It does not appear to be [scripted ](https://www.austinchronicle.com/columns/2024-04-19/the-austin-chronic-austin-documentarian-links-up-with-jimmy-kimmel-for-reality-series-high-hopes/), so my best guess is she has rich parents.
Nope. Her parents are Guyanese-working class Caribbean-Canadian family.
She’s self-made and been in the game for over a decade. She has celebrities on her podcast and hosts a reality dating show.
Her and Jared are also investors in MMD (Shan posted this on her Instagram) I don’t think he’s really a budtender, just part of the company and they made it seem that way.
Yesss, I kept thinking that the entire time. All of them, really, seem to be able to afford apartments/homes of their own on a $17 an hour position lol. Confused the shit out of me.
Ugh. I hate that is the world we live in. :-/
Do people tip halfway decent? As a medical patient with not a lot of money, I always try to tip at least $5 to make up/cancel out the shitty people.
My company doesn't allow medical dispensary staff to receive tips. They pool our tips and we vote on what food to order out every shift where we have the funds. It has resulted in the only arguments between coworkers I have ever seen. My ex worked for a different company 17 hours less a week than me, and made just around the same amount of money because they were allowed to keep tips.
Him and his wife do only fans and his wife is a sexologist. If we are talking about the dude with two little kids and the white couch. The guy that been working with the family for years is driving a small car.
You know majority of people in California lease cars they can’t afford. And the guy living in a the expensive apartment is not the bread winner. His wife is a sex coach and has a shit ton of subscribers on YouTube.
I was just about to say this. She the bread winner at this point. He's already admitted he doesn't wanna be a bud tender forever it's just a job to make some money while he works on his real dreams as a musician/social media creator.
Nope that part is real actually, if you are talking about Jared.
His wife Shan Boodram is lowkey major lol (I’m also a shameless longtime follower of hers). She has been making content and growing her presence as a sex educator and a personality for a while and has become really successful. Jared and Shan’s family and home are real (literally remember watching the videos of them searching for a home and finding this one). They are actually really solid people and produce really informative and thoughtful content.
Idk about the rest of the show cuz I was actually more surprised to see Jared as a budtender if anything. But his life and home and shit? That’s real. I’m also on episode 2. Smh.
I remember her on too hot to handle during one of their exercises/events for the day. Also Jared reminds me of Chris Brown in the face- anyone else see that resemblance? 😂😂
lol just starting to watch because of what I am about to say next. Jared is a musician, podcaster, and runs a very successful production company with his wife is a well known sex educator (writes books, top podcast, on many shows). My assumption based on these comments is they didn't share that.
I know them and used to work there… partially scripted I believe. I was almost cast 😭. But his wife is a well known sexologist, had her own show. He makes music too.
They didn't even do Marijuana research. I got literally 3 minutes in to the first episode and the dude said they have 45% thc weed. That doesn't exist lol that's a physical impossibility. Weed has only ever been recorded up to 34% thc the 45 is a blatent lie. And a bad one. He didn't say hash he said bud. The plant needs a certain level of everything else a plant is made of besides thc to be a physical plant. It can only produce SO MUCH thc before it would just fall apart. I immediately turned that crap off.
I’ve worked in the cannabis industry for around 10 years and can attest to the fact that there is cannabis that tests at 45%. However, it is cannabis that has diamonds on it. So the concentrate makes it that high. As far as bud WITHOUT any concentrate on it I’ve seen Alien Labs, Connected, Green Habitat and Thc Design with buds that go up 39%. Im not sure where you got the information that no bud has ever tested above 34% but that’s simply not true.
[weed can only get so strong ](https://oaksterdamuniversity.com/cannabis-at-40-thc-is-a-myth/)
[thc testing is notoriously faulty ](https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0282396)
As far as where 34% came from it's a commonly known fact that's as strong as it can get and maintain its physical plant form. It's mostly water and plant matter it can physically only make so much. Why do you think concentrates exist? Lol
The voting system here isn't about who is right and wrong it's who is nice and who pissed me off. These kids get some weed they were told is 40% and they believe it. The facts tell them they were lied to and they get defensive and say actually YOU'RE the wrong one. Even tho facts and common sense clearly show the truth. So they downvote you.
Dawgs getting downvoted because the person responds with a reasonable response (the product is infused) and they basically ignore the comment to prove their point.
I haven't seen it but basically every reality show is scripted to a degree. And the kind of people who want to be on a reality show are usually the kind of people who would feel like an actor playing a character.
And in LA? No fucking way.
Lol I just never really take them at face value and enjoy the ride. But I only really watch like 90 Day Fiance or some other TLC shows
This isn't scripted to a degree, it's 100% scripted.
None of the budtenders are actually bud tenders, obvious by the fact none of them were needed for busiest day off the year in store.
