The songs are real, the singers are real, and the audience is real. Simon Cowell is definitely real. However, there is something they don’t tell you about the auditioning process.
The auditions you see on TV are essentially moot because the contestants are pre-screened. What about the contestants who can’t sing? Well, they were picked in advance, as ‘filler’ candidates for entertainment value and supposed credibility.
Alaskan Bush People
"Alaskan Bush People" follows the Brown family, who were supposedly born and raised in the Alaskan Bush. But, the family's neighbors told the media that the family has once lived in the modern Alaskan Icy Strait Lodge.
Then there are testimonies stating that the family's so-called Bush home was only used for filming and they didn't really live there. And finally, the media has discovered that the Browns had lived outside of Alaska between 2009-2012, making their legal status as Alaskans questionable. Authenticity is out the icy window.
The Island
Surviving on a deserted island is hard. Just ask the participants of "The Island". Or maybe don't.
The production had to make sure the island had enough food and water for the duration of the shoot. As it turns out, they just created a freshwater pool and imported animals for the men to hunt. Survival is a lot easier when it's fake.
The Amazing Race
Couples of various relationships and backgrounds go on a journey around the world and compete against each other in different challenges. The winning couple receives a very real million-dollar cash prize.
While the challenges in the show are genuine, there is some fakery going on in the casting process. Favoring people who are already financially settled.
Extreme Makeover: Home Edition
The people of "Extreme Makeover: Home Edition" actually did live up to their promise. They indeed take families in need and built them a new and improved house in a mere week. So far, so good.
The thing is, once the house is upgraded, it also increases in value. Sadly, that resulted in many of them having to sell their dream, custom-made homes.