A lot goes on behind the scenes! Welcome to WatchMojo, and today we’re examining the most amazing conspiracy theories in the TV industry that actually had an element of truth.
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00:00Welcome to WatchMojo, and today we're examining the most amazing conspiracy theories in the TV industry that actually had an element of truth.
00:18Number 20. The show was rigged. Legends of the Hidden Temple.
00:22Which one are we going to hear today?
00:23The legend of the lucky pig of Amelia Earhart.
00:2790s kids might remember Legends of the Hidden Temple, a game show which briefly ran on Nickelodeon based around stunts, mythology, and treasure hunting.
00:35However, the Temple Run, the show's final and most iconic segment, was often so complex and confusing that many contestants struggled to make it to the prize within the given time limit.
00:45This led to some speculation that the show was rigged, and, well, yeah, pretty much.
00:51The host, Kirk Fogg, basically admitted as much to the Great Big Story, claiming
00:56Producers are only allowed to give out eight championships a year, so there was a budget, and that's the truth of that.
01:04Ah, dang, budget's getting in the way of fun.
01:06Number 19. The contestants get teaching. Survivor.
01:10You'll climb over, crawl under, maneuver around those obstacles as you make your way to the finish.
01:16For the most part, Survivor is the real deal, but like all reality shows, there is a little bit of editing trickery.
01:22Before challenges, Jeff quickly goes through the course and explains to the contestants what they need to do.
01:27He then tells them to get into position, and the challenge begins.
01:30However, it always goes so smoothly that some started thinking, hang on, there's no way the contestants remembered all of that.
01:37They don't. According to Today, both Jeff and the game's constructor walk through the challenge with the players,
01:43explaining each section in detail, and even allowing the tribes to strategize.
01:47Of course, they just don't film that part.
01:49Alright, we'll rock, paper, scissor to see who goes first. We'll get started.
01:52Number 18. Suddenly killed off Susan. Seinfeld.
01:56She expired.
02:01Are you sure?
02:02May 16th, 1996 was kind of a weird day for Seinfeld fans.
02:06That's when George's fiancée, Susan, suddenly ups and dies after licking a number of toxic envelopes.
02:12Seriously, she just gets sick and keels over in a matter of seconds.
02:15The bizarre and abrupt ending to the story arc was controversial, and some speculated that it wasn't entirely a creative decision.
02:22This was confirmed when Jason Alexander appeared on The Howard Stern Show and claimed that actress Heidi Swedberg was difficult to work with.
02:28He revealed that many cast members had problems playing off her, and Julia Louise Dreyfuss made a comment about killing off Susan.
02:35Larry David loved the idea, and the rest is sitcom history.
02:43Number 17. John Amos randomly disappears. Goodtimes.
02:57It's a bold choice to kill off your main character via letter.
03:00That was what fans of Goodtimes got when they and the Evans family learned that James had been killed in a car accident.
03:06Talk about an anticlimactic goodbye.
03:08Naturally, this led some fans to speculate that something fishy was going on behind the scenes.
03:12The official word was that Amos left to pursue a film career, but viewers weren't buying it.
03:17It was Amos himself who revealed the truth, claiming that he had been fired owing to repeated arguments with the producers and for openly criticizing the show's direction.
03:25Amos hated the increasing emphasis on J.J.'s comedic shenanigans, which he felt undermined the realistic tone of the series.
03:39Number 16. The Ingram incident. Who wants to be a millionaire?
03:43I mean, 80% of the time I'm wrong when I guess, so...
03:46No, I'll go Craig David.
03:50British Army Major Charles Ingram was the third contestant to win the top prize on the British version of Who Wants to Be a Millionaire?
03:56During his appearance on the show, Ingram struggled with many of the questions, but then seemed to make a series of improbable correct guesses, leading the producers to suspect that something was amiss.
04:05They were so suspicious that they refused to hand over the money and launched an official investigation.
04:11While reviewing the footage, they found that someone would cough when the correct answer was said.
04:15Sometimes it came from a waiting contestant, Tequin Wittick, and other times, from Ingram's wife, who was watching in the audience.
04:21All three were officially charged, receiving fines and suspended prison sentences.
04:32Number 15. Much of the show is planned in advance. Pawn Stars.
04:40As viewers have long suspected, Pawn Stars engages in a lot of behind-the-scenes trickery.
