Cheaters

Last updated

Cheaters
Cheaters Revamped Titlecard.png
GenreReality
Created byBobby Goldstein
Written byBobby Goldstein
Directed byJohn McCalmont (2000–02)
Kenneth M. Smith Jr. (2002–10)
Presented by Tommy Habeeb
Joey Greco
Clark James Gable
Peter Gunz
Theme music composerBobby Goldstein
Opening theme"Broken Hearted" by Bill Mason and Bobby Goldstein
Ending theme"Broken Hearted" by Bill Mason and Bobby Goldstein
ComposersBill Mason and Bobby Goldstein
Country of originUnited States
Original languageEnglish
No. of seasons21
Production
Executive producersBobby Goldstein and Sholom "Scotty" Gelt
ProducersBobby Goldstein
Vincent Devany
Production locationsVarious, but mostly in the Dallas/Fort Worth metroplex
EditorsJeremy Hechler
Israel Cavazos
Tim Wilkins
Matt Phillips
Andrew Phillips
Running time60 mins. (weekly episodes)
30 mins. (strip version)
Production companiesBobby Goldstein Productions and Bugsy Siegel Productions
DistributorMG Perin, Inc.
Release
Original network Syndication
American Forces Network
Picture format NTSC (2000–2012)
HDTV 1080i (2012–2021)
Original releaseOctober 2, 2000 (2000-10-02) –
May 17, 2021 (2021-05-17)

Cheaters is an American weekly syndicated reality television series featuring couples with one partner who is committing adultery, or cheating, on the other partner. Investigations are headed by the "Cheaters Detective Agency". [1] The series premiered on October 2, 2000, and ended on May 17, 2021. It has been hosted by Tommy Habeeb, Joey Greco, Clark James Gable and Peter Gunz.

Contents

Format

Actor Joey Greco was the show's longest-running host, hosting from late 2002 to mid-2012 and returning briefly in 2015. At the onset of the show's 13th season, he was replaced by Clark James Gable, the grandson of legendary actor Clark Gable. Gable would host the series until his unexpected death in 2019 due to a drug overdose. In February 2020, it was announced via social media that Love & Hip Hop star Peter Gunz would become the new host beginning in October 2020. Filming of season 21 took place in Dallas during the summer of 2020, despite the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic in the United States. [2] [3]

The show's complainants can be either married or long-term significant others, and have included both opposite-sex and same-sex couples.

Each episode begins with a brief interview of the complainant, detailing how the complainant met their partner and what has led them to believe that the partner is cheating, citing suspicious activities or behavior. Next, the narrator (originally Robert Magruder from 2000-2015, then Ken Eaken since 2015) describes the progress of the investigation of the partner (referred to as "the suspect"). Private investigators follow the suspect over the course of several days or weeks at their home, workplace, and/or in public with their alleged paramour (dubbed "the companion"). If the complainant and suspect live together, hidden cameras are occasionally installed in their home. A recorded telephone conversation between the complainant and suspect, in which the suspect lies about his or her whereabouts, is also played.

When the investigation turns up enough evidence of the suspect's infidelity, the show enters its second segment, "the confrontation." The host meets with the complainant to reveal the findings of the investigation and shows them the evidence collected (originally on a video camera, then on an iPad). The host sometimes warns the complainant that the footage is disturbing or upsetting but the complainant nonetheless requests to see it. Graphic footage from the investigators—for example, the suspect and their companion engaged in a sexual act—is shown uncensored to the complainant but digitally blurred to the show's viewers; however, uncensored versions of the encounters have been released on DVD.

The briefing takes place when the suspect and their companion are concurrently being observed together nearby; the intent is to allow the complainant to catch the suspect in the act of infidelity. After contacting the detective on his cell phone to find out their whereabouts, the host and the complainant, along with a full crew of production personnel all carrying 35 mm cameras, and security personnel travel in a van and seek out and confront the alleged cheater. The confrontation often takes place in public places, such as bars, restaurants and parks, with the complainant and host both demanding an explanation from the suspect for their behavior. Confrontations are often violent in nature, forcing security guards to restrain the complainant, suspect and/or companion. Confrontations also have the potential to end badly, as in one episode where host Joey Greco was apparently stabbed during a confrontation on a yacht and transported to a hospital. However, it has been disputed whether or not the stabbing was real or staged. Suspects also have been known to push the security guards, which causes the security guards to push back and let them know that they will retaliate. [4] In very rare cases, animals unwittingly featured will have their heads blurred out for humorous effect.

