Catfish: The TV Show

Nēv Schulman and a rotating team of co-hosts investigate relationships that began online when one person suspects the other isn't who they claim to be. They trace digital footprints, verify photos and profiles, and make contact to test competing versions of the story. Episodes typically build toward an arranged face-to-face meeting, where hidden motives, misunderstandings, and emotional fallout come into view. The show balances detective work with empathetic conversations, aiming to sort fact from fiction without spoiling long-term outcomes. Celebrity guests sometimes join to help or react, but most installments center on ordinary people wrestling with trust, anonymity, and the consequences of modern romance and lingering emotional effects. Episodes are self-contained, so you can jump in without prior context.

Catfish premiered on MTV in 2012, created by Max Joseph, Nēv Schulman, and Ariel Schulman. Nēv is the constant host, Max hosted early seasons, and Kamie Crawford joined as co-host later. The series ran several seasons and featured celebrity cameos.

Although Catfish didn't win major industry awards, it consistently attracted media coverage and discussion about reality TV ethics. The hosts became recognized figures through the show, and episodes prompted commentary across news outlets and online forums, even without a long list of formal accolades, and sparked podcast conversations.

Catfish pushed the term 'catfish' into mainstream use and influenced how people talk about online romance and deception. Scenes and cases spawned memes, late-night references, and parodies, and the show helped steer public conversations about identity verification and digital privacy. It also influenced academic studies on online identity and media.

Viewer response is mixed, reflected in a user score of 6.732 out of 10 from 138 votes. Reviewers praise its emotional honesty at times and criticize sensational moments. Central themes include identity, loneliness, trust, the ethics of online sleuthing, and the human cost of deception, and sparked debate online.