User:David Smithington/Sandbox

“That’s Not Fake” (or TNF) is an American reality television show in the tradition of “MythBusters”, “That’s Incredible!”, and “Real People”. It differs in that it takes online internet videos and proves whether they are real or fake by conducting a “ridiculously rigorous” in-depth analysis using state-of-the-art digital forensics tools, scientific experts, and “MythBusters”-style field tests.

Hosted by the comedian and actor, Martin Mull, this show claims to be the “Final Say on What’s Really Real,” and premieres as a syndicated weekly show throughout North American markets on February 2nd, 2009.

The show was created as a playful but honest response to the increasing dissemination of doctored, re-touched, forged, and faked photos and video via the internet. With inexpensive yet powerful software, more and more people can create anything from harmless hoaxes to effective, yet false, legal evidence. “These digital tricksters erode the very fabric of our crumbling, culture-free society,” says Martin Mull, only half joking, in one of the show’s television commercials. In other advertisements for the show, Mull strikes a powerful pose and promises, “There’s A New Sheriff Online.”

The pilot episode features a man (a North Carolinian named Jerry Tucker) whose online videos have passed multiple tests despite seeming impossible. Known as “Strong Tooth Guy”, his online videos have been spread throughout the internet and featured on popular video-sharing websites through 2008 during which time many have speculated on their veracity.

EXTERNAL LINKS

Official “That’s Not Fake” website

Jerry Tucker’s Online Videos

Martin Mull on the Internet Movie Database

Official “MythBusters” website

Article in Scientific American– Digital Forensics: How Experts Uncover Doctored Images

That’s Incredible at the Internet Movie Database

That’s Incredible at TV.com

Real People at the Internet Movie Database

Real People at TV.com

MythBusters at the Internet Movie Database

MythBusters at TV.com