Your Cheatin' Art

What's the name of a reality TV show that's not always real? Cheaters.

Comments (0) By Scott Nowell Thursday, Oct 17 2002

...continued from page 2

When asked about claims the show uses ringers, Goldstein said, "That's interesting. I don't know. Dan Rather reporting that Gore won Florida comes to mind. No matter how many quality controls you put into place, I guess there's always some hanky-panky that could arise." He says his detectives have to sign an affidavit attesting to the validity of their investigation.

Goldstein said he would conduct an investigation into the allegations. Goldstein later said, "I mentioned it to Danny. He said he had a conversation with you about it. Not knowing anything else, I didn't really bother to spend any time screwing with it."

Habeeb and Goldstein (front left and right) have cashed in on infidelity.

More About

According to a Federal Communications Commission spokesman, there's no law or regulation against presenting acted-out scenarios as reality on television.

Independent stations that run Cheaters don't seem to much care if the show is authentic. Lee Aguiluv, program assistant for Houston's KNWS (Channel 51), says, "It really doesn't matter as long as people tune in to watch the show. That's all that counts." Aguiluv says the show brings the station "really good ratings."

Goldstein claims the show is now on in more than 90 percent of U.S. markets and is one of the top 20 syndicated television programs in the nation, a claim that proved impossible to verify.

Tommy Habeeb says his formerly stalled acting career has taken off, thanks to the show.

Michelle is not so lucky. Her segment has been rebroadcast several times. "I relive it every time they air that damn show. At work, people come up and say 'I saw you on Cheaters.' I make sure to tell them it's fake. I got paid to do it."