MTV cancels Catfish The TV Show as producers seek new outlets

MTV has canceled Catfish The TV Show after nine seasons, network officials confirmed, but the channel is allowing the series' producers to shop the format to other outlets and will continue to air episodes from its existing library. The longrunning reality docuseries, hosted by Nev Schulman and built on his 2010 documentary, ended its ninth season in July 2024 and has been off the air while its future was undecided.

Catfish began as a 2010 documentary that popularized the term catfish to describe people who assume false online identities to deceive potential romantic partners. The television series debuted in 2012 and grew into a staple of MTV's reality slate, investigating suspected deceptive online romances and sometimes arranging confrontations or reconciliations. Over its run the program produced well over 200 episodes and spawned international adaptations, short lived spinoffs and a podcast collaboration with Wondery.

The series was developed by Nev Schulman, Ariel Schulman and Max Joseph. Schulman and Joseph cohosted the first seven seasons before Joseph departed in 2018. A string of guest hosts, including musicians and celebrities, filled the cohost seat until Kamie...