All through the Nineteen Eighties and 90s, MTV was the important tv channel for locating artists and showcasing the newest music movies. Over time, as our tradition shifted in the direction of a digital age, MTV — which has had its fair proportion of scandals — shifted away from its authentic mission and turned to extra actuality and drama content material. Created by Nev Schulman in 2012, “Catfish: The TV Present” investigates the tales of people that develop intimate relationships on-line with somebody they’ve by no means met. The investigations normally reveal if somebody is a “catfish” — if they’re mendacity about their id — and finish with a gripping confrontation.

As a result of this present falls someplace between scripted tv and documentary, it is onerous to inform how a lot of is actual, and the way a lot is simply juicy, fabricated leisure (like many different actuality TV moments that had been staged). Like, come on, that showdown between “Antwane & Tony” (Season 3, Episode 2) was outrageously iconic, sure, however it may possibly’t all be true — can it? With this format, it is a lot simpler for producers to get away with small tweaks and adjustments to suit a extra compelling narrative. Is it attainable that “Catfish” is catfishing its viewers? Let’s dive into the explanations “Catfish” is completely pretend.

Every episode of “Catfish: The TV Present” follows the same format: somebody suspicious of their on-line romance emails Nev Schulman and his co-host (Max Joseph within the early seasons, later Kamie Crawford) to provoke an investigation. Then, Schulman and his co-host get to digging. The present gives the look that it is all the time the catfishee who reaches out to our hosts, however, this isn’t really how the actual folks of “Catfish” are casted.

MTV’s on-line casting software for the present (by way of Vulture) leads with questions like, “Do you could have a secret or one thing to admit to your on-line accomplice?” and “Have you ever made any pretend on-line profiles?” It is solely afterward within the software that questions seem for many who suspect they’re being lied to.

When Hollywood.com interviewed six of the present’s individuals in 2014, they found that in all however one case, it was the catfisher — not the catfishee — who reached out to MTV first. However the remaining edit positively suggests in any other case. MTV government Marshall Eisen defined to Vulture that catfishes is perhaps extra inclined to admit due to a responsible conscience. “It is typically the catfish we hear from first as a result of they’re trying to unburden themselves,” he divulged. “It isn’t all the time the case, nevertheless it most likely occurs greater than folks understand.”

The juiciest a part of each “Catfish: The TV Present” episode is definitely, the confrontation. After a prolonged on-line investigation, Nev Schulman and his staff seemingly ambush the catfish at their doorstep and pressure them to return clear about their manipulations. This mirrors what occurred to Schulman within the authentic “Catfish” documentary: after discovering the reality, Schulman confirmed up unannounced at his catfisher’s dwelling for the last word IRL showdown. Whereas this was extremely entertaining, in an effort to defend its individuals, the tv present does issues a little bit in another way.

Earlier than filming, the manufacturing staff really locates the applicant first, then requests a background test and psychological profiling to make sure that everybody is able to proceed. So, the catfish is aware of when the present is coming to their home. From there, the producers information Schulman and his staff in the best path as they conduct their investigations. Surprisingly, the catfisher does not normally want a lot convincing to get on board, however there’s all the time the likelihood that they could change their thoughts.

“We by no means know 100% for certain if the catfish goes to undergo with this, even when they decide to filming,” MTV government Marshall Eisen instructed Vulture. “That is why there may be numerous rigidity in these scenes after we pull up for the go to as a result of we’re all ready for the day when the catfish is not going to reply or change their thoughts.”

“Catfish: The TV Present” takes a number of artistic liberties in an effort to preserve its viewers hooked. In each episode, with out fail, Nev Schulman, his staff, and the catfishee appear to be fully in tune with one another as they uncover new data within the story at the very same time. Seems, many, if not all, the storylines are loosely mapped out upfront to suit the present’s components and to make sure loads of cliffhangers.

That is proper — the chaotic and seemingly unpredictable occasions captured on “Catfish” are typically deliberate by the present’s producers to not solely precisely predict the individuals’ conduct, but in addition to create probably the most compelling present attainable. “Catfish” is a drama collection, in spite of everything. However how a lot is scripted, precisely?

Effectively, because the catfish is normally the applicant, which means the sequence the place Schulman “randomly” selects a catfishee’s e mail is fake. Moreover, his random, dramatic, confrontational cellphone name to the catfish does not appear so random anymore. However moreover this, an nameless former worker justified to Buzzfeed, “‘Catfish’ is not pretend … The producers do their due diligence to ensure the scenario’s protected and never pretend earlier than they movie.”

