Ep 9. The Jenny Jones Show: Fatal Attraction

In season 6 episode 9 of How It Really Happened, the focus is on one of the most controversial moments in the history of reality television - the shooting that took place after an episode of The Jenny Jones Show called "Same-Sex Secret Crushes" aired in March 1995. The episode featured a man named Scott Amedure, who revealed his secret crush on his straight friend Jonathan Schmitz. Schmitz, who had no idea of Amedure's affection for him, was visibly uncomfortable on the show and ridiculed by the audience.

Three days after the taping of the show, Schmitz purchased a shotgun and went to Amedure's trailer, where he shot and killed him. Schmitz would later claim that he was embarrassed and humiliated by the episode and believed that Amedure was coming onto him. The case became a media sensation and resulted in large debates about the ethics of reality television.

The episode features interviews with key players in the case, including members of Amedure and Schmitz's families, as well as former producers of The Jenny Jones Show. It also delves into the legal proceedings that followed, including Schmitz's arrest, trial, and eventual conviction for second-degree murder. Additionally, the episode shines a light on the aftermath of the shooting, including its impact on the LGBT community and the questions it raised about the exploitation of vulnerable individuals on reality TV.

As with all episodes of How It Really Happened, the show painstakingly pieces together a narrative of the events, layering in archival footage, dramatic reenactments, and expert analysis. The result is a gripping exploration of a tragedy that rocked the nation and challenged our assumptions about the power of reality television.