Top 10 Reality TV Secrets They Don't Want You To Know

“Love It or List It” (2008-)

If given the chance to overhaul the look of your existing home, or sell it and move into a new place, which path would you follow? Well, if you are lucky enough to be on HGTV’s “Love It or List It” show, this is exactly what you’d experience. Homeowners work with both hosts: one who helps renovate a portion of their property, while the other looks for a replacement they can buy should they “list” their home for sale. The catch here is, regardless of what the owners decide, it’s been reported that the show shoots both a “love” and “list” ending. If the owner “loved” the renovation, but the “list it” one looked better on camera, the show might choose the latter.

“American Idol” (2002-16; 2018) / “The Voice” (2011-)

You know how you see the nervous singer come in to audition for the judges on “American Idol?” That’s not necessarily the first audition they’ve had. For every aspiring singer who comes in off the street, the “on-camera” auditions we see are traditionally the third round a contestant goes through. An initial audition and one for the producers precedes any shot at getting into the room with the likes of Paula Abdul or Katy Perry. That means that those “terrible” auditions we cringe at made it through two sets of performances already before being given the boot by the cast. It gives us a whole different view of William Hung’s “She Bangs” audition now.

“Pawn Stars” (2009-)

Who knew that the world of a pawn shop would be interesting enough to have it’s own reality show. “Pawn Stars” gives us a window into all kinds of things people bring into their shop to try and earn a little extra cash. But much like many other reality shows, there’s less real going on here than you may know. Given the random nature of how places like this operate, it’s no surprise to learn that many of the great “finds” coming into the store are pre-arranged. It is, however, a little unsettling to learn that in some cases, the real owners of the items being pawned aren’t considered “tv friendly” and get replaced by actors or other individuals.

“The Bachelor” franchise (2002-)

Aside from the fact that couples aren’t supposed to eat the food on their dates, Bachelor Nation manages to keep a lot of details about their shows under wraps. Like, did you know that “The Bachelor” isn’t supposed to offer his coat to the girls? Or how about how contestants aren’t paid for their appearance, while the leads are. Last, but certainly not least, who pays for those engagement rings? Priced anywhere from $45,000 and beyond, Neil Lane himself donates the rings to the happy couple, but with one little catch. Should they break up within two years, they have to give the rings back. They better be sure it’s real love.

“House Hunters” (1999-)

Similar to a previous entry, “House Hunters” is all about finding the perfect new home for someone. However, if you peek behind the curtain a little bit, you’ll find there’s a little less reality to this than what we see on television. Participants are typically already in the process of purchasing a specific property, which is then used as one of the “options” shown on-camera. The other two homes are then picked by producers. They can be properties the owners passed on previously, but have also been dwellings that were not for sale at all, but simply look great on camera. So the next time you watch this show, keep in mind they already know which one they are going to pick.

“Hell's Kitchen” (2005-)

One thing that reality TV has shown us is that everyone loves a villain. Editors have a field day cutting scenes together to showcase a character archetype needed for the story. Yet, when you watch someone like Gordon Ramsay, it’s hard not to think of him as being such a nasty person. The “Hell’s Kitchen” personality has been seen cursing out countless would-be chefs and restaurant owners time and time again. However, when you turn the cameras off, there’s a whole other personality that emerges. A quick search of the web and you’ll find stories of how charming and nice a man he is. Filled with a sense of humor, it’s as if his on-screen persona is the Hyde to his real life Jekyll.

"Ghost Hunters"

With 14 seasons and 250+ episodes under their belt, “Ghost Hunters” has certainly caught the attention of a few viewers. And with that kind of success comes a bit of pressure to deliver on what the show is all about: ghosts. Although paranormal investigation is a legitimate field, much of what viewers see on the program is not always beyond explanation. Many of the “scary” or “mysterious” sounds heard on the show are merely that of the crew working off-camera. One Redditor noted how a creepy “get out” voice was merely that of a property manager yelling at a homeless person. We’re not saying ghosts aren’t real, but maybe take what you see on television with a grain of salt.

“The Voice” (2011-) / Other Talent Shows

Love it or hate it, auto-tune has become one of the most common tools used to help a singer's voice. The audio altering technology allows a vocalist's off-key voice to be shifted electronically to the correct key for the song they are performing. With the likes of “American Idol” and “The Voice” showcasing countless singing talent, it may surprise you that auto-tune is often employed. Since no one wants to hear 90 minutes of bad singing, producers have been known to auto-tune contestants to improve their sound. “The Voice” has even been accused of using auto-tuned versions of songs during the “blind” auditions. Singers still have to prove themselves, but it looks like technology may give them a boost here and there.

"America’s Got Talent” (2006-) / Other Talent Shows

Who truly decides the winners and losers in a reality show competition? Whether it’s judges, the audience, or the contestants themselves, viewers want to believe the elimination choices being shown on screen are real. Remember, this is TV we’re talking about so not everything is as it appears. Former contestants on “Project Runway” have gone on record as saying eliminations are pre-planned. “America’s Got Talent” has been accused of rigging the show through plants in the audience, and producer interference. At the end of the day, showrunners want their program to be entertaining and will often take whatever steps they need to make that happen.

“Fixer Upper”

The average longtime homeowner would not object to someone coming in offering to remodel and decorate your home. Such is the case with the HGTV show “Fixer Upper.” By the time the episode is over, owners are overjoyed by the transformation of their living space. What viewers at home don’t get to see is the production crew taking much of the furniture with them. Given the budget necessary to keep the furnishings, the homeowners are often left with a catalog that provides them the details and pricing for everything seen on camera. Additionally, many renovations aren’t even complete when the taping of the show is over.