The final segment, "the conclusion," presents parting thoughts from the complainant, the suspect and their companion as they depart the scene of the confrontation. Next, updates from previous cases, including interviews from suspects and their companions, are presented. Lastly, the narrator describes what became of the complainant, the suspect and the companion (and in rare cases, others that may also be involved) after the show.

History

The show was created by Bobby Goldstein, an attorney in Dallas, Texas. It made its debut in 2000. The original host of the show was actor Tommy Habeeb aka "Tommy Grand" (2000–2002). 2004 brought syndication reruns of previous seasons, edited into a half-hour Monday-through-Friday strip format with new intros by Joey Greco as host. When Cheaters began airing in high-definition, the show's title card, used for eleven seasons, was altered to 3D, and more high-definition graphics were incorporated into the show.

Syndication

Cheaters aired two episodes on The CW Plus on Saturday nights: a one-hour-long episode followed by a 30-minute episode. A 10-minute version of the show called Cheaters: Amazing Confrontations is available through on-demand services.

In 2006, G4 began showing the strip version with faster-paced editing and music due to complaints that the show seemed boring and contrived,[ citation needed ] as well as a different narrator, for weekly airings on its Midnight Spank block. [5] On December 9, 2009, G4 moved this show to the short-lived "Junk Food TV" block. G4 stopped airing the show in December 2012.

In January 2017, the syndicated half-hour strip format version of Cheaters returned to cable television, this time on VH1 during late Friday nights/early Saturday morning slots. Cheaters also re-aired on MTV2.

In October 2022, Pluto TV launched a Cheaters channel, airing episodes of the 30-minute strip format. [6]

Controversy and incidents

In 2002, the Houston Press tracked down several people who said they were paid $400 per show by one of the detectives of the agency to act on the show, and were paid $50 per referral of other actors. [7] One performer said, "What [the show's private detective] told me was that some of the episodes are real, but... they would do these ringer episodes to supplement the show." The show's private investigator denies that he staged anyone's scenario and further added that the number of inquiries the agency receives made this unnecessary. [8] The producers of Cheaters currently reiterate the reality of each episode in a legalistic message at its end, though a Federal Communications Commission representative confirmed to the Houston Press that "there's no law or regulation against presenting acted-out scenarios as reality on television." [9] [10] [11] [12]

On December 16, 2005, four employees of the show, the host Joey Greco, director Hunter Carson and two security guards, were indicted on charges of restraining a woman. On November 9, 2006, the four were acquitted. [13] In another episode, Greco was detained at the scene of a bachelor party while helping a man confront his cheating fiancée. After Greco explained the situation about the couple to police, he was given a short talk about disturbing the peace and released with a written warning.

On November 3, 2009, Inside Edition reiterated the claim that the show was staged, citing several more actors who said they were paid to appear. One of them appeared in the Greco stabbing episode and claimed it was staged. Despite the depiction of a male being placed under arrest for stabbing Greco, Inside Edition found that no actual arrest matching that description was made by the Rowlett, Texas police department, where the episode took place. The ambulance shown, along with the EMS personnel appeared to be from "Greater Dallas EMS". Greater Dallas EMS was a private transfer ambulance in the Dallas area but would have never been dispatched for a 911 emergency. They are now out of business after being raided by the FBI in an investigation known as Operation Easy Rider. Physician–patient privilege would prevent the hospital that treated Greco from releasing records to Inside Edition. Nothing prevents the producers of Cheaters from voluntarily displaying the records, yet they have not done so. Despite the lack of records, Goldstein denied in an interview that the episode was staged. In a follow-up, aired on Inside Edition the following week (November 9, 2009), Greco was interviewed by investigative reporter Matt Meagher about the previous week's accusations. Greco declined to respond, claiming that he could not legally do so. [14]

On August 8, 2010, an Equal Employment Opportunity Commission press release reported that Bobby Goldstein Productions, Inc., and Cheaters II, Ltd. (Civil Action No. 3:08-CV-1912-P) paid $50,000 to settle a sexual harassment lawsuit. The suit was brought on the behalf of two female office assistants who were the target of frequent sexual jokes and comments, unwanted physical advances, and propositions for sex. The alleged perpetrators included members of upper management. Says attorney Robert A. Canino, a regional attorney from the EEOC Dallas District Office, "just because the creator of Cheaters promotes a TV show business which thrives on featuring sexual transgressions, it is no justification for engaging in sexual improprieties which violate the employment rights of his female employees behind the scenes." [15]

Merchandise

Visual Entertainment of Canada has released several best-of collections of Cheaters on DVD in Region 1. [16] In addition the Cheaters Spy Shop was launched in September 2011 to sell items used on the show and has been promoted in episodes beginning in the Season 12. [17] Cheaters DVD releases are uncensored, with language and sexual content (including occasional views of acts such as fellatio and penetration) shown unfiltered.