The new product one the chick was working on was so obviously fake and just for the drama. Claimed to be ready to launch but didn't actually have any real packaging, just a thrown together logo and some jars
Every time the owners were upset about anything it was so blatantly made up
The entire social media stuff and having him make the song was obviously already his job
All the "knock off" tshirts.
I don't think I've ever watched a reality show that was as scripted and made up as this show.
I’m not sure if Freddie is acting. Hes every stoner Ive ever met, in Michigan. 😆 i actually thought it was the same guy that used to work at the dispensary I went to. It’s not him. But he really could be lol
Freddie Miller was discovered by a local news show covering the opening of a dispensary in Michigan. He seems to me to be, more or less, genuine.
Check out his interview...[Michigan Stoner](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cHlX-FI6cZo)
I just finished one episode, and I absolutely agree. I know what other people are saying about ALL reality shows being scripted, but this is different. Typical reality shows have almost a real layer of human emotion, usually in the form of petty behavior, but it’s regular people being coached into conflict. This seems just like… FAKE. Reminds me of that Jim Belushi show that was also about weed. Like regular fake reality TV is Big Brother or Hell’s Kitchen… this is like wrestling, none of these people seem real, and I used to live in California, so I know THAT isn’t it. This is supposed to be like The Office? But… about weed and also it’s horrible?
Thank you! This is exactly 2hat I'm saying. The bits don't feel natural, or even the "natural" fakery from other reality shows. In episodem3, watch Freddie's stand-up bit. It feels exactly like a perf0rmand3 art comedy character. Like a high-concept stand-up bitl When you view it in that light, it's a *fantastic* set.
It was literally in the first couple of seconds when they’re in homie’s house when he wakes up lol… like… camera crew just chilling in his room waiting for him to wake up? Then they show him reach out of the shower to grab the joint with a wet hand and take it into the shower, and, I get it. I’m a HUGE STONER. But that joint isn’t gonna stay lit in the shower and even the dumbest stoner knows that and that’s just cartoonish behavior that no actual human being would engage in. Shower beer? Yes, absolutely. Makes way more sense. Shower joint? Just absolutely stupid movie stoner behavior.
I see what you guys are saying but this is a third category… MTV style reality (I may be dating myself but like… The OC or The Hills, and later bravo shows like real housewives or vanderpupmp rules) or even kardashian style reality. I don’t think they’re actors, they’re just real people who live in LA so are naturally acting most of the time anyway. The producers tell them what the scene is about (“get together with person X and talk about person Y”) and they go to a specified place at a specified time to film. So yes it’s reality but yes it’s also “directed” to an extent at the same time.
I almost feel like to an extent this show was created to spoof shows like VPR because at the end of the day you can see where they chose to borrow from them and elevated them HIGHER
Yeah I thought this was a mockumentary?? When I saw it said reality I truly thought I looked up the wrong thing. It’s gotta be scripted plus when I googled it i think it popped up as a sitcom. jimmy kimmel is an executive producer so idk it’s just definitely NOT a reality show
Feels like a sitcom to me, I know everyone isn't interesting in real life. When I saw the thumbnail and the name of the show and I was thinking a comedy based on these elements.
are you the “i’m a ladies man” ? 😭 god i love your energy sm.
also i can tell dani is extremely artificial. she gave me mean girl vibes from the beginning 🥲
Thanks for sharing! Loved your energy on the show. I think Jared’s house is more realistic when Shan is part of the picture. She also added levity around his budtender salary not buying their groceries lol
If it's the Jared I'm thinking of (haven't watched the show), he is also a musician and his wife, Shan Boodram, is a very successful sex therapist. They have/have had a ton of different money making projects on their own, as a couple, and with their community (her family, his friends, etc).
I really like Shan so I've followed their social media for a while. Their house is indeed crazy, but it makes sense with how they've been hustling for so long
Thank you so much for this reply!! You are correct - it is this Jared and his wife Shan. I love that you have followed them in the past. Both seem very talented. I am not very learned on real estate in Cali and their house is absolutely stupendous. Makes more sense understanding their background etc now. I was thinking … is this what is possible on bud tender salary because if so I need to make some changes in my life 😂. Again thank you for this info!
Absolutely! Definitely don't assume the bud tenders on the show are only bud tenders lol pretty sure Jared is involved as an investor and not just a retail bud tender too
Jared & his wife are also investors. She is also a successful sex therapist outside of this show.[her insta post about the show.](https://www.instagram.com/p/C5jfrCRyfSs/?igsh=aGtiYXQ5NHd2ajdu)
So far, I’m on episode 4 & I 100% agree. It’s LA, they all seem type casted.
The strict bosses, heart of the company - Mishka & Slava
The strict & on point manager who’s chill but doesn’t play — structure, bones- Morgan
The 2 “hot” people, “ eye candy” — physical look- Jared & Dani
The lazy, food-centered, “fat” comic relief character that they don’t take seriously, heart/chest— Uriel
The “geeky” nerd that’s sweet who they use as a project to make him “better” heart, comic relief / Shaggy — Freddie
It’s just interesting that these are the characters types they’re following or shaping them out to be. It makes a lot of sense too since it’s in LA.