04:44People don't just waltz into the uber-busy store, sell that King Arthur sword they had laying around, and walk out rich.
04:50Pawn Stars isn't exactly scripted, and many of the items and sellers are indeed authentic, but they don't just walk in.
04:56They are vetted by the producers beforehand, and guests are kicked out of the store to film the pre-planned segments using background extras.
05:02This process often requires multiple takes, and the guests are often coached on how to behave on camera.
05:08Executive producer Brent Montgomery also told the cast members to buy items they otherwise wouldn't have in order to make good TV.
05:21Number 14. Patrick Dempsey's departure. Grey's Anatomy.
05:29It was this medical drama that made Patrick Dempsey a star, so it was kind of odd when he suddenly up and left in April 2015.
05:35He claimed that he wanted to spend more time with his family, but some fans thought there were ulterior motives.
05:40They were somewhat vindicated in 2021, when the book How to Save a Life was published.
05:44While it's true that Dempsey left over scheduling issues, that wasn't the whole story.
05:48The book's authors reveal that Dempsey turned into a nightmare, often terrorizing the set and bringing up HR issues.
05:55They also claim that some cast members had all sorts of PTSD with him.
05:59The details are murky, but his behavior led to his swift exit from the series.
06:06I knew that was gonna come up.
06:08Number 13. There's no shopping involved. House Hunters.
06:11What I've got for us is a three-bedroom, two-bath, just a few blocks from the elementary school.
06:16Oh, that's good.
06:17This enduringly popular show sees a couple touring a number of houses, typically three, and then choosing one to buy.
06:23But as many have long suspected, there's not actually much hunting to be found on House Hunters.
06:27People involved with the show have come forward throughout the years, claiming that they had already purchased their house before appearing on the show.
06:34Producers typically have them tour their own recently purchased home, along with two other random houses they have no intention of buying.
06:40These houses are often volunteer homes, Airbnb rentals, and even places belonging to friends of the cast and crew.
06:46After touring all three houses, the couple then chooses their own in a staged debate filmed for the camera.
06:51Definitely like the character of the 50s-style home.
06:54And that dog park for Baxter, that would be so convenient.
06:57If he could just find a way to walk himself there, it'd be perfect.
06:59Number 12. Jeffrey DeMunn was loyal to Frank Darabont. The Walking Dead.
07:03Dale? Have you seen Carl?
07:06Shane took him down to the quarry. There was some mighty bold talk about catching frogs.
07:11It's not rare for shows to diverge from their source material, but this one had many curious aspects that had fans raising their eyebrows.
07:17Jeffrey DeMunn's Dale Horvath was killed off in a rather abrupt manner, and long before his print counterpart died in the comics.
07:24This was a rather curious decision, but it also coincided with the controversial departure of showrunner Frank Darabont, who was fired over budgetary disagreements.
07:32As DeMunn is a regular in Darabont's films, viewers knew the timing wasn't just a crazy coincidence.
07:37Back in 2018, DeMunn confirmed the theory to Cleveland.com, stating that he quit the show after Darabont was fired.
07:43Sorry, brother.
07:49Number 11. The Bill Cosby Problem. The Cosby Show.
07:53This is what they created, so we wouldn't have to hear this in the house.
08:01This sitcom helped define the 1980s with its topical themes, cozy atmosphere, and lead performance of Bill Cosby, who grew to be known as America's dad.
08:10But there was an intense, underlying darkness circulating the show, even if many people didn't want to believe it.
08:15Rumors swirled that Cosby had a history of sexual violence, a history that stretched back 20 years to the mid-60s.
08:21Women like Joan Tarshish and Wendy Williams made reference to Cosby's sketchy history while the show was still airing,
08:27and the tabloid National Enquirer ran stories about the allegations.
08:31However, these claims were largely ignored.
08:34It wasn't until 2014 that Cosby's downfall truly began, and we can never return to The Cosby Show in the same way.
08:48Number 10. Ending on Bad Terms. Sex in the City.
08:52Carrie Bradshaw and Samantha Jones were a breakthrough for female friendship on TV.
08:56Sadly, that dynamic was plagued by rumors of tensions between Sarah Jessica Parker and Kim Cattrall, especially over salary.
09:14These rumors were confirmed after the series finale. Pay disputes even factored into the show's end.
09:19Fans thus suspected that Samantha was written out of the revival series, and just like that, out of spite.
