Catfish: The TV Show
| Catfish: The TV Show | |
|---|---|
 |
|
| Genre | Reality |
| Based on |
Catfish by Henry Joost Ariel Schulman |
| Developed by |
|
| Starring | Nev Schulman Max Joseph |
| Country of origin | United States |
| Original language(s) | English |
| No. of seasons | 6 |
| No. of episodes | 70 |
| Production | |
| Executive producer(s) |
|
| Cinematography | John DeTarsio Max Joseph |
| Camera setup | Multiple |
| Running time | 40 to 42 minutes |
| Production company(s) | Catfish Picture Company Relativity Media |
| Distributor | Viacom Media Networks |
| Release | |
| Original network | MTV |
| Picture format | 1080i (16:9 HDTV) |
| Audio format | Stereo |
| Original release | November 12, 2012 – present |
| External links | |
| Website | |
Catfish: The TV Show is an American reality-based documentary television series airing on MTV about the truths and lies of online dating. The series is based on the 2010 film Catfish and is co-hosted by Nev Schulman and Max Joseph. It premiered on November 12, 2012. The fifth season premiered on February 24, 2016. Season 6 will premiere on March 1, 2017.
"They used to tank cod from Alaska all the way to China. They'd keep them in vats in the ship. By the time the codfish reached China, the flesh was mush and tasteless. So this guy came up with the idea that if you put these cods in these big vats, put some catfish in with them and the catfish will keep the cod agile. And there are those people who are catfish in life. And they keep you on your toes. They keep you guessing, they keep you thinking, they keep you fresh. And I thank God for the catfish because we would be ... boring and dull if we didn't have somebody nipping at our fin." —from Catfish
On the Internet, a "catfish" is a person who creates fake personal profiles on social media sites using someone else's pictures and false biographical information to pretend to be someone other than themselves. These "catfish" usually intend to trick an unsuspecting person or persons into falling in love with them. The term "catfish" is derived from the title of the previously-mentioned 2010 documentary, in which filmmaker Schulman discovers that the woman with whom he'd been carrying on an online relationship had not been honest in describing herself.
MTV and the Catfish film's producers, Schulman and Joseph, help people who are emotionally entangled with someone they have never met in real life. Each episode is an investigation into whether or not the other participant in the virtual relationship is legitimate or if they are, in fact, a "catfish". Some couples have been communicating for a few months—others, for years.
Nev claims that he has received requests from people asking him for his help in determining whether or not their online-only lover is lying or truthful about their identity. In each episode the hosts help a different individual with a different story, travelling to wherever they live and using background checks and research to uncover the truth. Nev and Max contact the other person to arrange a first-ever meeting between the two virtual lovers, then documents how both people are impacted. Schulman said at the Television Critics Association press tour in August 2012 that it's not all about pulling the rug out from under people, explaining:
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Wikipedia