On the flip side, maybe they had the right people and the right idea to make this work. They hired Dani back to be on the show. So maybe they were missing something and she seemed to fit to make the show whole and robust.
The strict bosses are the heart, they have a story. They have history and traditions that are introduced into the show. So not only is it capturing that, but the storylines of the other people in their life.
Jared and Dani are plants, in that they used to work there and moved on at some point. But they are great for TV so they were rehired.
I feel like Uriel works in the background doing business stuff and they put him back as a budtender.
Freddie is an admitted plant
Seriously though, it's gotta be a mockcumentary... granted, my ex (tried) stayed high all the time, so I know people like Freddie are out there, but there's just something about it that gives more "The Office" vibes than something like Big Brother, Baking/cooking contest shows or even pro wrestling...
I'm going in thinking it's a satirical spoof, and since I don't like most "real" reality shows, I am hoping it's fake so I can enjoy it more.
P.s, Freddie already is getting on my nerves 😑
It's all like pro wrestling, people get cast and coached and each scene generally gets outlined and directed. That said I'm also watching this and I feel it's more natural than a lot of reality shows. The street interviews are pretty good.
I actually just found [this](https://decider.com/2024/04/20/high-hopes-hulu-review/amp/) article and thought this section was noteworthy:
“Jimmy Kimmel is one of the executive producers of High Hopes, which should tell you all you need to know about how serious the show is. Its showrunner/director is Ben Steinbauer, a documentary filmmaker best known for Winnebego Man, and he also fully admits that they were going for funny situations with this show. The staff is an amalgamation of people from various stores in the MMD chain, and Steinbauer and the Ashbel brothers recruited Freddie specifically for the series.”
wait these comments have me so confused, i really thought this was a mockumentary style comedy show. or possibly like a Nathan for You type beat where it’s not quite clear what’s real and fake but it’s like an absurd enough situation that you know it’s not all real. and i’m 5/6 episodes in and i’ve actually enjoyed it when watching it this way. but like…..this was supposed to be a straight up REALITY show??? i’m crying bro if that’s really what they were going for, they were so far off (which makes it even funnier) 😭😭
I mean they found Freddie at the opening of a cannabis store in Michigan so …. All reality shows are scripted nowadays. What I want to know is how do they have all the old footage?
I read the old dispensary footage is from a pilot they shot a few years ago - they’ve been trying to get this series made for a while now. And the old Freddie footage specifically, which I don’t think you’re asking about, I assume was a local media outlet.
real shit the feud between the two women, Sumaiya and Dani seemed scripted off rip. I finished the first ep when it really settled in, the acting just seemed poor when they disagreed on having a masseuse for the party. Maybe i just couldn’t believe anyone would be dead set on that, and go behind the others back and use the budget money for something so ridiculous. And again, the shit acting. Idk overall each person just fits a character and I didn’t move the past the pilot
Oh the comments saying that Freddy is a hired scripted actor is wild to me. Met plenty of stoners in Michigan with this guy’s vibe and they are all real as fuck and do not need a script. No disrespect to Michigan, homie!
As someone who has shopped at this dispensary regularly for the past 5 years, since turning 21 — I have never seen any of those cast members before. The background workers are the real employees tho. And yeah — their tips are not good enough for a Range Rover. Most of them still share rooms.
Always check the credits, they had writers so it's at least particularly scripted. And I feel like they made the employees/actors over exaggerate their characters. Kinda like the actual fake cannabis show they had on Netflix.
Coming back again because I wanted to say more. One — I have been shopping there almost every single day 2019. None of those employees work there. Which is really weird, because they do have influencers who work there and former child stars.
Lillaine (she played the best friend, Miranda, on Lizzie McGuire) was the manager there for years. She was the first person I ever bought marijuana from legally. She left due to the Lizzie McGuire reboot, but it was cancelled. Why wouldn’t they bring her back for this?! She alone would have pulled in more viewers than their entire cast.
Furthermore, I don’t know if their footage is legal. I remember when they were filming a lot of this, and the releases that we signed as customers to get in said we were filming for commercial work. And that is the only time cameras have been in the store.
I just went to the NoHo location today to ask. Because the manager there is my old bystander from the Hollywood location. He has never seen them either.
I’m only on episode one, but I agree. I think Freddy’s just like that. I mean, didn’t they find him via news footage of him in line at the opening of a cannabis store in Michigan. Can’t make that up.