09:25Well, Parker later announced that Cattrall wasn't even invited to return.
09:28It was simply understood that she wouldn't be interested after begrudgingly doing two Sex in the City movies.
09:33Luckily for fans, Cattrall made an appearance in the second season of And Just Like That.
09:38Whether Samantha is here to stay may still depend on Cattrall and Parker.
09:46Number 9. Izzy's Tumor. Grey's Anatomy.
09:49Medical residents are known to work unhealthy hours. Apparently, so are medical show casts.
09:54Playing Dr. Izzy Stevens on Grey's Anatomy, actress Katherine Heigl was termed difficult to work with and regularly spoke out against onerous working conditions.
10:08In 2008, she withdrew her name from Emmy consideration because she felt her role was underwritten.
10:13So the following season, Izzy was diagnosed with a brain tumor.
10:17Co-star James Pickens Jr. soon confirmed popular suspicions that this arc was written to keep Heigl in line.
10:27Izzy just happened to make a remarkable recovery after Heigl's contract negotiations.
10:31Her on-set antics still got her axed after season 6, but she's now more critical of her own behavior than the show.
10:38I'm so glad. Ah, I'm so glad. It's like it never happened.
10:45Number 8. Fake Cash. Cash Cab.
10:48The fast-paced quiz show Cash Cab played to the fantasy that anyone could win big at any moment.
10:53Riders in the Cab won money from host Ben Bailey based on correct answers to a series of questions.
10:58Congratulations. Here's your 3,000 bucks.
11:01Many viewers assumed that contestants' winnings didn't actually come in cash.
11:05Sure enough, the dollar bills that winners flashed at the camera were props.
11:09They later received their prize money by mail checks for tax purposes.
11:12That is, if they didn't void their winnings by divulging production secrets.
11:16Congratulations, you guys. You were great.
11:20Cash Cab was serious about its illusions.
11:22Some contestants have even defied the NDA to reveal that they were recruited before entering Bailey's taxi.
11:28But the prop bills perfectly reflect how Cash Cab is deceptive down to the title.
11:32All right, congratulations, ladies. Here's your 1,200 bucks.
11:38Number 7. Sometimes You Gotta Go. Cheers.
11:41Carla Tortelli's abrasive personality is more endearing to Cheers fans than the show's characters.
11:46The single mother's lonely days seemed over when she married Eddie LeBec, until he died in a freak Zamboni accident.
11:52He can't go to graduation, huh? No, he can't.
11:55What's the excuse? He's dead.
11:57This dark and bizarre twist was so removed from Cheers' tone that viewers suspected vindictiveness behind it.
12:03Eddie's actor Jay Thomas had jokingly lamented kissing Rhea Perlman on a radio show he hosted.
12:08He himself theorized that this comment got him fired.
12:11I say, let's get on with the honeymoon, eh?
12:14In 2006, a writer on the show revealed that Perlman did in fact have Eddie written off to spite Thomas.
12:20Eddie was even posthumously outed as a polygamist con man.
12:23Though Thomas claimed he meant to insult Carla rather than her actress, he should have watched his words.
12:28I'm Eddie's poor grieving widow.
12:30That's impossible. See this?
12:32Yeah, well, see this?
12:34Number 6. Leno Steals the Show. The Tonight Show with Jay Leno.
12:38With NBC's Late Night with David Letterman considered a worthy lead-in from Johnny Carson,
12:42Letterman was poised to succeed Carson upon his retirement in 1992.
12:46Instead, comedian Jay Leno took over The Tonight Show.
12:49This sparked enormous controversy among audiences and within the industry.
12:53Let's see how you all feel in 30 years.
12:56As Leno had become Carson's resident guest host, many suspected a backroom deal to oust Letterman.
13:01It wasn't until the 2021 docuseries, The Story of Late Night,
13:05when it was revealed that Leno really did have a secret succession contract.
13:08Jay Leno had just signed a new deal that guaranteed Jay the Tonight Show whenever Johnny stepped down.
13:18Letterman's conflicts with NBC executives actually cinched this deal.
13:22Though Leno overcame his initial ratings slump to become as big as CBS's Letterman,
13:26the two have been feuding ever since Leno's deal was just speculation.
13:30And from that day on, Jay Leno and The Tonight Show are number one.
13:35The Late Night crown is back at NBC.
13:38Number 5. Good Guy Gordon. Hell's Kitchen.
