Cheatin' Situation

When Mark arrived at his confrontation scene, "Tommy shows me this film of her and this other guy making out. And then I go up there and yell at her and call her a bitch and all that. I'd never even seen her up to this point. When we were going over to confront her, I didn't know which couple it was until the cameras got around her."

Mark says Grand and crew offered sincere sympathy. "The whole way home Tommy's trying to console me. At the end we get out and Tommy says, 'Sorry it turned out this way; you don't really need her.' Then he told me there were a few titty bars right around that area where I could get my mind off her."

But Grand might have sensed something was amiss when Mark couldn't direct them to their destination--supposedly his and his girlfriend's favorite place. Or perhaps the many cheaters who seem to prefer dining-- and kissing--openly on restaurant patios, or who forget to close their hotel room blinds, might have tipped someone off that some scenarios are fake.

Grand and Gomez say some people might be using the show as a vehicle to get on television, but Grand doesn't believe Gomez would ever stoop to staging scenes, and Gomez insists that the $400 payments are solely for the right to air the person's image.

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If Cheaters has a conscience, Grand/Habeeb is it. His signature black outfits belie what seems to be genuine compassion for the show's clients, some of whom are undoubtedly real and in real pain. "Everyone's had that empty feeling in their stomach, not knowing what their mate is doing," Grand says.

Cheaters, originally a Goldstein/Habeeb production, is now all Bobby Goldstein. Grand--that is, Habeeb--was originally "involved with everything" but is now strictly the host.

Goldstein, who grew up in Houston, was convicted in 1989 and given two years' probation for securing and executing a document by deception. The Dallas divorcee who successfully sued him also charged that Goldstein was professionally negligent, stole from her and then fell in love, offering her $1 million to bear his child (see "Your Cheatin' Heart," November 25, 1999). When asked about claims the show uses ringers, Goldstein said, "That's interesting. I don't know. Dan Rather reporting that Gore won Florida comes to mind. No matter how many quality controls you put into place, I guess there's always some hanky-panky that could arise." He says his detectives have to sign an affidavit attesting to the validity of their investigation.

Goldstein said he would conduct an investigation into the allegations about his show. When next contacted, Goldstein said, "I mentioned it to Danny. He said he had a conversation with you about it. Not knowing anything else, I didn't really bother to spend any time screwing with it."

According to a Federal Communications Commission spokesman, there's no law or regulation against presenting acted-out scenarios as reality on television. Barring a complaint from one of the participants alleging harm, the agency can't take any action.

Goldstein claims the show is now on in more than 90 percent of U.S. markets and is one of the top 20 syndicated television programs in the nation, a claim that proved impossible to verify.

Tommy Grand says his formerly stalled acting career has taken off, thanks to the show.

Michelle is not so lucky. Her segment has been broadcast in Dallas about 10 times this year. "I relive it every time they air that damn show. At work, people come up and say, 'I saw you on Cheaters.' I make sure to tell them it's fake. I got paid to do it."