Is The First 48 hours staged?

Asked by: Margret Cormier PhD  |  Last update: January 22, 2026
Score: 4.1/5 (73 votes)

One of the more credible "reality TV" series, "The First 48" (which refers to the first 48 hours of a crime investigation) shows real detectives investigating real crimes. All POIs are real. There are no actors, no script.

Is the 48 hours TV show real?

The current format of the documentary primarily deals with real-life mysteries and crime stories, again with just one mystery per episode (such as the murder of Brian Stidham), owing to its heritage structure of featuring a single topic per episode.

Is first 48 a reenactment?

The First 48 is an American documentary television series on A&E. Filmed in various cities in the United States, the series offers an insider's look at the real-life world of homicide investigators. While the series often follows the investigations to their end, it usually focuses on their first 48 hours.

Do the people on The First 48 get paid?

Fans of The First 48 may wonder if the detectives and the police departments in general get any financial compensation for appearing on the show. Perhaps surprisingly, they don't pocket a penny. Police agree to take part because they regard it as a valuable way to show the public how they go about their work.

Is after The First 48 real?

"The First 48" takes viewers behind the scenes of real-life investigations as it follows homicide detectives in the critical first 48 hours of murder investigations.

Lil Darryl On "The First 48" (2014)

17 related questions found

Is first 48 real or fake?

One of the more credible "reality TV" series, "The First 48" (which refers to the first 48 hours of a crime investigation) shows real detectives investigating real crimes. All POIs are real. There are no actors, no script.

Why did The First 48 stop filming?

In 2014, the city of Miami announced that it would not be renewing its contract with A&E, ending the filming of any future episodes of The First 48 there.

What cities is First 48 filmed in?

Filming locations
  • Memphis, Tennessee, USA. (various episodes) Helpful•5. ...
  • Tulsa, Oklahoma, USA. (various episodes) Helpful•4. ...
  • Miami, Florida, USA. (various episodes) Helpful•3. ...
  • San Antonio, Texas, USA. (various episodes) Helpful•3. ...
  • Phoenix, Arizona, USA. (various episodes) Helpful•3.

Why did Matt Frazier leave The First 48?

On September 26, 2016 Detective Frazier decided to step away from the Tulsa Police Department to pursue another opportunity outside of law enforcement. He enjoys his new pursuits and has more time with his family.

Do people get paid on the first day of the month?

Payday is always the first day of each month for career employees. If the first falls on Saturday, Sunday, or a public holiday, then payday will be the Friday before the first of the month or the day before the public holiday. An exception to this rule is January 1.

What is the reenactment of actual events?

The docudrama genre is a reenactment of actual historical events. However it makes no promise of being entirely accurate in its interpretation. It blends fact and fiction for its recreation and its quality depends on factors like budget and production time.

Who has retired from The First 48?

Glenn Barton has moved on from A&E's The First 48—now the show has to figure out how to move on without him. The fan-favorite detective left the Mobile Police Department in Season 24, Episode 7, “Lost and Found,” which automatically ended his tenure on the true crime show.

How old do you have to be to be in a reenactment?

Children can usually even participate, although most reenactment groups have a minimum age (12 or 13 is common) for children to be allowed in more dangerous roles, such as on the battlefield. Most reenactment organizations also won't allow children under 16 to bear arms.

Where is 48 Hours filmed?

The film was shot on-location in San Francisco and Los Angeles. Murphy started a few weeks after principal photography began because he was finishing up a season of Saturday Night Live.

Is the real world still a show?

The Real World (known as Real World from 2014 to 2017) is an American reality television series produced through MTV and Bunim/Murray Productions that most recently aired on Facebook Watch after airing on MTV from 1992 to 2017.

What is 48 Hours post mortem?

One of television's most popular true-crime series is taking listeners behind the crime scene tape with "48 Hours Post Mortem". Whether you're new to 48 Hours or a longtime fan, the team behind the show knows you have questions about the cases they report each week and HOW they report them.

Who is the most popular detective on The First 48?

Detective Jason White is one of The First 48's most popular personalities -- and he deserves the attention. He was the first Tulsa homicide detective that audiences met in Season 16, introducing viewers to the show's best-known city.

What happened to Justin Ritter on The First 48?

Ritter's time on The First 48 ended unceremoniously. Season 21, Episode 36, "What About Me / Last Round" revealed that Ritter had been promoted to Corporal when he was supervising a crime scene that Det. Reggie Warren arrived at. In true Ritter fashion, he jokingly offered to solve the case.

Why did Ronnie Leatherman retire?

Ronnie Leatherman spent 22 years serving on the force, but recently retired a few years ago to work at the Tulsa Police Department's crime lab as an analyst.

Does The First 48 use actors?

One of the more credible "reality TV" series, "The First 48" (which refers to the first 48 hours of a crime investigation) shows real detectives investigating real crimes. All POIs are real. There are no actors, no script. Each episode lasts about 45 minutes, and begins as the crime investigation begins.

How accurate is The First 48?

How true-to-life are shows like “Law & Order” and “The First 48”? “The First 48” is the more realistic of these two. There is some back filming in “The First 48” to fill out a show, but for the most part, it's real-time footage during an investigation.

What city has the most episodes of The First 48?

Season 24's "Murder Strikes at Midnight" saw Tulsa Homicide surpass Miami for the most episodes filmed in one unit. It was an achievement a long time coming, as Tulsa has been with the true crime series since 2015 -- the better part of a decade.

Which detective from The First 48 was killed?

Kevin Forsberg served with BSO for a little more than two decades and appeared on the hit A&E crime series “The First 48.” The 53-year-old was found unresponsive in a Plantation apartment on Jan. 27.

Is Jason White still with Tulsa PD?

Currently work for the Tulsa Police Department, where I have been for over 26 years.

Is first 48 still in Mobile, Alabama?

"Mobile has ended its partnership with 'The First 48' ”, MPD Chief Paul Prine tells NBC 15's Darwin Singleton. “ I was not a fan when I became the chief. And we worked through that." Chief Prine say the last original episodes were shot over the summer.