13:41Hey, hey, hey, Red Team. This is painful.
13:44Who just gave me them? Who cooked them?
13:47Gordon Ramsay is hailed as one of the most popular chefs in the world and one of the biggest jerks on TV.
13:52Especially in its American adaptation, Ramsay hosts the aptly named Hell's Kitchen with deliciously diabolical intensity.
13:59Look at me. I got one big message for you. Hey, you. Get out.
14:03Many fans are skeptical that he's really bringing that much heat.
14:06He's notably more reserved on such other shows as MasterChef.
14:09True, Ramsay has a share of feuds with other celebrity chefs,
14:12but his TV apprentices assert that he's a great and patient mentor.
14:16He also has a reputation of being devoted to family, philanthropy, and fans.
14:20The caricature of his perfectionism is just an entertaining alter ego.
14:24As cranky as Ramsay does get when his restaurants lag in quality, he clearly takes his brand seriously.
14:29Fine. What's your best service?
14:31Yes. Excellent. Yes.
14:33What do you mean?
14:34Number 4. The Puppy Episode. Ellen.
14:37As a 90s sitcom star, Ellen DeGeneres was a popular figure,
14:41but also the subject of rampant rumors about her sexuality.
14:44There was intense speculation about whether she was gay,
14:47and if her personal orientation would have any effect on her sitcom's character.
14:50What if I said something shocking to you, like my whole life has been a lie,
14:54and I'm really left-handed?
14:57The strict secrecy surrounding production of the cryptically named Puppy Episode
15:01led many to suspect something big.
15:03Indeed, the episode followed Ellen Morgan's realization that she's gay.
15:07Susan, I'm gay.
15:10Perhaps not so coincidentally, DeGeneres herself came out on the cover of Time magazine
15:14at about the time the episode aired.
15:16Sadly, the backlash and boycott resulted in Ellen's cancellation the next year.
15:20ABC's important breakthrough was soured by the refusal to fight for it.
15:24For the first time in my life, I feel comfortable with myself.
15:28Number 3. So Bad It's Good TV. American Idol.
15:32It's no secret that American Idol hopefuls have mere seconds to wow scouts and producers
15:37in a series of preliminary auditions.
15:39The real mystery is how a lot of so-called singers get past that round.
15:47The popular theory was that the producers included some of the worst auditions for comic relief.
15:52Indeed, American Idol's strange or downright terrible singers are such a phenomenon
15:56that televised auditions were arranged around that trope.
16:04However, out of concern that this tradition was exploitative,
16:07producer Trish Kinane ended it with the show's 2018 revival.
16:10American Idol is popular and entertaining enough without having to publicly humiliate people.
16:22Number 2. Playing Matchmaker. The Bachelor.
16:25Romance on The Bachelor tends to be polarizing.
16:28It's also meticulously manufactured.
16:30Producers plan dates, arrange interactions, and basically keep the cast trapped.
16:35Cynics have long suspected that even The Bachelor's decisions are predetermined.
16:42In 2018, former executive producer Scott Jeffries confirmed
16:46that contestants really are advanced or eliminated partially based on audience response.
16:51Contestant-turned-bachelorette Ali Fedotowsky claimed that this practice extends to the spinoffs.
16:58There are assurances that producers only completely control how rose ceremonies play out
17:02and that their influence on stars declines as the competition progresses.
17:06Of course, the unfair pressure placed on these courtships is well documented.
17:10Directly or indirectly, Bachelor Nation's controversial love stories give too much agency to off-screen cupids.
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17:40Quiz shows were popular TV programs in the 1950s.
17:43NBC's 21 was a big hit, especially for the rivalry between Charles Van Doren and Herbert Stempel.
17:49A defeated Stempel later upended public perception of the show by claiming that it was extensively staged.
17:55Then you win $20,000! Congratulations!
17:58On top of confirming that 21 contestants were given answers and choreographed for drama,
18:02congressional investigations discovered that most quiz shows were rigged.
18:06The scandal was so immense that it basically killed the genre.
18:09Jeopardy! revived it in 1964 with gameplay that made it hard to cheat.
18:13Still, after being immortalized by Robert Redford's quiz show,
18:16the 1950s rigging trend is considered one of the most scandalous TV conspiracies ever.
18:21That is, among the ones we know of.
18:24Do you have any more theories about famous TV shows? Let us hear them in the comments below.
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