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ev Schulman spent a decade walking into strangers’ homes, earning their trust as the host of MTV’s “Catfish.” Now, after the show’s cancellation, he’s turning that same skill set toward a new venture: a real‑estate brokerage position with Coldwell Banker Warburg.
After nine seasons and nearly 300 episodes, Schulman learned the series was ending when Variety reported on Monday. “I sensed the show wouldn’t be renewed, but nothing was ever communicated to me,” he said. The last season aired in July 2024, and amid the Paramount‑Skydance merger, MTV had not confirmed whether a tenth season would materialize. “I’m not going to sit around and wait by the phone,” he added.
Schulman first rose to prominence in the 2010 documentary “Catfish,” which chronicled his online romance with a woman who was lying about her identity. The film popularized the term “catfish” and launched the MTV series that followed. After 15 years on television, he decided to pivot to real estate—a field that blends his love of New York City, his talent for navigating diverse personalities, and a chance to work alongside his father, also a CBW agent.
“There are many parallels between falling in love with a person and falling in love with a property,” Schulman explains. His experience investigating deceptive online relationships equips him to help clients avoid being “catfished” when buying a condo. “People feel they know me from the show, and that familiarity and trust—built through visits to their homes and on‑screen presence—translate into the real‑estate arena.”
The decision to leave television was driven by more than a desire for new challenges. “TV is unpredictable,” he says. “As a responsible adult and father of three, I felt the need for a stable income stream.” “Catfish” survived several corporate shifts—from MTV’s Viacom heyday to the CBS merger and the rebrand as Paramount Global—yet it could not weather the latest Paramount‑Skydance era.
Variety reported that MTV is allowing “Catfish” producers to shop the series elsewhere. Schulman clarified that he does not own the rights—those belong to his brother Ariel, Henry Joost, and Andrew Jarecki—but there is “definite interest” in continuing the show. “We believe the series still holds tremendous cultural value,” he said. “There’s no shortage of loneliness and people looking for love.”
In response to the cancellation, Schulman posted a video on Instagram with former co‑host Max Joseph. Joseph had hinted at a return before the show was axed. After Kamie Crawford left in 2024, Schulman reached out to Joseph to film the remaining Season 9 episodes, but the Skydance merger stalled production. “If the show returns, Joseph would certainly be part of those conversations,” he added.
Reflecting on his 12‑year run, Schulman’s favorite moments involved traveling to small towns on America’s fringes and immersing himself in local communities. He recalls a Season 6 episode in Saginaw, Michigan—dubbed the most dangerous city in the state—where he and Joseph attended a neighborhood party. The setting, an abandoned house with a lone mattress and a PlayStation, contrasted sharply with his New York upbringing. “Many of the young men at the party had guns,” he remembered. “It was an eye‑opening moment.” The experience reinforced his belief that people in these communities are often misunderstood and deserve better opportunities.
Schulman’s entry into real estate was intended as a secondary career to hedge against the volatility of entertainment. Ironically, within three weeks of announcing his new role, several production companies approached him about a real‑estate TV show. “I’m taking the meetings!” he said. “I’ve fielded a lot of interest and drafted concepts for what a real‑estate show could look like.” Unlike shows such as “Selling Sunset” or “Million Dollar Listing,” which turn real‑estate moguls into on‑screen personalities, Schulman faces the reverse challenge: can a television star become a star broker?
If he does end up selling homes on television, he hopes to feature his father as a co‑star. “My dad is such an interesting and unique guy; he’d make a great TV character,” Schulman said. “We’re definitely interested in exploring that possibility.”
Beyond real estate, Schulman is developing two unscripted series—one about classic cars and another a news‑magazine‑style program—and co‑directing a documentary on Ironman training with a blind friend. He acknowledges that the television landscape has shifted dramatically since “Catfish” first aired. “Budgets are smaller, audiences are fragmented, and the era of appointment television is gone,” he noted. “Making a career solely in TV is now more challenging.”
Schulman recognizes how rare it is for a first‑time entertainment venture to become a hit. “My entrance into TV was handed to me on a silver platter,” he said. Even if he launches a new show, he knows he may need to seek other opportunities eventually.
He worries that “Catfish” might never return, especially as artificial intelligence makes digital deception easier. “Now you can create literal people that think, look, and act like real humans,” he explained. “And real humans are more vulnerable to being catfished because we isolate ourselves and limit in‑person interactions.” He believes this trend will continue and expresses a desire to help people again, while also pursuing new paths and projects. “Either way, I’m happy.”