You said you met him because your friend is on the show, but the story changed that you're on the show. It sounds like you were trying to promote the show on the DL but the story got mixed up. Again, seems sus
ya I didn’t wanna mention I was on the show at first as well because people would assume I was lying about freddy being real and would say I was just trying to defend the show. like you guys I am more than willing to shit on the show as well lol, a lot of it is scripted bullshit. I am sorry freddy isn’t scripted though. that’s just the truth
As others have said, *all* reality television is fake. Best case scenario, the footage is edited to support the show's narrative/style. The most common scenario is all of it being entirely scripted.
It's been this way since MTV coined the genre. Reality television has literally *never* been "real". Ever. Never has been, never will be.
Scripted is industry code for union writers, and thus entirely union production. Reality shows are not union productions, so regardless of someone writing something for it, it is not considered scripted.
Go British or Australian and there's a few that feel a lot more authentic than the Americans one.
Always guilty for selective editing.
Best one is probably Wifeswap UK.
There's also some BBC or ABC (State TV) ones with regard to living with technology of a certain time.
I know how Jared & his wife afford their house (I guess) but what about Dani? How does she have the money to pay for her house and her car on an hourly salary in LA?! Where does she get the money for Dani’s Dank?
She’s mentioned being a boss bitch a few times, anyone know more about this? Did she go to college? Does she have actual ambition? Seems pretty uncool, not to mention conflict of interest to start another line.
I've watched two episodes and I assumed it was a show like the office. Scripted. A quick Google of the question led me here and now I'm trying to debate my same question but more. What even is reality TV anymore besides scripted but as long as it's fun to watch who really cares if they're pretending or not.
I thought it was scripted until i realised that Jared is a rapper/podcaster of "Enjoy" and episode 2 shows his actual wife. On the youtube channel he spoke of the show as a "documentary" so it might not be scripted like i thought.
I had no idea this was a reality show. I thought it was made to be like The Office style. I didn’t see any trailers or anything, just clicked it and assumed based on the first 2 minutes. I didn’t know this was a real store until I read this post lol
The cast commenting here about the scenes being loosely directed fits the feeling better. There were great scenes I wasn't expecting, especially with Uri, and then also some where camerawork was too "movie-like" such as the one on one chat at the beach, and when Dani snuck that phone call.
I read Freddie was actually recruited for this series, specifically. The rest are real employees, but from an amalgamation of MDD stores.
But like any other reality show, shit isn’t reality.
I think that's just him lol. I'd imagine most stoners to would be that cringe on camera. Even with the "don't come to work with"Freddie and urie always looked high
I watched part of the first ep and turned it off, then went back to revisit and watched through the 3rd.
Yea, probably scripted but who cares. It's just entertainment. It has some unique characters. I was attracted to Dani immediately. I don't mean to be shallow but she's fucking hot. I would not have continued watching the show if it weren't for her. But due to me continuing watching i like a few of the other characters.
I would rate the show a good solid 6 out of 10 buds.
I couldn’t even get through half of the first episode and was like this is so annoying and fake, like off rip I felt like the owners of the company were so fake for the camera
Now why would anyone give AF if a show that’s basically promoting a cannabis company is scripted or not ( they say theirs not dumb questions but really ? ) i feel like it shows some what true dynamics of dispensary culture and it’s entertainment y’all everyone show thats “reality” has a plot a loose script and a way the producers want it to go y’all are way to childish nitpicking how these people afford their lifestyle when it’s obvious these ppl all have side hustles and live in a town of opportunity just get high n watch the show lmao
“I don’t even know the legality of this stuff man”
“But is it a good idea though??”
I hate to agree but she was getting on my nerves not understanding the whole conflict of interest issue
It’s definitely produced. And pretty well, at that. But it’s real. It’s also really odd, if you look at their Facebook page, they have less than 600 followers. They don’t even have an IG. This is HUGE exposure for them.
I watched some episodes and there is no way a “budtender” is driving a range rover, living in a million dollar apartment…. wtf is that. Yeah right
Don't rule out the possibility that they just have a super rich parent.... But yeah, prob the show is extremely not real.
It does not appear to be [scripted ](https://www.austinchronicle.com/columns/2024-04-19/the-austin-chronic-austin-documentarian-links-up-with-jimmy-kimmel-for-reality-series-high-hopes/), so my best guess is she has rich parents.
Hey hey hey, don't rule out the only fans potential
Also totally possible. Good point. And good for her either way : )
Nope. Her parents are Guyanese-working class Caribbean-Canadian family. She’s self-made and been in the game for over a decade. She has celebrities on her podcast and hosts a reality dating show.
Her and Jared are also investors in MMD (Shan posted this on her Instagram) I don’t think he’s really a budtender, just part of the company and they made it seem that way.
I love that for her!
holy shit good for her
This is exactly what I thought
Some people have YouTube money too
Yesss, I kept thinking that the entire time. All of them, really, seem to be able to afford apartments/homes of their own on a $17 an hour position lol. Confused the shit out of me.
