TV Shows Based on True Stories
For Life: History vs. HollywoodDrama | We reveal which parts of this courtroom drama are fictional.
Chernobyl: History vs. HollywoodDrama | This nuclear disaster miniseries delivers a higher dose of fear than fact.
I Am the Night: History vs. HollywoodCrime | Are the shocking revelations in this noir miniseries rooted in fact?
The Crown: History vs. HollywoodPolitical | We separate fact from fiction in this Netflix series about Queen Elizabeth II.
WATCH
Netflix Takes on Pablo Escobar and the Medellín CartelCrime | New series focuses on the drug kingpin and the DEA agent assigned to take him down.
WATCH
HBO Miniseries Looks at Rise and Fall of Yonkers Mayor Nick WasicskoPolitical | The mayor's efforts to see that federally-mandated public housing be built in a white neighborhood cost him his career.
Bessie: History vs. HollywoodMusic | Find out if Bessie sings in tune with the truth.
Manhattan: History vs. HollywoodWar | WGN America's TV show about the Manhattan Project uses real history as the backdrop for its mostly fictional characters.
When They See Us: History vs. HollywoodCrime | The miniseries tells a one-sided story of the Central Park 5. We examine both sides.
The Act: History vs. HollywoodCrime | How much of this story of a mother who lies and convinces the world her child is gravely ill is true?
Benedict Cumberbatch "Brexit" Movie Targets Dominic CummingsPolitical | Cummings was the campaign manager for Vote Leave.
The People v. O.J. Simpson: History vs. HollywoodCrime | The verdict on what's fact and what's fiction in the TV show.
Meet the Real People Behind the "Entourage" CharactersComedy | We pit Entourage vs. Mark Wahlberg's entourage.
Texas Rising: History vs. HollywoodWar | We do battle with the fiction in this 10-hour miniseries.
WATCH
Adrien Brody Portrays Escape Artist Harry Houdini in History Channel MiniseriesDrama | Can Adrien Brody pull off the illusion of making us believe he's Harry Houdini?
Is the USS Nathan James a Real Navy Ship?War | Learn about the origin of The Last Ship's USS Nathan James and find out whether parachute sails are a real technology.
ALL TRUE STORY TV Shows
While most people are familiar with Lifetime made-for-TV movies, many don't realize that quite a few of their favorite TV shows are also based on true stories. This includes Boardwalk Empire, Orange is the New Black, Deadwood and The Goldbergs, to name a few. Here, we not only research such TV shows, we also explore various history-based components of some of the most popular TV series, answering many questions that you've probably wondered at one point or another. Oh, and we also research made-for-TV movies based on true stories. Tune in and enjoy.
For Life
How much of the ABC TV series For Life is rooted in fact?
When They See Us
The Netflix miniseries presents a searing tale of racial injustice while distorting the truth.
Chernobyl
Does this HBO miniseries about the Chernobyl disaster deliver a heavy does of fiction or fact?
The Act
How accurate is this story of a mother who keeps her daughter captive by fake illnesses?
I Am the Night
A ruined reporter helps a young woman investigate the mystery of her birth, but how much really happened?
The Crown
Meet the real people behind more than 16 characters from the Netflix series and find out how much is fiction.
The People v. O.J. Simpson
Meet 27 characters and their real-life O.J. Simpson trial counterparts.
Entourage
Meet actor Mark Wahlberg's real-life posse who inspired the Entourage TV show characters.
Texas Rising
Does Texas Rising retell or rewrite the rise of the Texas Rangers?
Bessie
Queen Latifah portrays bisexual blues singer Bessie Smith, who rose to fame in the 1920s.
Manhattan
We compare the Manhattan TV show to real life at Los Alamos during the Manhattan Project.
The Goldbergs
Meet the real-life Goldbergs and learn how much of the show is true.
Boardwalk Empire
Which of your favorite characters are real?
LATEST ADDITIONS