Over the last decade or so, Discovery has switched its focus to shows that are more reality-based rather than factual or documentary shows. They have had a string of hits with the likes of Deadliest Catch and Mythbusters but one of the most popular is Gold Rush. The series sees groups of miners attempting to hit it big as they search for gold. Mishaps are common and there is always some drama for the cast to deal with.
Of course, just as is the case with any type of reality television series, there are question marks over exactly how much is real. Viewers could well have doubts about whether anything on Gold Rush is fake or scripted rather than being the complete truth. There are certainly some suspicious moments that might raise your eyebrow.
15. Parts Of Gold Rush Are Scripted
Former cast members have claimed that parts of Gold Rush are scripted. For example, Jimmy Dorsey alleged that the producers would essentially tell him what they wanted him to say on camera, to provide the most amount of drama. Others like James Harness have backed up this claim.
14. The Miners Are Not The Rule Breakers They Make Out To Be
From what is shown in the tv series, you would think that the miners are all rebels who are willing to break the rules in order to get their gold. The truth, though, is that they have to follow all regulations and rules. Doing anything else would put their activities into jeopardy.
13. It Doesn’t Make Clear The Real Costs For The Miners
Gold Rush often fails to mention the actual cost of mining. This means that viewers don’t get an accurate picture of how much money the crews make from their activities when you consider the cost of paying employees and leasing machines. Another aspect is when machinery breaks down and is miraculously fixed in just a short amount of time, without any indication given to how much this would have cost.
12. The Miners Don’t Care About Nature
Reports have suggested that those taking part in Gold Rush do not care much about the natural environment. According to some reports, the miners disregarded laws meant to protect the environment in order to get their work done quickly, leading to them being visited by state authorities.
11. Parker Schnabel Is Not As Poor As He Makes Out
Anyone who has watched Gold Rush might come away with the idea that Parker Schnabel is actually struggling financially. He gives the impression that he just about makes ends meet. But in reality, he has more money than you might think and is pretty well off.
10. Their Actions Often Destroy Natural Habitats
The show has faced criticism for their actions which have destroyed the habitats of wildlife, especially in riverbeds and streams, as they move their heavy machinery around. Salmon breeding areas have particularly been affected by the actions of the miners.
9. The Weight Of The Gold Seems To Be Manipulated
Some viewers have noticed what looks like manipulation when it comes to weighing the gold that the miners have found during episodes. In particular, larger gold nuggets are seemingly removed before the rest is weighed, drastically reducing the yield and the amount of money the miners are apparently making.
8. State Representatives Are Often Standing Just Off-Camera To Ensure Laws Are Not Broken
Because of the type of work that the miners of Gold Rush have to do, there are lots of environmental concerns. The miners have to follow a variety of rules and laws both at a state and federal level. As such, representatives of the authorities will often be on set to make sure everything is legal, although they will stand off-camera.
7. They Needlessly Killed Black Bears
The cast of Gold Rush has come under fire a few times for killing black bears. While it can be legal to kill the animals if they pose a threat, producers have come under fire for allowing the crews to kill them for seemingly no reason. Some people on the show have even been fined for killing black bears needlessly.
6. Not All The Cast Are Equals
Despite all of the crews doing pretty much the same work, that does not mean they are all compensated the same. According to former cast member Fred Hurt, he was paid a lot less than the other miners on the show. This was one of the reasons that he left as he felt he was being treated unfairly.
5. The Producers Try To Cause As Much Drama As Possible
The producers will do anything they can to cause as much drama as possible. This even includes when they are visited by state representatives. According to one report, the producers asked the authorities to issue them with a fine rather than just a warning. They felt this would create more tension and attract more viewers to them.
4. The Miners Are Not As Experienced As They Make Out
Most viewers would expect the miners on Gold Rush to be fairly experienced. After all, the show doesn’t exactly make out that they are amateurs. But the truth is that many of those taking part do not have that much experience mining and this is why they make so many mistakes.
3. The Disagreements Are Prompted By The Producers
A common theme on Gold Rush is the disagreements and arguments on the show. The miners will constantly fight with each other when things don’t go to plan. However, according to former cast members, the producers plan out these confrontations to create better television.
2. Certain Events Did Not Happen They Way They Appear In The Show
According to James Harness, not everything that appears in the show happened the way it was portrayed. In fact, he claims the producers purposely manipulate events during editing to tell a story that did not occur. This can even include filming shots that look as if someone is talking to someone who is not there.
1. Their Relationship With Local Communities Is Far Worse Than Is Shown
Gold Rush can be such a disruption to local communities that the crews and production staff never get on very well with residents. In fact, the show has faced multiple lawsuits from those who no longer want the miners in their communities. Some have even tried to ban the show from returning.