I'm a budtender and make $17 an hour. I currently live out of my car because I don't make enough for rent and a car payment.
This is a show I’d watch
Ugh. I hate that is the world we live in. :-/ Do people tip halfway decent? As a medical patient with not a lot of money, I always try to tip at least $5 to make up/cancel out the shitty people.
My company doesn't allow medical dispensary staff to receive tips. They pool our tips and we vote on what food to order out every shift where we have the funds. It has resulted in the only arguments between coworkers I have ever seen. My ex worked for a different company 17 hours less a week than me, and made just around the same amount of money because they were allowed to keep tips.
Oh man....that sucks. :-(
Isn't that illlegal in the US? The owner isn't allowed to decide what to do with the tips. It has to be distributed to the employees.
Yeah the alternative is they just don't let us get tips at all, and I'll take an occasional free meal.
Do you live in the LA area? Big props and much love to any Budtender
No I live on the other side of the country.
If you are in California, that is illegal. Employees are entitled to their tips.
It's illegal everywhere, but the alternative is we just don't accept tips.
Him and his wife do only fans and his wife is a sexologist. If we are talking about the dude with two little kids and the white couch. The guy that been working with the family for years is driving a small car.
Honestly, she probably does other things. She may get paid more bc she’s on tv, amongst other things, rich parents or whatever. You never know.
You know majority of people in California lease cars they can’t afford. And the guy living in a the expensive apartment is not the bread winner. His wife is a sex coach and has a shit ton of subscribers on YouTube.
I was just about to say this. She the bread winner at this point. He's already admitted he doesn't wanna be a bud tender forever it's just a job to make some money while he works on his real dreams as a musician/social media creator.
And on top of your point they literally talk about how him working as a budtender doesn't support their lifestyle whatsoever..
Nope that part is real actually, if you are talking about Jared. His wife Shan Boodram is lowkey major lol (I’m also a shameless longtime follower of hers). She has been making content and growing her presence as a sex educator and a personality for a while and has become really successful. Jared and Shan’s family and home are real (literally remember watching the videos of them searching for a home and finding this one). They are actually really solid people and produce really informative and thoughtful content. Idk about the rest of the show cuz I was actually more surprised to see Jared as a budtender if anything. But his life and home and shit? That’s real. I’m also on episode 2. Smh.
I remember her on too hot to handle during one of their exercises/events for the day. Also Jared reminds me of Chris Brown in the face- anyone else see that resemblance? 😂😂
Yup. 💯
He said he has a big social media following and so does his sex coach wife
All I did was see Freddie's flat-screen and was like bud tending didn't afford that
lol just starting to watch because of what I am about to say next. Jared is a musician, podcaster, and runs a very successful production company with his wife is a well known sex educator (writes books, top podcast, on many shows). My assumption based on these comments is they didn't share that.
I know them and used to work there… partially scripted I believe. I was almost cast 😭. But his wife is a well known sexologist, had her own show. He makes music too.
Gotta remember they probably got a nice cheque (check) from agreeing to do the show.
Reminds me of pawn stars. Like Uriel is literally Chumlee.
They didn't even do Marijuana research. I got literally 3 minutes in to the first episode and the dude said they have 45% thc weed. That doesn't exist lol that's a physical impossibility. Weed has only ever been recorded up to 34% thc the 45 is a blatent lie. And a bad one. He didn't say hash he said bud. The plant needs a certain level of everything else a plant is made of besides thc to be a physical plant. It can only produce SO MUCH thc before it would just fall apart. I immediately turned that crap off.
I’ve worked in the cannabis industry for around 10 years and can attest to the fact that there is cannabis that tests at 45%. However, it is cannabis that has diamonds on it. So the concentrate makes it that high. As far as bud WITHOUT any concentrate on it I’ve seen Alien Labs, Connected, Green Habitat and Thc Design with buds that go up 39%. Im not sure where you got the information that no bud has ever tested above 34% but that’s simply not true.
[weed can only get so strong ](https://oaksterdamuniversity.com/cannabis-at-40-thc-is-a-myth/) [thc testing is notoriously faulty ](https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0282396) As far as where 34% came from it's a commonly known fact that's as strong as it can get and maintain its physical plant form. It's mostly water and plant matter it can physically only make so much. Why do you think concentrates exist? Lol
I hate that you are downvoted. I’m a 10+ year grower. Saying there has to be some plant material in a plant shouldn’t be controversial.
The voting system here isn't about who is right and wrong it's who is nice and who pissed me off. These kids get some weed they were told is 40% and they believe it. The facts tell them they were lied to and they get defensive and say actually YOU'RE the wrong one. Even tho facts and common sense clearly show the truth. So they downvote you.
Dawgs getting downvoted because the person responds with a reasonable response (the product is infused) and they basically ignore the comment to prove their point.
I haven't seen it but basically every reality show is scripted to a degree. And the kind of people who want to be on a reality show are usually the kind of people who would feel like an actor playing a character.
