English
HBO and A24 are teaming up once again for a new unscripted series featuring British gonzo journalist and hoax artist Oobah Butler. The show, titled Scams for a Better Tomorrow, follows Butler as he designs and executes elaborate schemes to expose deception across industries including wine, wellness and royalty.
Fake Brands, Bogus Personas and Online Manipulation
According to the show’s logline, Butler “hatches elaborate and increasingly audacious schemes by gaming online reviews, assuming made-up personas, and launching fake companies with entirely bogus backstories.” The series aims to pull back the curtain on how easily industries and consumers can be misled.
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In the trailer, Butler creates a fictional skincare brand built around a serum supposedly made from children’s tears. He then attempts to win over influencers, everyday consumers and Wall Street investors. “It’s a gold rush of bullshit, and I want in,” he tells a visibly skeptical attorney in the clip.
Butler’s History of High-Profile Hoaxes
Butler built his reputation through a series of viral stunts. His most famous involved creating a completely fake restaurant that climbed to the number one spot on TripAdvisor in London. He later worked with Vice magazine and hosted YouTube videos that accumulated tens of millions of views.
In 2021, Butler joined the British version of Catfish as co-host. More recently, in 2026, he released the film How To Trick Your Way Onto The Property Ladder on Channel 4, further cementing his profile as a media provocateur.
Production Team and Creative Credits
Butler created the series and serves as an executive producer alongside Dave Kneebone and Janel Kranking for Abso Lutely Productions. Additional executive producers include Eli Bush, Ronald Bronstein and Josh Safdie for Central, as well as Daniel Lucchesi, Tristan Cross, Adam Schwartz, Richie Doyle and Conor Hannon. Lucchesi also directs the series.
A24 produces the project, marking the studio’s fourth unscripted collaboration with HBO. Their previous joint projects include the docuseries Neighbors, which earned a second season renewal, Born to Bowl, and Ben Stiller’s series exploring the history, culture and legacy of the New York Knicks.
Scams for a Better Tomorrow arrives as audience appetite for investigative and stunt-driven unscripted content continues to grow. With Butler’s track record of high-concept deception and A24’s reputation for bold storytelling, the series looks set to attract significant attention ahead of its release.
