Catfish’s Nev Schulman and Max Joseph React to MTV Show’s Cancellation After 9 Seasons

Catfish host Nev Schulman and former cohost Max Joseph spoke out after it was announced that the long-running docuseries would end at MTV after nine seasons, a year after airing it's last episode. 

By Tionah Lee Sep 23, 2025 1:08 PM
| Updated Sep 23, 2025 3:31 PM
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Watch: Catfish’s Nev Schulman and Max Joseph React to MTV Show’s Cancellation After 9 Seasons

Nev Schulman and Max Joseph are officially logging off from Catfish.

The duo—who began hosting the show in 2012 following the success of their documentary of the same name—reacted to the news that the series was being cancelled by MTV after nine series on the network.

“After 12 years,” Nev said as he sat next to Max in a Sept. 22 Instagram video, “300 episodes and just a lot of traveling around this incredible country, Catfish has officially been cancelled. Sorry.”

In their message to fans, Nev and Max—who helmed the series aimed at helping people get to the bottom of their suspicious digital romances and friendships, coining the term “Catfish”—reflected on the many hotel rooms they stayed in, their travels across the country and the“reverse image searches” they engaged in througout the series.

Hinting that there’s hope for a pickup by another network, Max—who left the series in 2018—noted, “Maybe it’s just on pause.” 

He then added to Nev, “First, congrats to over a decade on cable television in this day and age. I mean this was it. This was the last decade in cable television. And you did it.”

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He added, “With a little help from me and some other people.”

Max and Nev also had a special message for the fans who tuned in throughout the years.

“You guys have been awesome, and you made the show worth continuing to do,” Max said. “Even though I left, you still have come up to me and you tell me how much you love watching it. And that you like watching it with your parents, or parents you like watching it with your kids. It’s this family event. I don’t know, it’s been heartwarming to hear from you guys and just to know what the show means to you.”

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Meanwhile, Nev—who hosted the show alongside Kamie Crawford from 2018-2024 following Max's exit—reserved some words for the subjects of the series, who shared their experiences being catfished.

“To have you share your stories with us all these years,” Nev said. “I mean that’s what the show was. It was you guys and hopefully being helpful to all of you. So, thank you for being a part of this. For turning what was an idea and a documentary into a global conversation about curiosity, and compassion. And just really setting a higher standard for how we treat people and how we treat ourselves.”

He added, “Thanks to everyone who had a part in this. We are so grateful to all of you. Max, I’m so grateful to you for really being there from day one.”

Nev officially signed off with a callback to one of Catfish’s most iconic moments.

“If we leave you with one thing, it’s this," he began. "No matter whatever happens in your life, how someone treats you, or how angry or upset you are. Never call someone a fat ass Kelly Price.”

The news of Catfish’s cancellation comes three weeks after Nev shared he is taking on a new venture in New York City real estate.

In a Sept. 4 Instagram video, Nev rode his bike around NYC as he declared he’s on his way to “help you buy/sell your dream home.” Alongside the video, Nev officially announced his next chapter, sharing he’s, “in my real estate era.”

For more series that have either been renewed or cancelled this year, keep reading. 

Renewed: Honest Renovations

Jessica Alba and Lizzy Mathis' Roku home renovation show will tackle new constructions on season four.

Renewed: Love Island: Beyond the Villa

The second season of Peacock's Love Island spinoff will debut in 2026.

Renewed: Nobody Wants This 

Everybody wants more of this. The Netflix comedy will be back for season three.

Canceled: Ridiculousness

After 14 years, the hit MTV clip show hosted by Rob Dyrdek is coming to an end.

Renewed: King of the Hill

The beloved animated comedy will continue grilling through seasons 16 and 17 on Hulu.

Renewed: Adults

The comedy about a group of twenty-somethings in New York trying to be good people will return for season two.

Renewed: Only Murders in the Building

OMITB is alive and well because the Hulu series is returning for season six in 2026.