References in pop culture

The show has been parodied and referenced in several films and television shows, such as Janky Promoters (2009), George Lopez , Disturbia (2007), Sex Drive (2008), Just Go With It (2011), Mind of Mencia , TV: The Movie (2007), Talkshow with Spike Feresten , Workaholics , Unhitched , The Simpsons , and The Jay Leno Show .

In the 2020 song, "Need It", by Migos ft. NBA Youngboy from the former's Culture III , Migos member Offset sings during the chorus: "Then I leave her, I can’t get caught up, I can’t be on Cheaters". [18]

In the song, "Hats Off" by Lil Baby & Lil Durk (off their collaborative project, The Voice of the Heroes, released in 2021), featured artist on the track, Travis Scott, raps during his verse: "Sorry, gotta fuck on the low, I can't make Cheaters." [19] Scott was accused of cheating during his high-profile relationship with model/socialite Kylie Jenner. [20] [21]

Related Research Articles

America's Most Wanted is an American television program whose first run was produced by 20th Television, and second run is under the Fox Alternative Entertainment division of Fox Corporation. At the time of its cancellation by the Fox television network in June 2011, it was the longest-running program in the network's history, a mark since surpassed by The Simpsons, although the program was revived ten years later. The show started off as a half-hour program on February 7, 1988. In 1990, the show's format was changed from 30 minutes to 60 minutes. The show's format was reverted to 30 minutes in 1995, and then back to 60 minutes in 1996. A short-lived syndicated spinoff titled America's Most Wanted: Final Justice aired during the 1995–96 season.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Robert Culp</span> American actor (1930–2010)

Robert Martin Culp was an American actor widely known for his work in television. Culp earned an international reputation for his role as Kelly Robinson on I Spy (1965–1968), the espionage television series in which co-star Bill Cosby and he played secret agents. Before this, he starred in the CBS/Four Star Western series Trackdown as Texas Ranger Hoby Gilman in 71 episodes from 1957 to 1959. The 1980s brought him back to television as FBI Agent Bill Maxwell on The Greatest American Hero. Later, he had a recurring role as Warren Whelan on Everybody Loves Raymond. Culp gave hundreds of performances in a career spanning more than 50 years.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Phillip Schofield</span> English broadcaster and television personality

Phillip Bryan Schofield is an English television presenter who works for ITV. He is currently the co-presenter of ITV's This Morning (2002–present) and Dancing on Ice alongside Holly Willoughby. Schofield gained national attention working for the BBC, first as a continuity presenter for Children's BBC on weekdays from 1985 to 1987. His other television work includes Going Live! (1987–1993), All Star Mr & Mrs (2008–2016), The Cube, Text Santa (2011–2015), and 5 Gold Rings (2017–2020).

The Daystar Television Network is an American evangelical Christian-based religious television network owned by the Word of God Fellowship, founded by Marcus Lamb in 1993. Daystar is headquartered in the Dallas/Fort Worth Metroplex in Bedford, Texas. The network is based around prosperity theology.

A tabloid talk show is a subgenre of the talk show genre that emphasizes controversial and sensationalistic topical subject matter. The subgenre originated in the United States and achieved peak viewership from the mid-1980s through the end of the 1990s. Airing mostly during the day and distributed mostly through television syndication, tabloid talk shows originated in the 1960s and early 1970s with series hosted by Joe Pyne, Les Crane, and Phil Donahue; the format was popularized by personal confession-filled The Oprah Winfrey Show, which debuted nationally in 1986. The format has since been emulated outside the United States, with the United Kingdom, Latin America and the Philippines all having popular shows that fit the format.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Joey Greco</span> American television personality and actor

Joel Stephen "Joey" Greco is an American television personality and actor, best known as the long- time host of the reality TV show Cheaters, hosting for ten seasons.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hello Pappy scandal</span> 2007 Philippines game show controversy

The Hello Pappy scandal, alluding to the nickname of television personality Willie Revillame and the Hello Garci scandal, was a scandal surrounding an incident during the August 20, 2007, episode of the Filipino variety show Wowowee, broadcast by ABS-CBN. During the episode, a technical error occurred during the final jackpot round of the show's "Wilyonaryo" segment which raised allegations within the media that the segment was, or could have been, rigged by the producers. The incident prompted an investigation by the country's Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), and was also the catalyst of an on-air feud between Revillame and Joey de Leon, a personality from the rival GMA Network.