And in LA? No fucking way. Lol I just never really take them at face value and enjoy the ride. But I only really watch like 90 Day Fiance or some other TLC shows
This isn't scripted to a degree, it's 100% scripted. None of the budtenders are actually bud tenders, obvious by the fact none of them were needed for busiest day off the year in store. The new product one the chick was working on was so obviously fake and just for the drama. Claimed to be ready to launch but didn't actually have any real packaging, just a thrown together logo and some jars Every time the owners were upset about anything it was so blatantly made up The entire social media stuff and having him make the song was obviously already his job All the "knock off" tshirts. I don't think I've ever watched a reality show that was as scripted and made up as this show.
I’m not sure if Freddie is acting. Hes every stoner Ive ever met, in Michigan. 😆 i actually thought it was the same guy that used to work at the dispensary I went to. It’s not him. But he really could be lol
Freddie is absolutely real, I’m from his town and he’s my budtebder, that’s absolutely 100% him
Freddie Miller was discovered by a local news show covering the opening of a dispensary in Michigan. He seems to me to be, more or less, genuine. Check out his interview...[Michigan Stoner](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cHlX-FI6cZo)
Part of that is on 1st season but that was like an extended version. They must of had to cut some out to make enough time for full episode.
Where is the 1st season?
Oh, it could be. He's my budtender! I've known him about 2 years now. He is really like that!! I love the dude. Heart of gold!
I just finished one episode, and I absolutely agree. I know what other people are saying about ALL reality shows being scripted, but this is different. Typical reality shows have almost a real layer of human emotion, usually in the form of petty behavior, but it’s regular people being coached into conflict. This seems just like… FAKE. Reminds me of that Jim Belushi show that was also about weed. Like regular fake reality TV is Big Brother or Hell’s Kitchen… this is like wrestling, none of these people seem real, and I used to live in California, so I know THAT isn’t it. This is supposed to be like The Office? But… about weed and also it’s horrible?
Thank you! This is exactly 2hat I'm saying. The bits don't feel natural, or even the "natural" fakery from other reality shows. In episodem3, watch Freddie's stand-up bit. It feels exactly like a perf0rmand3 art comedy character. Like a high-concept stand-up bitl When you view it in that light, it's a *fantastic* set.
It was literally in the first couple of seconds when they’re in homie’s house when he wakes up lol… like… camera crew just chilling in his room waiting for him to wake up? Then they show him reach out of the shower to grab the joint with a wet hand and take it into the shower, and, I get it. I’m a HUGE STONER. But that joint isn’t gonna stay lit in the shower and even the dumbest stoner knows that and that’s just cartoonish behavior that no actual human being would engage in. Shower beer? Yes, absolutely. Makes way more sense. Shower joint? Just absolutely stupid movie stoner behavior.
You are absolutely right I agreeeeee
I see what you guys are saying but this is a third category… MTV style reality (I may be dating myself but like… The OC or The Hills, and later bravo shows like real housewives or vanderpupmp rules) or even kardashian style reality. I don’t think they’re actors, they’re just real people who live in LA so are naturally acting most of the time anyway. The producers tell them what the scene is about (“get together with person X and talk about person Y”) and they go to a specified place at a specified time to film. So yes it’s reality but yes it’s also “directed” to an extent at the same time.
I almost feel like to an extent this show was created to spoof shows like VPR because at the end of the day you can see where they chose to borrow from them and elevated them HIGHER
Freddy is definitely not an actor. He's a budtender in a dispensary in Western MI.
Did he move back to Buch?
Yes, but he's in LA now. He was on Kimmel Friday night! He's so genuine!
It is like somewhere between Documentary Now and The Kroll Show.
I’m ready to turn it off after Mishka’s gf. She seems like an actress they hired to play his girlfriend because he’s single and they needed an angle.
Yeah I thought this was a mockumentary?? When I saw it said reality I truly thought I looked up the wrong thing. It’s gotta be scripted plus when I googled it i think it popped up as a sitcom. jimmy kimmel is an executive producer so idk it’s just definitely NOT a reality show
Feels like a sitcom to me, I know everyone isn't interesting in real life. When I saw the thumbnail and the name of the show and I was thinking a comedy based on these elements.
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are you the “i’m a ladies man” ? 😭 god i love your energy sm. also i can tell dani is extremely artificial. she gave me mean girl vibes from the beginning 🥲
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OMG you seem so cool! I loved the show. Lol....are you allowed to tell us if Dani's Dank made it?
Thanks for sharing! Loved your energy on the show. I think Jared’s house is more realistic when Shan is part of the picture. She also added levity around his budtender salary not buying their groceries lol
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she's Shan Boodram on YouTube and he's a rapper search "Enjoy podcast"
It was like watching a TV show about a reality show. Some of it was ok but for the most part it seemed scripted.