The show will film overseas for the first time, with the beloved crime-solving trio leaving New York City to investigate London’s newest mystery.

Renewed: The Rainmaker

The USA Network legal drama will return to the courtroom for season two.

Canceled: The Kitchen

Food Network announced that the weekend culinary talk show hosted by Sunny AndersonJeff MauroGeoffrey ZakarianKatie Lee and Alex Guarnaschelli will end at the end in December 2025 after 12 years and 40 seasons.

Renewed: The Buccaneers

The Apple TV+ drama inspired by Pulitzer Prize-winning author Edith Wharton’s final novel will return for season three.

Renewed: Lioness 

The Paramount+ thriller starring Zoe Saldana and Nicole Kidman was renewed for a third season, according to multiple outlets.

Canceled: The Ultimatum: Queer Love

The Netflix dating reality show won't be back for season three, Varity reported in October.

Canceled: Mid-Century Modern

The Hulu comedy inspired by The Golden Girls won't be returning for a second season.

Renewed: The Morning Show

The Apple TV+ drama, starring Jennifer Aniston and Reese Witherspoon, will be back for season five.

Canceled: Catfish

The MTV series will end with season nine.

“After 12 years,” host Nev Schulman said as he sat next to Max Joseph in a Sept. 22 Instagram video, “300 episodes and just a lot of traveling around this incredible country, Catfish has officially been cancelled. Sorry.”

Renewed: Hunting Wives

After the May Cobb novel adaptation became a smash hit on Netflix when it was added to the platform in summer of 2025, the streamer confirmed it had picked up the series as an original for season two. 

 

Renewed: Foundation

The apocalyptic sci-fi drama will be back for season four.

Renewed: Overcompensating

The Prime Video comedy will head back to school for season two.

Renewed: Berlin ER

Apple TV+ renewed the German-language drama for a second season.

Renewed: The Paper

Stop the presses: The Office spinoff will be back for season two on Peacock.

Ending: Bel-Air

Peacock's reimagined drama will debut it's fourth and final season Nov. 24.

Renewed: Password

Get ready for more outrageous clues, wild guesses and comedic moments as Keke Palmer returns as host alongside wordplay master Jimmy Fallon for season three.

Renewed: The Institute

The horror series was for season two, which should come as no surprise given that The Institute ranks as the best premiere ever on MGM+.

Renewed: America's Sweethearts: Dallas Cowboys

Season three will follow the 2025-2026 Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders squad from start to finish—kicking off at auditions and training camp and continuing all the way through the NFL season.

Renewed: Solo Traveling

Tracee Ellis Ross' Roku Channel travel series will continue jet-setting to fabulous destinations with season two.

Renewed: American Ninja Warrior

The intense NBC competition series will continue to make jaws drop when more contestants compete for the $250,000 price on the upcoming 18th season.

Ending: And Just Like That...

Series creator Michael Patrick King revealed the Sex And The City spin-off starring Sarah Jessica Parker will end after the current third season in a two-part finale.

“And just like that…the ongoing storytelling of the Sex and the City universe is coming to an end,” Michael said in an Aug 1 Instagram post. “While I was writing the last episode of And Just Like That…season 3, it became clear to me that this might be a wonderful place to stop.”

“SJP and I held off announcing the news until now because we didn’t want the word ‘final’ to overshadow the fun of watching the season,” he added. “It’s with great gratitude we thank all the viewers who have let these characters into their homes and their hearts over these many years.”

Renewed: Untamed

Netflix's new series set in Yellowstone National Park and starring Eric Bana scored a season two renewal, according to Variety.

Renewed: Pluribus

The new series, in which the most miserable person on Earth must save the world from happiness, was renewed by Apple TV+ even before its season one premiere.

Renewed: Days of Our Lives

The long-running Peacock soap opera will return with more drama for seasons 62 and 63.

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