So, the “Catfish: The TV Present” producers aren’t completely at nighttime earlier than filming begins — however how a lot do hosts Nev Schulman and Max Joseph know? Seems, Schulman, Joseph, Kamie Crawford — who has wealth of her personal — and the remainder of the crew don’t have any clue the place the tales will go. The producers do a short investigation of their very own to plan the storyline, however in any other case, it’s very as much as Schulman and his hosts’ on-line detective work to attach the catfishee with the catfisher.

Typically, Schulman and Joseph get issues incorrect, however the producers do not appropriate them, resulting in a good juicier showdown. For instance, within the Season 3 episode, “Antwane & Tony,” “they’re fully incorrect and so they lead the hopeful right into a scenario they did not see coming, and so they really feel actually dangerous about it. It is a whole shock to them what is going on to occur. Typically they get actually flustered by what they see,” MTV government Marshall Eisen revealed to Vulture. In the event you’ve seen it, precisely what Eisen is referring to. Over 10 years later, this 2014 episode nonetheless goes down as probably the most surprising “Catfish” episodes ever — particularly due to Schulman and Joseph’s flabbergasted reactions.

At first watch, it looks as if the hosts of “Catfish: The TV Present” are capable of uncover the liar’s true id very quickly in any respect. In actual fact, their analysis appears fairly environment friendly — after only a little bit of social media stalking and some reverse picture searches, Nev Schulman and his co-hosts are normally capable of crack the case with ease. The entire investigation appears like it will be over in only a few minutes, however that is not precisely the reality.

As famous earlier, “Catfish” producers conduct their very own trial-and-error investigations to get a really feel of how lengthy it’d take Schulman and the co-hosts to uncover a fraud. Nevertheless, as soon as filming begins, they have to step again and let the hosts do their factor to keep up some authenticity. It might take a number of hours and even days for the hosts to resolve a case, however producers will not be more likely to intervene.

“We edit the investigations down. They are often grueling,” Marshall Eisen laughed in his Vulture chat. “There have been very, very lengthy days the place Nev and Max are attempting to determine it out, and we won’t assist them.” Fortunately, after a number of seasons, Schulman and Max Joseph discovered their groove. “The blokes are higher at it now, nevertheless it’s not all the time apparent learn how to crack this stuff. We have condensed what’s taken them 10 hours in some situations into 5 or 6 minutes, however we attempt to present that it was troublesome,” Eisen admitted.

Actuality reveals require numerous film magic — that means that producers depend on numerous tips and methods to ensure a charming and dramatic ending. “Catfish: The TV Present” falls someplace between narrative tv and documentary, permitting producers to magnify tales, manipulate the timeline, or use cautious enhancing so as to add extra drama and depth than actuality.

In a single occasion, Hollywood.com reported their investigation into how the present fabricated a whole career of affection from a catfisher who had no romantic emotions for his or her catfishee. In actual fact, a number of interviewed solid members denied that their relationships had ever been romantic. In one other instance, a participant defined that their relationship was offered as a month-long fling, when in actuality, it had been occurring for 3 months at that time. “Actually, I am simply annoyed that individuals do not know the entire story,” the nameless participant instructed Hollywood.com. Sadly, there are numerous extra tales the place individuals felt that their timelines had been misrepresented, however in an effort to preserve viewers hooked, “Catfish” producers will most likely proceed to prioritize the drama.

Each “Catfish: The TV Present” episode ends with an explosive confrontation between the catfisher and their sufferer. The catfisher will clarify their motive — which normally includes some type of previous trauma or psychological well being prognosis — as Nev Schulman, the sufferer, and the crew attempt to perceive. After this level, from the viewer’s perspective, the catfisher is then left alone to mirror on their actions. With solely a short replace on their whereabouts and common well-being, it typically looks as if the catfisher is left to take care of the emotional fallout of their deception on their very own.

Fortunately, regardless of how unhinged their actions could also be, the producers acknowledge that individuals have to be handled with empathy. “Catfish” gives psychological well being counseling to each solid member, out there as quickly as filming begins to keep away from being one more actuality TV present that has ruined folks’s lives. In actual fact, talking with a therapist is obligatory in an effort to take part.

“We wish to be sure that an expert is there in case the particular person wants it,” MTV government Marshall Eisen instructed Vulture. “Fortuitously we’ve not had any points after the present has aired, however we have to be sure that persons are taken care of in the event that they have to be.” The therapist additionally acts as a wellness evaluator. “There are numerous tales we do not shoot,” “Catfish” government producer Tom Forman instructed Leisure Weekly. “If someone’s acquired actual emotional points, it will be irresponsible for us to shoot that.”