"Dial 'N' for Nerder", also known as "N is for Nerder", is the fourteenth episode of the nineteenth season of the American animated television series The Simpsons. It originally aired on the Fox network in the United States on March 9, 2008. After a prank gone wrong, Bart and Lisa believe they have accidentally killed Martin Prince. Meanwhile, Marge hires a TV show called Sneakers to spy on Homer and see if he is cheating on his diet. The episode was written by Carolyn Omine and William Wright and directed by Bob Anderson. During its first broadcast, the episode had an estimated 7.3 million viewers and received a 10 percent audience share.

<i>Can You Duet</i> Television series

Can You Duet is an American reality-competition show on CMT. The show was produced by FremantleMedia, the same company that produces American Idol.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lucy Beale</span> UK soap opera character, created 1993

Lucy Beale is a fictional character from the BBC soap opera EastEnders. The character was played by Eva Brittin-Snell, Casey Anne Rothery, Melissa Suffield, and Hetti Bywater. Lucy was introduced in December 1993 as the baby daughter of Ian and Cindy Beale. She is the twin sister of Peter Beale, and has three half siblings, older brother Steven Beale, younger sister Cindy Williams and younger brother Bobby Beale.

<i>Rubicon</i> (TV series) American conspiracy thriller television series

Rubicon is an American conspiracy thriller television series created by Jason Horwitch and produced by Henry Bromell that was broadcast on the AMC television network in 2010. The series centers on an intelligence analyst working for the American Policy Institute (API) in New York City. The series stars James Badge Dale, Jessie Collins, Lauren Hodges, Miranda Richardson, Dallas Roberts, Christopher Evan Welch, Arliss Howard, and Michael Cristofer.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Carol Vance Unit</span>

Carol S. Vance Unit is a Texas Department of Criminal Justice (TDCJ) prison located in unincorporated central Fort Bend County, Texas. The unit, located in flatlands, is along U.S. Highway 90A, 4 miles (6.4 km) east of central Richmond. The facility is in proximity to Sugar Land, and it is about 20 miles (32 km) southwest of Downtown Houston. The unit, with about 940 acres (380 ha) of land, is co-located with Jester I Unit, Jester III Unit, and Jester IV Unit. The unit consists of four steel buildings and two brick buildings. The prison is the home of the Prison Fellowship Academy Christian prison program. It is located on the Jester State Prison Farm property.

"Who Pushed P.R.?" is a storyline from the Australian television soap opera Neighbours, which began on 27 August 2010, the soap's 6000th episode, when the character Paul Robinson was pushed from the Lassiter's Hotel mezzanine by an unseen assailant. The storyline aired as part of the show's 25th anniversary and Dennis's character was made the focus of the storyline as he was the only remaining member of the original cast. The storyline was initially going to see Paul being shot, but the show's G rating prevented the production team from going ahead with it. Events leading up to and following the attempted murder put several characters in the frame, in the style of a whodunit mystery.

Frank Foster (<i>Coronation Street</i>) Soap opera character

Frank Foster is a fictional character from the British ITV soap opera Coronation Street, played by Andrew Lancel. He made his debut appearance on 20 January 2011. Frank was introduced as a business associate of Carla Connor. In December 2011, it was announced Frank would be leaving Coronation Street at the end of his storyline. Two months later, it was confirmed Frank would be murdered as part of a "whodunit" storyline. Five regular characters became suspects during the investigation, but his mother, Anne Foster eventually confessed to killing him. Frank made his last on-screen appearance on 8 March 2012.

Jill Marsden (<i>EastEnders</i>) UK soap opera character, created 2001

DCI Jill Marsden is a fictional character in the BBC soap opera EastEnders, played by Sophie Stanton. She made her first appearance on 5 March 2001 investigating the shooting of Phil Mitchell, which was part of the whodunit storyline "Who Shot Phil?". Marsden returned in 2002, 2003 and 2009. She returned on 5 January 2012 for her third whodunit storyline, "Who's Stalking Phil?", departing four months later on 10 May 2012. Marsden returned for two episodes on 17 August 2012 to conclude the latter storyline. On 16 July 2015, she returned for part of the "Who Killed Lucy Beale?" whodunit storyline.

