Urban Legends (2007–2011) User Reviews

The actors give it away

[reevesvic · 6/10 · 4 November 2019]

The idea for the show is pretty good - guess the true tale from the false one. However, the format uses eye witness interviews as well as dramatisations for each story and therein lies the problem. The ones that are false are easy to guess because the eye witnesses stand out a mile as actors. If the show used the approach of "Fact or Fiction" (a very similar programme) it'd be far more difficult to work out what's what because you just get the dramatisations to work with.

The "Mini Myth" segments are the highlights. Not only are they told using comical graphics, they're also harder to guess - unlike the main stories.

You Will Guess Most of the Fake Ones

[el7 · 6/10 · 13 May 2011]

This only takes some of the enjoyment out of this Canadian import currently airing on the SyFy channel. They are still interestingly told, especially since you've heard about them before and wondered for yourself if they're true or not. Each episode has three main stories told in some detail, at least one of which is fake, along with a couple of filler stories ("mini-myths") told in broad strokes.

Ironically, the silly filler stories told with bobble-head Photoshop animation are harder to guess correctly. They sound ridiculous to a fault, but they are as likely to be true as not. It's amazing how often truth is stranger than fiction. The show offers swifter gratification on the outcome of the mini-myths, revealing the truth after the commercial break, while waiting until the episode's end for the reveal on the three main myths.

The three main event stories, however, are much, much easier to guess. The giveaway is the actors. The Canadian actors in the interview sections just cannot hide their pronunciation of "about." It sounds like "aboat." Every time I hear that distinctive pronunciation from a supposed interviewee, I am sure the story is fake, and lo and behold, it is.

This is still a good show to have on in the background while you're doing other things. It's a good conversation starter.

Season 3 much better than Season 1

[smwcw · 8/10 · 10 April 2021]

Like others have said, Season 1 they make it way too easy to guess which is true. In season 3, they make it much more challenging and the actors aren't as obvious to spot. I can't find Seasons 2 and 4 anywhere and would really like to see them.

Great format

[briancham1994 · 9/10 · 11 August 2020]

I liked the format of this show as it really makes you think about each of the urban legends presented. It doesn't just show you the claims, but asks you to consider which of the three stories in each episode is real. I can't say if the claim is even correct (this sort of show is understandably skewed towards sensationalism) but it still got me hooked and wondering.

season 1 episode 1

[senoritatristekriste · 9/10 · 15 July 2014]

I love this show but now have to question all facts in it due to misinformation in this particular episode. Being that I live near one of the sites of one of their half truths since I recall the incident well and the news on the actual events.... the last tale in this trinity rang true up until the end and an adjustment in gang info it was a Latino gang initiation not always practiced and some of the Crips and Bloods do it too; I believe out of boredom. True it is an anonymous victim but it is to prove loyalty to your new family usually beginning with a gang beating, getting high and drinking then either shooting a rival target or random light flasher; aside from this it is also now against the law in Los Angeles County to flash your headlights if caught could results in a fine or jail time. The other difference was the victim was a Caucasian family of 4 that were killed and it was out on an desolate road that is normally very dark in a residential neighborhood near a freeway off ramp in a bad part of downtown L.A. so some urban legends may have sprung from the truth we also had freeway snipers prior to that also not an urban legend...how do I know? cause urban legends don't show the bloody mess on the news as it happens....

Warning: This show lies to its viewers!

[greginess7878 · 1/10 · 19 September 2008]

This show presents you with three stories, two of which are urban legends, and one of which is supposedly true. Right before the show ends, the "true" story is revealed to you. Being an avid fan of all things 'urban legend', I decided to give this show a try. The episode I saw presented two urban legends (the kidney thief and the flashing car lights gang initiation) and one supposedly "true" story of a man who got shot in the chest, had the bullet lodged next to his spine, and then miraculously "coughed up" the bullet by way of divine intervention. This supposedly "true" story really piqued my interest, as it would be ostensibly impossible for that to have happened, seeing that the location of the bullet was nowhere near his airway or digestive system. After doing 2 minutes of internet research, I found out that the gentleman in question was actually shot in the mouth. Makes coughing up a bullet seem a little less "miraculous", right? What angers me the most is when writers insult the viewers' intelligence in such a patronizing manner. Don't get me wrong: I love fiction just as much as the next guy... just don't go claiming it to be "true", and then expect people to believe it was a bona-fide miracle. That's what TV evangelists are for!