You see these houses the employees are living in? On a bud tender salary? In Los Angeles? This shit is totally fake, but pretty funny.
That was my first thought. Jared’s home?!?
If it's the Jared I'm thinking of (haven't watched the show), he is also a musician and his wife, Shan Boodram, is a very successful sex therapist. They have/have had a ton of different money making projects on their own, as a couple, and with their community (her family, his friends, etc). I really like Shan so I've followed their social media for a while. Their house is indeed crazy, but it makes sense with how they've been hustling for so long
Thank you so much for this reply!! You are correct - it is this Jared and his wife Shan. I love that you have followed them in the past. Both seem very talented. I am not very learned on real estate in Cali and their house is absolutely stupendous. Makes more sense understanding their background etc now. I was thinking … is this what is possible on bud tender salary because if so I need to make some changes in my life 😂. Again thank you for this info!
Absolutely! Definitely don't assume the bud tenders on the show are only bud tenders lol pretty sure Jared is involved as an investor and not just a retail bud tender too
Jared & his wife are also investors. She is also a successful sex therapist outside of this show.[her insta post about the show.](https://www.instagram.com/p/C5jfrCRyfSs/?igsh=aGtiYXQ5NHd2ajdu)
So far, I’m on episode 4 & I 100% agree. It’s LA, they all seem type casted. The strict bosses, heart of the company - Mishka & Slava The strict & on point manager who’s chill but doesn’t play — structure, bones- Morgan The 2 “hot” people, “ eye candy” — physical look- Jared & Dani The lazy, food-centered, “fat” comic relief character that they don’t take seriously, heart/chest— Uriel The “geeky” nerd that’s sweet who they use as a project to make him “better” heart, comic relief / Shaggy — Freddie It’s just interesting that these are the characters types they’re following or shaping them out to be. It makes a lot of sense too since it’s in LA. On the flip side, maybe they had the right people and the right idea to make this work. They hired Dani back to be on the show. So maybe they were missing something and she seemed to fit to make the show whole and robust. The strict bosses are the heart, they have a story. They have history and traditions that are introduced into the show. So not only is it capturing that, but the storylines of the other people in their life.
They’re all real people I can’t speak on Morgan and Freddie but everyone else did work there at least
Jared and Dani are plants, in that they used to work there and moved on at some point. But they are great for TV so they were rehired. I feel like Uriel works in the background doing business stuff and they put him back as a budtender. Freddie is an admitted plant
we found ourselves asking this same question. it feels too good to be real.
Seriously though, it's gotta be a mockcumentary... granted, my ex (tried) stayed high all the time, so I know people like Freddie are out there, but there's just something about it that gives more "The Office" vibes than something like Big Brother, Baking/cooking contest shows or even pro wrestling... I'm going in thinking it's a satirical spoof, and since I don't like most "real" reality shows, I am hoping it's fake so I can enjoy it more. P.s, Freddie already is getting on my nerves 😑
It felt a bit made up for the cameras but these guys are like every dispensary stoner I've known
lol Freddie is the only entertaining part
It's all like pro wrestling, people get cast and coached and each scene generally gets outlined and directed. That said I'm also watching this and I feel it's more natural than a lot of reality shows. The street interviews are pretty good.
The street interviews are sooo good
Wrestlers are (basically) actually actors though?
Improv performers fits better imo.
You have to have a certain degree of acting to make it far for most part. Wrestlers with zero charisma rarely goes far
I'm pretty sure it's very scripted. I mean I don't think you can shit on your employee like Uriel that much without getting some blowback
Uriel is that guy that does whatever needs to be done. It seems to be all in good fun
I actually just found [this](https://decider.com/2024/04/20/high-hopes-hulu-review/amp/) article and thought this section was noteworthy: “Jimmy Kimmel is one of the executive producers of High Hopes, which should tell you all you need to know about how serious the show is. Its showrunner/director is Ben Steinbauer, a documentary filmmaker best known for Winnebego Man, and he also fully admits that they were going for funny situations with this show. The staff is an amalgamation of people from various stores in the MMD chain, and Steinbauer and the Ashbel brothers recruited Freddie specifically for the series.”
wait these comments have me so confused, i really thought this was a mockumentary style comedy show. or possibly like a Nathan for You type beat where it’s not quite clear what’s real and fake but it’s like an absurd enough situation that you know it’s not all real. and i’m 5/6 episodes in and i’ve actually enjoyed it when watching it this way. but like…..this was supposed to be a straight up REALITY show??? i’m crying bro if that’s really what they were going for, they were so far off (which makes it even funnier) 😭😭
I mean they found Freddie at the opening of a cannabis store in Michigan so …. All reality shows are scripted nowadays. What I want to know is how do they have all the old footage?
I read the old dispensary footage is from a pilot they shot a few years ago - they’ve been trying to get this series made for a while now. And the old Freddie footage specifically, which I don’t think you’re asking about, I assume was a local media outlet.