In July 2012, a storyline began in the British soap opera EastEnders in which the character Kat Moon, played by Jessie Wallace, embarks on an affair behind her husband Alfie Moon's back, with an unknown person. The suspects named were Ray Dixon, Michael Moon, Max Branning, Derek Branning and Jack Branning. Ray was the first suspect to be eliminated, on 7 August, followed by Michael on 14 September. The mystery man was revealed as Derek in the 20 December episode. Richie dubbed the storyline "Who's Been Sleeping with Kat?", while critics referred to it is "the who-copped-off-with-Kat saga", "Who Banged Kat?" and the "Kat Mystery Lover storyline".

<i>Cognition: An Erica Reed Thriller</i> 2012 video game

Cognition: An Erica Reed Thriller is a 4-part episodic point-and-click graphic adventure game released by Phoenix Online Studios for multiple platforms. Funded through Kickstarter in 2011, four episodes were released on the PC and Mac, with the first two on the iPad. Jane Jensen, creator of the Sierra On-Line Gabriel Knight series, was a story consultant for the development of the game.

<i>The Hunt with John Walsh</i> Television series

The Hunt with John Walsh is an American investigation/documentary series that debuted on CNN on July 13, 2014. The series is hosted by John Walsh. The second season premiered on July 12, 2015, and the third season premiered on June 19, 2016. The fourth season premiered on CNN's sister station, HLN, on July 23, 2017. A successor to the show, In Pursuit with John Walsh was announced in early 2018. It premiered in January 2019 on Investigation Discovery.

To Catch a Cheater is a scripted American web series published on YouTube. With over 3 million subscribers, the web series supposedly follows people suspected of committing adultery, or cheating, on their partners. Actors have repeatedly come out in interviews and videos admitting the series is completely scripted, a claim producer Sameer Bhavnani states is not true and that the show features real couples and those claiming are actors are couples who "have changed their mind and regret being on the show".

Uyajola 9/9 is a South African reality television show playing on Moja Love channel 157 weekly. It is a hidden camera reality television series about people who suspect their partners of infidelity. The series premiered on 26 May 2019. The show is hosted by Jub Jub and Moss Makwati who are also co producers of the show.

References

  1. ↑ James. "Catch A Cheating Boyfriend: Spy On Text Messages". askdougandchris.com. Hanby. Retrieved June 15, 2005.
  2. ↑ "Peter Gunz is the New Host of 'Cheaters'?". February 2, 2020.
  3. ↑ "First Look: Peter Gunz is Hosting New Season of "Cheaters"". October 7, 2020.
  4. ↑ "INSIDE EDITION Investigates Cheaters". June 28, 2010.
  5. ↑ "Cheaters on G4". g4tv.com. Archived from the original on May 9, 2008. Retrieved May 5, 2008.
  6. ↑ "Cheaters on Pluto TV". Pluto TV .
  7. ↑ Nowell, Scott (October 7, 2002). "Your Cheatin' Art". Houston Press. p. 1.
  8. ↑ Nowell, Scott (October 7, 2002). "Your Cheatin' Art". Houston Press. p. 2.
  9. ↑ "Spy trick for cheating partner". February 3, 2021. Tuesday, October 8, 2019
  10. ↑ Nowell, Scott (October 7, 2002). "Your Cheatin' Art". Houston Press. p. 3.
  11. ↑ "Spy app for cheater spouse". August 26, 2015. Tuesday, October 8, 2019
  12. ↑ "Best Spy app to Catch cheating Spouse".
  13. ↑ Archived December 13, 2007, at the Wayback Machine
  14. ↑ "INSIDE EDITION Investigates Cheaters: Is It All a Hoax?". Inside Edition. November 3, 2009. Archived from the original on November 7, 2009. Retrieved November 7, 2009.
  15. ↑ "EEOC Gets "Cheaters" To Change Ways In Settling Sex Harassment Suit". EEOC. August 8, 2010. Retrieved March 11, 2010.
  16. ↑ "Release Information for Cheaters". tvshowsondvd.com. Retrieved May 5, 2008.
  17. ↑ 'Cheaters' Now Offers Spy Products With the Launch of Cheaters Spy Shop [ permanent dead link ], GlobeNewswire – October 4, 2011
  18. ↑ "Then I leave her, I can't get caught up, I can't be on Cheaters". Genius. Retrieved August 29, 2020.
  19. ↑ "Sorry, gotta fuck on the low, I can't make Cheaters". Genius. Retrieved June 14, 2021.
  20. ↑ "Travis Scott Deleted Instagram to Prove Loyalty to Kylie Jenner". TMZ. Retrieved June 14, 2021.
  21. ↑ Reda, Natasha (October 5, 2019). "Travis Scott Released an Emotional Statement Denying Rumors That He Cheated on Kylie". Glamour. Retrieved June 14, 2021.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.