The 6 best episodes of Catfish: The TV Show
Winter
break is like a blessing for the TV addicted college student. It normally allows me to
binge-watch all the shows I missed over the course of the semester. Over
this break, I discovered Catfish: The TV Show. I was aware of what it was but
had never sat down and watched an episode. I binged all three seasons in a
matter of a few days thanks to Amazon Prime Video.
If you’re unfamiliar, the
show focuses on these two guys, Nev and Max, who travel around the country
helping people meet their online loves. In many cases, these people are not who
they say they are on the internet and eventually are forced to come clean on the show.
The series was created by one of the hosts, Nev. His own catfish story was
documented in the 2010 film, Catfish.
Maybe
I’m cynical, but I absolutely love how blind some of these people are. “Oh
yeah, we’ve never video chatted or spoke on the phone. Actually, he doesn’t
have a phone. But we’re in love!” When confronted that their one true love may
not be who they say they are, these people are absolutely shocked to their
core. What? Someone lied on the internet? You don’t say?
In their defense, some
of these fakers go above and beyond the typical online troll. However in some
instances, they do have feelings for the ones they are catfishing and are only
doing so because they are ashamed or insecure with themselves in some way. There are a couple
episodes where you actually find yourself sympathizing with the catfisher.
My favorite part of the whole show though is how serious Max and Nev get sometimes. You would think with the way they conduct their research that they have some top-secret software to find these catfishes. Nope. They literally just use Google and Facebook. It's the greatest thing ever.
My favorite part of the whole show though is how serious Max and Nev get sometimes. You would think with the way they conduct their research that they have some top-secret software to find these catfishes. Nope. They literally just use Google and Facebook. It's the greatest thing ever.
Season
4 of Catfish is premiering next month and I thought it would be fun to
countdown their six best episodes.
No. 6 - "Sunny & Jamison"
Sunny is a great example of one of the "blind" people I mentioned earlier. "RJ" told her that he was a model, TV show assistant for Chelsea Lately, and that he was going to school at night to become an anesthesiologist. At no point did any red flags pop up for Sunny. Not only that, but she and her sister actually FOUGHT over him as you can see in the clip above. Turns out, it was an 18 year old bisexual woman named Chelsea the entire time. This might easily be one of my favorite catfish reveals ever. "We're looking for Jamison" "It's me." Classic. I bet her sister is ecstatic that it was Sunny and not her who showed up at Chelsea's door.
No. 5 - "Cassie & Steve"
This was an interesting episode because the catfish came from a sincere place but got out of hand quickly. After her father's death, Cassie began following a dark road. In hopes to save her from herself, her best friend Gladys created "Steve." The two began a relationship on Facebook and it soon escalated to phone sex and eventually an engagement. That's right. They hadn't even met yet were already engaged to one another. Now how did they have phone sex without "Steve" exposing his identity as Gladys? Well, Gladys enlisted the help of her cousin to keep the relationship going. While initially Cassie was shocked and hurt over the entire situation, she forgave Gladys and understood why she did what she did, resulting in one of the more heartwarming episodes of the series.
No. 4 - "Jasmine & Mike"
This is one of the more ridiculous episodes they've ever done. Jasmine and "Mike" talked for two years but had never spoken to one another and had never video-chatted. When they finally met, it was revealed that Mike is actually Mhissy, the new girlfriend of Jasmine's ex-boyfriend, Triggs. This is probably one of the most memorable meet-ups we've seen on the show so far. "She didn't take my flower. That's sad, huh?" Their bad blood continued after the episode ended and they almost got into another altercation at the end-of-season reunion. I personally find myself sympathizing with Jasmine here, as ridiculous as the whole situation was.
This was an interesting episode because the catfish came from a sincere place but got out of hand quickly. After her father's death, Cassie began following a dark road. In hopes to save her from herself, her best friend Gladys created "Steve." The two began a relationship on Facebook and it soon escalated to phone sex and eventually an engagement. That's right. They hadn't even met yet were already engaged to one another. Now how did they have phone sex without "Steve" exposing his identity as Gladys? Well, Gladys enlisted the help of her cousin to keep the relationship going. While initially Cassie was shocked and hurt over the entire situation, she forgave Gladys and understood why she did what she did, resulting in one of the more heartwarming episodes of the series.
No. 4 - "Jasmine & Mike"
This is one of the more ridiculous episodes they've ever done. Jasmine and "Mike" talked for two years but had never spoken to one another and had never video-chatted. When they finally met, it was revealed that Mike is actually Mhissy, the new girlfriend of Jasmine's ex-boyfriend, Triggs. This is probably one of the most memorable meet-ups we've seen on the show so far. "She didn't take my flower. That's sad, huh?" Their bad blood continued after the episode ended and they almost got into another altercation at the end-of-season reunion. I personally find myself sympathizing with Jasmine here, as ridiculous as the whole situation was.
