The Catfish: The TV Show may have just run out of gas, as recent news has declared the show canceled after running for nine seasons since 2012.
The reality show exposed deceptive online relationships and sought to reveal the true stories behind "catfish" stories, but why was it cancelled despite its promising premise? Here's what we found out.
Is Catfish: The TV Show Really Cancelled?
Show host Nev Schulman's Catfish has helped people discover the truth behind their series of suspicious digital romances. In most episodes, the reality series even showed people on both ends coming to terms with each other beyond the computer screen they shared. However, Variety has reported exclusively that Catfish has unfortunately been cancelled.
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The series is based on Schulman's 2010 documentary of the same name, which popularized the term "catfish" to describe individuals who use fake identities online to deceive others on the internet. The show made its debut in 2012 on MTV and concluded with its ninth season in July 2024.
Although it remains to be seen if this means the end for the reality show, the news outlet reported that MTV allowed producers to "shop the series elsewhere," as the cable channel, owned by Paramount and Skydance, will "continue to air episodes from the Catfish library."
Why Was Catfish Cancelled? What Happened During Shakeups?
The final ninth season of Catfish ended its run in the summer last year, followed by an early January 2024 renewal due to its solid cable ratings. However, later that year, in October, co-host Kamie Crawford announced her exit from the reality series after nearly six years in her tenure.
She first joined Catfish in Season 7 in 2018, after being one of several guests to host alongside Schulman, following the departure of Max Joseph, who had been co-hosting since the show's premiere.
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The MTV series spawned two short-lived spin-offs and international editions (in Colombia, Chile, Brazil, etc.), leading Wondery to launch 2 seasons of Catfish: The Podcast on MTV in 2020. Still, the cancellation comes upon Nev Schulman acquiring his real estate license.
This steered Schulman's ship in a different direction as he posted on social media that he is now looking forward to helping individuals buy and sell property in New York.
Besides, Catfish's status had long been uncertain since the official closing of the Paramount Skydance merger in August, which may have influenced decisions and staff layoffs. Stay tuned for more updates on this story.
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