One of MTV's biggest reality TV shows recently made a comeback in October to track down more online scammers. But if you're new to the show, you might be wondering, is Catfish a reality show or is it scripted? Here's what you need to know.
Is MTV's Catfish a Reality TV Show?
Running for eight seasons since 2012, MTV's Catfish show has been co-hosted by show creator Nev Schulman and former pageant queen and model Kamie Crawford.
The official synopsis of Catfish describes the as a "search for the truth behind the internet's most suspicious relationships, where the truth is stranger than fiction, and the people on the other side of the screen are not always what they seem."
Considering that every episode features a new catfish and/or victim, fans have been dying to know: how much of Catfish is actually scripted?
Well, a 2020 Cosmopolitan article stated that "basically, [Catfish show] is real, but some parts are edited for dramatic effect." As most reality TV shows are.
Back in 2014, Catfish executive producer Marshall Eisen explained to Vulture that they are not "doing an ambush show."
Producing the show is no easy task and Eisen detailed the 'grueling' process behind the scenes when it comes to investigations before they could even release their episodes:
"We edit the investigations down. They can be grueling. There have been very, very long days where Nev and Max [Joseph, previous co-host] are trying to figure it out, and we can't help them. The guys are better at it now, but it's not always obvious how to crack these things. We've condensed what's taken them ten hours in some instances into five or six minutes, but we try to show that it was difficult."
Essentially, Eisen reiterated that what they prioritize is taking care of the catfishee if they need to be.
READ MORE: Is Squid Game: The Challenge a Scripted Show?
Where To Watch All Episodes of Catfish?
Interested in binge-watching all eight seasons of Catfish: TV Show? You can subscribe to Hulu, MTV, and Amazon Prime Video to see more of their content.
Don't miss the chance to grab yourselves a cheap deal with Hulu and Amazon Prime's Black Friday sale deals!
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Amazon Prime's offer only lasts until December 3, 2023, while Hulu's deal is up for grabs up until November 28, 2023. Get yours while you can!
The logline for MTV's Catfish reads (via Popculture.com):
"Get hungry because Catfish is back on the menu! MTV will be serving up a new batch of the freshest caught catfish ever. Join Nev Schulman, Kamie Crawford, and other mystery co-hosts as they brave the dark waters of the internet on their quest to peel back the digital masks of scammers, lovers, and liars."
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