to make it look like they have to decide between them. But I still enjoy watching. I love seeing other people's houses and the possibilities in the various price ranges/locations. I go in knowing that I am watching for entertainment value.

**EeyoresBestFriend** · 01-10-2013, 05:46 PM

Hmmmmm . . . kinda like a certain Disney dragon clip . . . . .

**Ian** · 01-11-2013, 02:51 PM

Yeah I don't know that "fake" is the word, but partially staged? Definitely.

I mean, you can tell from Pawn Stars. Every interaction with every client is the same. "Hey I've got this thing. Wow, this is cool but I don't really know much about it. Let me call in my expert." Etc. etc. etc.

That being said, they're still very entertaining and I watch all of them!

**Scar** · 01-11-2013, 04:26 PM

Originally Posted by Ian

I mean, you can tell from Pawn Stars. Every interaction with every client is the same.

... and I have yet to see someone actually want to PAWN something.

**BriarRose0708** · 01-11-2013, 04:31 PM

Originally Posted by Scar

... and I have yet to see someone actually want to PAWN something.

OOOO I did! One guy pawned his comic book collection (or maybe it was baseball cards, I can't remember). He said he needed a lot of cash and didn't like the sale price he was quoted so he pawned them instead.

If reality shows really were really unscripted they'd be so boring. I don't watch a lot of them, but I do like to catch Pawn Stars and Long Island Medium when they're on, and occasionally Say Yes to the Dress. I had a friend on SYTTD and it's pretty accurate.

**BrerGnat** · 01-11-2013, 04:32 PM

Mostly totally fake. Mostly entertaining anyway.

**Ian** · 01-11-2013, 05:42 PM

Originally Posted by Scar

... and I have yet to see someone actually want to PAWN something.

In the very early episodes they usually split it up ... a couple people would be looking to sell and a few would be looking to pawn. They even used to show people coming into the store to buy items, which was interesting too.

Now, though, you're right ... 99.9% of the answers to, "Do you want to pawn it or sell it?" are, "I wanna sell it."

**Nascfan** · 01-11-2013, 09:57 PM

Pretty much nothing "real" about "reality" t.v. shows. Doesn't mean their not entertaining though if you watch them for what they are...t.v. shows and not real life.

**Hammer** · 01-12-2013, 10:40 AM

Originally Posted by BriarRose0708

If reality shows really were really unscripted they'd be so boring. I don't watch a lot of them, but I do like to catch Pawn Stars and Long Island Medium when they're on, and occasionally Say Yes to the Dress. I had a friend on SYTTD and it's pretty accurate.

Say Yes To The Dress and House Hunters are the few "reality" shows I watch. Yes, they are staged, but the process is pretty accurate. I actually used some of things I saw on House Hunters and My First Sale when I was selling my first home and buying my second home last year. And looking at some of the dresses on SYTTD is a lot of fun!

I can't stand any of the "competition" reality shows like Survivor, Amazing Race, Bachelor/Bachelorette, etc. I find nothing enjoyable about them.

**sportsguy2315** · 01-15-2013, 01:14 AM

I watch Pawn Stars on a regular basis, and I don't care if staged or not. Why? I basically see it as Antiques Roadshow where you have a really cool artifact and you learn things about it. If I'm worrying about if a "reality" show is scripted or not, I don't need to sweat the small stuff! Trying to guess what they'll offer for a certain item is pretty fun too.