No. 3 - "Ashley & Mike"
This was the most infuriating episode to watch and had me actively rooting against the person who was seeking Nev and Max's help. Ashley contacted the duo in hopes of meeting her online beau, Mike. In this case, both Ashley and Mike were catfishing one another. While Mike was sending her fake pictures, Ashley was photoshopping her images to make herself look increasingly smaller than she actually is. While Ashley had said earlier in the episode that looks are not important to her, she changes that tune when she finally meets Mike. After almost a decade of friendship between them, she barley gives him the time of day because of his weight.
Are you kidding me? People in glass houses shouldn't throw stones. She even commented that she was upset he did not have a six-pack. The absolute hypocrisy Ashley displayed was unbelievable. If you're not attracted to him then so be it, but at least give him a chance as a person. He deserves it after seven years of friendship. She was cold throughout the entire meeting. Sadly, Mike passed away about a month after the episode aired due to a pulmonary embolism. All clips from the episode have been removed from MTV. RIP Mike Fortunato.
This was the most infuriating episode to watch and had me actively rooting against the person who was seeking Nev and Max's help. Ashley contacted the duo in hopes of meeting her online beau, Mike. In this case, both Ashley and Mike were catfishing one another. While Mike was sending her fake pictures, Ashley was photoshopping her images to make herself look increasingly smaller than she actually is. While Ashley had said earlier in the episode that looks are not important to her, she changes that tune when she finally meets Mike. After almost a decade of friendship between them, she barley gives him the time of day because of his weight.
Are you kidding me? People in glass houses shouldn't throw stones. She even commented that she was upset he did not have a six-pack. The absolute hypocrisy Ashley displayed was unbelievable. If you're not attracted to him then so be it, but at least give him a chance as a person. He deserves it after seven years of friendship. She was cold throughout the entire meeting. Sadly, Mike passed away about a month after the episode aired due to a pulmonary embolism. All clips from the episode have been removed from MTV. RIP Mike Fortunato.
No. 2 - "Artis and Jess"
This is probably the most entertaining and shocking confrontations ever seen on Catfish. Artis believed he was talking to a woman named "Jess." Both were currently in unhappy relationships and sought a way out with one another Well, it turns out "Jess" is actually a man named Justin who is so hell-bent on exposing cheaters, he went to catfish-lengths to do so. I can't even articulate how insane Justin comes across during the meeting and post-meeting interviews with Nev and Max. My favorite part about it all though is Nev trying to act tough with Justin, "you better back up!" You tell him, Nev!
Funny thing about this episode though, it turns out that Artis and Justin buried the hatchet after the show aired and have since become best friends. They are planning to produce their own show although no plans have gone through as of yet.
This is probably the most entertaining and shocking confrontations ever seen on Catfish. Artis believed he was talking to a woman named "Jess." Both were currently in unhappy relationships and sought a way out with one another Well, it turns out "Jess" is actually a man named Justin who is so hell-bent on exposing cheaters, he went to catfish-lengths to do so. I can't even articulate how insane Justin comes across during the meeting and post-meeting interviews with Nev and Max. My favorite part about it all though is Nev trying to act tough with Justin, "you better back up!" You tell him, Nev!
Funny thing about this episode though, it turns out that Artis and Justin buried the hatchet after the show aired and have since become best friends. They are planning to produce their own show although no plans have gone through as of yet.
No. 1 - "Antwane & Tony"
Oh man, where do I begin? Antwane met Tony on an adult chat-line and regularly kept in contact with him for three years via phone. They never met face to face nor did they ever video chat. The relationship was based on their voices alone. Antwane's cousin, Carmen contacted Nev and Max to help seek out Tony. After doing some rigorous Google research, Nev and Max came up with a few leads. Unfortunately they all seemed to lead nowhere. That is, until Carmen revealed that SHE is Tony. That's right. Carmen catfished her cousin for three years. The reasoning? Three years ago Antwane called her a "fat ass Kelly Price." So in retaliation, she catfished him for more than a quarter of a decade. Even going as far as disguising her voice to sound like a man. Iconic.
All episodes of Catfish: The TV Show can be found on the MTV website. Season 4 premieres Wednesday, February 25th at 10 PM.
Also please remember to like Television Culture on Facebook!
Oh man, where do I begin? Antwane met Tony on an adult chat-line and regularly kept in contact with him for three years via phone. They never met face to face nor did they ever video chat. The relationship was based on their voices alone. Antwane's cousin, Carmen contacted Nev and Max to help seek out Tony. After doing some rigorous Google research, Nev and Max came up with a few leads. Unfortunately they all seemed to lead nowhere. That is, until Carmen revealed that SHE is Tony. That's right. Carmen catfished her cousin for three years. The reasoning? Three years ago Antwane called her a "fat ass Kelly Price." So in retaliation, she catfished him for more than a quarter of a decade. Even going as far as disguising her voice to sound like a man. Iconic.
All episodes of Catfish: The TV Show can be found on the MTV website. Season 4 premieres Wednesday, February 25th at 10 PM.
Also please remember to like Television Culture on Facebook!
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