While the shows do all attempt to present a cavalcade of oddballs, much like Jerry Springer did with his now-iconic (and largely staged) talk show, whether or not these three TruTV series are actually true or not is the subject of debate. Oddly, some of that debate is happening within the network.

TruTV, which is owned by Turner Broadcasting, operates under the slogan "Not Reality. Actuality." In an interview with the "L.A. Times," Turner entertainment head Steve Koonin said that this phrase is key.

"Notice we don't say it's reality. We call it actuality. This is our version of reality."

TruTV's own website backs this statement up, saying that it is not a "reality network," but instead that "our focus is on series that feature real-life situations. That is why we're using the theme 'Not Reality. Actuality.'"

The "L.A. Times" article also points out that many shows on TruTV feature the disclaimer that they "are based on real events," which further waters down their claim to reality.

However, in the same article, "Hardcore Pawn" series star Les Gold insisted that his show is indeed the real deal.

"It's not staged. We don't pay attention to the cameras."

Of course, long before any of TruTV's shows hit the air, reality TV producers were known to use all sorts of tricks to get a little more drama from real life. For example, they film far more than they ever put on the air, which allows some producers to selectively edit things for effect -- some have even been accused of using quotes out of the context in which they were said.

And TruTV's shows certainly haven't been spared from accusations of fakery.

"New York Post" TV critic Linda Stasi accused "Hardcore Pawn" of being staged in her 2010 review of the show's premiere, saying "a lot of it is clearly set up." She gives as an example a scene in which a woman tries to pawn two horses and a donkey, calling it "a pile of horse manure."

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