“The Bachelor” and its sister show, “The Bachelorette”, have been around for a while now. As you’ve probably guessed by now, despite this reality show’s aim, the couples don’t tend to pass the test of time, as they often split before their wedding date and if they do tie the knot, divorce usually is right around the corner.
Many of the scenarios on the show are scripted or edited into more dramatic storylines, and the experienced producers have become pretty good at picking the suitors who they know the viewers will love. So, after choosing the contestants they carefully arrange situations to make the show as entertaining as possible and even make sure the person they want ends up as the winner, or at least, a runner-up.
Basketball Wives
The cast of "Basketball Wives" are in fact wives of some famous NBA basketball players, but that's about as real as this show gets. Shaquille O’Neal’s ex-wife, Shaunie, stars and produces the show. Other cast members include Tasha Marbury, wife of former NBA star Stephon Marbury, and Doug Christie’s wife, Jackie Christie.
According to former cast member Matt Barnes, the show is very much scripted and staged. Barnes has even gone as far as saying that he regrets that he ever accepted to be on the show. His claims of fakery were later confirmed by another star, Tanya Young, who said producers would constantly try to ramp up drama behind the scenes hoping that it would spill over onto the show.
Bridezilla
If you ever saw one of the women on "Bridezilla" throw a tantrum that seemed too dramatic to be real, well, you're right. Several of the women who had participated in the show have explained that producers would constantly push them to be more dramatic, whiney, and angry, requiring that they do multiple takes on the same moments until they can get the best one. The more swearing, the better.
Not to mention the fact that there's a team of cameramen following the women around all day during one of the most stressful periods of their lives. That'll definitely amplify the stress levels one hundred percent.
The Real Housewives
Don't let the name of this popular show fool you because there's not much that's "real" about "The Real Housewives". The character's storylines and the dramatic arguments are mostly fake. If you've ever watched the show, you're familiar with Teresa Giudice, a real New Jersey Housewife. During her very public court trial, she was caught on record swearing under oath that the show was scripted.
She admitted that most of the fights are planned and/or dramatized for the viewers' entertainment. The stars of the show, are basically actors. And despite the fancy lifestyles they exhibit on the show, the truth is, many of them are actually facing crippling debt, living above their means, dependent on their credit cards. If that's real, we don't what anything to do with it.
American Idol
The reality behind "American Idol" is that the main characters are actually chosen months in advance. Same for the terrible singers we all laugh at as well. They're moved forward solely for entertainment purposes.
Many tell-all stories have emerged from this long-running talent show, and it’s become evident that "American Idol" is as scripted as all the other reality shows on our list. The show's talent scouts and producers hold auditions to whittle down thousands of eager singers months before the panel of judges visits the city.