Amazingly fun unknown show

[jpc-05741 · 10/10 · 7 January 2024]

I happened to stumble upon this rare gem that doesn't get the credit it should receive, it is a bit like the tv show Beyond Belief Fact or Fiction, but the difference is it deals with urban legends where they show the viewers 3 or 4 stories and little tidbits in-between and at the end of the show they tell you what stories are true or which stories are urban legends. I was hooked after the first show i had watched, I wish this series had gotten extended, but, I didn't know about it when it was originally broadcasted, I really enjoyed this series, and they also give facts along with the true stories that you can search on the internet to verify the facts. I Highly recommend.

Woot!

[egbp1978 · 2/10 · 28 May 2011]

I'm only giving this show a 2 because the urban legend stories are sometimes interesting. Here's the problem: the "false" stories are TOO easy to identify because the "actors" in the story have major Canadian accents. Take some dude from Baltimore who, while out jogging, beats the crap out of another jogger who accidentally bumps into him. He thought dude stole his wallet, so he reclaimed it - only to get arrested because in fact, it was not his wallet, but the wallet of the guy who bumped into him and who he beat the crap out of. First, no young, good looking men in Baltimore would wear a bad wig (LOVE how at the end the actor's like "This isn't even my real hair what's that all aboot?!" SECOND, this guy and every 'actor' in the 'false' stories on the show have a thick Canadian accent!! IT IS SO OBVIOUS. I am from Philadelphia and I can tell! If you want to guess correctly which stories on this show are 'true' just pick the ones where A) The story derives from Canada (thus, Canadian accents) or B) the stories that derive from the United States have actual people in them (not actors) that do not have thick Canadian accents. Even the host has one - faint, but it's there. Accent aside, the actors are realllllly bad actors. I am sure, even with a limited budget, the show can at least do a little better than the worst. Where do you find these people?! Wait for it... while you're just 'out and aboot'?

Cheesy, poor production quality... maybe great for kids

[puckettgw · 2/10 · 10 January 2016]

As other reviewers pointed out, it's really easy to guess which stories are fake. Very little research is done on the U.S. locations, and it's clear they donno what they're talking' aboot. For instance, in one episode they say a city is in Maryland when the text on the screen says (Town), WA. There's no W in Maryland, c'mon guys.

In one episode, the narrator pronounces conquistadors "con-kwiss- tadoors." It may seem pedantic but somebody got paid to make all these stupid mistakes, and someone else got paid to not correct them.

There are innumerable bad puns and unnecessary alliterations. It almost seems like they took a script and then intentionally made it worse for each episode.

A huge copy of great show

[pauleckert-74434 · 3/10 · 7 February 2021]

This show is just a bed low buged version of Beyond Belief fact or fiction. Its so like it I am shocked they havent been sued yet. Also if your gonna copy another show, make it better or at least as good as the show you riped off.

This is a terrible show. Very disrespectful of a celebrity and their family. Not okay.

[wheacandoit · 1/10 · 13 January 2017]

This is a terrible show. They were actually going to make a show out of a celebrity. Actually one of the best entertainers in the world. Celebrities are human beings!NOT URBAN MYTHS! The fact that they would even do this is just not okay and very disrespectful to that celebrity and his family. That is not okay. Doing an episode on a celebrity is not only stupid,idiotic,mean,cruel,inhumanely,and just flat out terrible but it is just simply not okay at all. This is very disrespectful! This is a terrible show. They were actually going to make a show out of a celebrity. Actually one of the best entertainers in the world. Celebrities are human beings!NOT URBAN MYTHS!

Cute show, but obvious.

[kkoltyk · 5/10 · 23 February 2024]

It's a cool show but they make it TOTALLY obvious which one is true and which ones aren't. The actors on the ones that aren't true are really not that great of actors. You can tell they're lying, or at least I can. Also the background for the true story is always different then the then other 2 when the person telling the story is talking. Plus they go into detail way more with the true story. Maybe it's just me but I've been able to guess which one is the true story just off those factors alone. The true stories are interesting though and I like the "mini myths" the true ones are pretty cool.