Cheaters is a weekly syndicated reality television series featuring couples with one partner who is committing adultery on the other partner. Investigations are headed by the "Cheaters Detective Agency" It has been hosted by Tommy Habeeb (Tommy Grand), Joey Greco, Clark James Gable, and currently, it is being hosted by Peter Pankey (Peter Gunz).
Each episode begins with a brief interview of the client, detailing how the client met their partner and what has led them to believe that the partner is cheating, citing suspicious activities or behavior. Next, the narrator describes the progress of the investigation of the partner (referred to as "the suspect"). Private investigators follow the suspect over the course of several days or weeks at their home, workplace, and/or in public with their alleged paramour (dubbed "the companion"). If the client and suspect live together, hidden cameras are occasionally installed in their home. A recorded telephone conversation between the client and suspect, in which the suspect lies about his or her whereabouts, is also played.
When the investigation turns up enough evidence of the suspect's infidelity, the show enters its second segment, "the confrontation." The host meets with the client in a briefing to reveal the findings of the investigation and shows them the evidence collected. The host sometimes warns the client that the footage is disturbing or upsetting but the client nonetheless requests to see it.
The briefing takes place when the suspect and their companion are concurrently being observed together nearby; the intent is to allow the client to catch the suspect in the act of infidelity. After contacting the detective to find out their whereabouts, the host and the client, along with a full crew of production and security personnel travel in a van and seek out and confront the alleged cheater. The confrontation often takes place in public places, such as bars, restaurants and parks, with the client and host both demanding an explanation from the suspect for their behavior. Confrontations are often violent in nature, forcing security guards to restrain the client, suspect and/or companion.
The final segment, "the conclusion," presents parting thoughts from the client, the suspect and their companion as they depart the scene of the confrontation.
This show provides examples of:
- Bedroom Adultery Scene: Many of the confrontations between the client, suspect, and companion occurs in the bedroom, right in the middle of the latter's intimacy.
- Bitch in Sheep's Clothing: Sometimes the suspect upon being confronted tries pleading for innocence or asking for forgiveness, but when it's clear that it's not working, they start becoming hostile and resentful.
- Blatant Lies:
- Recorded conversations between the client and suspect has the latter tell the former that they're at a location while the footage shows that is not the case, even at times showing the suspect on the phone having the conversation.
- The suspect will justify their cheating by saying that the client doesn't spend any time with them and/or give them attention, while recorded conversations show that not only did the client try to spend time with them only for the suspect to constantly turn them down, but implying that it was a common occurrence.
- Break-Up Bonfire: A few episodes have the client gathering the suspect's belongings and either setting it on fire or placing them in the fireplace.
- "Could Have Avoided This!" Plot: The suspect is told at times that the situation they are in could've been avoided if they would've just talked with the client or seek professional help in regards to their problems in the relationship.
- Downer Ending: Sadly the majority of episodes ends with the relationship between the client and suspect ending without any chance of reconciliation. The only hope being that the client is able to overcome this and move on.
- Freudian Excuse Is No Excuse: The subject would try to justify their actions by citing a previous or current wrong done by the client (Neglect, Abuse, etc.). The host states that they should've just ended the relationship instead of invoking Pay Evil unto Evil.
- Heel–Face Turn: After finding out that the suspect is in a relationship with the client, their companion often turns on them. Believing that they are the ones being cheated on.
- Hidden Disdain Reveal: A good amount of confrontations between the client and the suspect has the suspect reveal that they never loved the client and was just using them for their own benefit.
- Know When to Fold 'Em: At times, the host would advise the emotionally incensed client that fighting the suspect and/or companion is not worth it and would only lead into further problems.
- Locked Out of the Loop: Several of the suspects' companions are just as unaware of the client's existence as they are of the companions.
- Long Runner: This series has been airing since 2000, running for over 21 seasons. Likewise, Joey Greco has been the longest-tenured host.
- Moral Myopia: It doesn't matter if the suspect has been lying and has been cheating. As far as they're concerned, the client/Cheaters is/are in the wrong as they're the ones who are embarrassing them in public/ruining their relationship!
- Misplaced Retribution: In some cases, the client is "the other man/woman" to an established relationship the suspect is in with their companion, and is just as likely to be the target of said companion's anger. Others defy this and place all the blame on their cheating partner. One woman even thanked the client for showing them what kind of asshole her almost-husband really is.
- My God, What Have I Done?:
- Among the suspects who are less hostile than others, they tend to have this reaction after realizing just how bad they messed up. Whether if it's actual remorse or it's the fact they got caught is up for debate.
- One of the clients, "Toby Dalrymple," had this reaction upon the realization that he was the other man in the relationship between the suspect and her companion and thus has ruined their marriage, or so he seems to view himself."I'm looking for a bad guy. And I'm the bad guy."
- Never My Fault: A good number of cases have the suspect shift blame off of them to someone else. Whether they blame Cheaters or the client themselves, anything to avoid taking responsibility. Some interviews that feature the suspect at a later date still have them insist that they're not to blame for things ending the way it did and are more upset over how it affected their life.
- Playing Both Sides: Many cases involve companions who are just as unaware of the client as the client was of them, meaning that they are being cheated on just the same. And this doesn't even get into cases where suspects have more than one companion.
- Super-Persistent Predator: With their "prey" being the suspect and companion, no matter where they run or try to hide, Cheaters will track them down.
- Surprisingly Happy Ending: There are occasions where the client and suspect are able to save their relationship despite the latter's infidelity, as seen in updates.
- The Unfair Sex: Averted. While most episodes are in fact those of women suspecting their boyfriends/husbands, the cases where it is men suspecting their girlfriends/wives treat them with the same amount of sympathy and never engage in faulting him, and the woman is treated rightfully as the asshole she usually is.
- Wedding Smashers: Jamie Isaacs' episode infamously has her crash the wedding of her suspect boyfriend. It's devastating for the bride Dalia Santiago, as she's one companion who's Locked Out of the Loop and unaware of her soon-to-be-husband's infidelity to her.
- What the Hell, Hero?: This is a given between the client and suspect on both sides as well as between the client and companion. Occasionally the companion calls out the suspect, who is just as Locked Out of the Loop in regards to the client as vise-versa.
- Where Are They Now: Occurs Once an Episode:
- Updates from previous cases in the form of interviews from either the client, suspect, or companion to share how the experience has affected them and where they are now in their lives.
- Each episode ends with an update of the client, suspect, and companion of each case.