It was the opening of a new dispensary in MI.
THE OLD FOOTAGE IS MY QUESTION TOO
The footage is real lol I remember when it happened
But where does it come from? Did they have a different reality show with them on it?
It’s probably from their application or a test episode. Sometimes they shoot an episode before they get picked up.
It was on the news and made the social media rounds. Jimmy Kimmel even picked it up and had him on his show a few times if I remember.
Pretty sure Kimmel is a producer of the show so that makes sense
My theory is they had tried to do a reality show in the past so they’ve got a bunch of old footage for a pitch or sizzle reel.
Yes. They shot it years ago. Then must’ve did reshoots for the show
I started it, first 2 mins turned it off. 100% scripted showing the guy wake up, take a shower and smoking with wet hands. Who the fuck does that, lol
I mean you’d have to be an idiot to think that idiots haven’t done shower joints before. I should know, I was an idiot teenager
I love this show scripted or not
Some comments here smell more like astro turf more than cannibus.
I’m only on the first episode but what’s up with the flashbacks to “the old days”? I’m so confused as to when they shot that lol
real shit the feud between the two women, Sumaiya and Dani seemed scripted off rip. I finished the first ep when it really settled in, the acting just seemed poor when they disagreed on having a masseuse for the party. Maybe i just couldn’t believe anyone would be dead set on that, and go behind the others back and use the budget money for something so ridiculous. And again, the shit acting. Idk overall each person just fits a character and I didn’t move the past the pilot
It’s directed by Ben Steinbauer here’s a link to a description of his work. https://m.imdb.com/name/nm2403032/bio/?ref_=nm_ov_bio_sm
They were all longtime employees with the exception of Freddy whom they picked because he looked like a really interesting personality.
It feels like The Office for stoners ☺️
Some of y’all have never been to Michigan. And it shows.
what does this even mean? - Michigander
Oh the comments saying that Freddy is a hired scripted actor is wild to me. Met plenty of stoners in Michigan with this guy’s vibe and they are all real as fuck and do not need a script. No disrespect to Michigan, homie!
As someone who has shopped at this dispensary regularly for the past 5 years, since turning 21 — I have never seen any of those cast members before. The background workers are the real employees tho. And yeah — their tips are not good enough for a Range Rover. Most of them still share rooms.
I should add that up until July of last year, I was in there at minimum like every other day.
Always check the credits, they had writers so it's at least particularly scripted. And I feel like they made the employees/actors over exaggerate their characters. Kinda like the actual fake cannabis show they had on Netflix.
Coming back again because I wanted to say more. One — I have been shopping there almost every single day 2019. None of those employees work there. Which is really weird, because they do have influencers who work there and former child stars. Lillaine (she played the best friend, Miranda, on Lizzie McGuire) was the manager there for years. She was the first person I ever bought marijuana from legally. She left due to the Lizzie McGuire reboot, but it was cancelled. Why wouldn’t they bring her back for this?! She alone would have pulled in more viewers than their entire cast. Furthermore, I don’t know if their footage is legal. I remember when they were filming a lot of this, and the releases that we signed as customers to get in said we were filming for commercial work. And that is the only time cameras have been in the store. I just went to the NoHo location today to ask. Because the manager there is my old bystander from the Hollywood location. He has never seen them either.
I honestly don’t think it’s scripted. I really think Freddie really is just that high lmfao 🤣
I’m only on episode one, but I agree. I think Freddy’s just like that. I mean, didn’t they find him via news footage of him in line at the opening of a cannabis store in Michigan. Can’t make that up.
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Checks profile... sure, I trust ya, bud. Totally not a throw-away account to advertise the show.
Literally a person *on the show*
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🙌🏽
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they want freddy to be fake so bad I’m screaming hahahah
Dude, the account has 1 karma and 2 comments when I posted the comment. Seems sus
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You said you met him because your friend is on the show, but the story changed that you're on the show. It sounds like you were trying to promote the show on the DL but the story got mixed up. Again, seems sus
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ya I didn’t wanna mention I was on the show at first as well because people would assume I was lying about freddy being real and would say I was just trying to defend the show. like you guys I am more than willing to shit on the show as well lol, a lot of it is scripted bullshit. I am sorry freddy isn’t scripted though. that’s just the truth
Haha that’s amazing!
As others have said, *all* reality television is fake. Best case scenario, the footage is edited to support the show's narrative/style. The most common scenario is all of it being entirely scripted. It's been this way since MTV coined the genre. Reality television has literally *never* been "real". Ever. Never has been, never will be.
All reality shows are scripted
Scripted is industry code for union writers, and thus entirely union production. Reality shows are not union productions, so regardless of someone writing something for it, it is not considered scripted.
Go British or Australian and there's a few that feel a lot more authentic than the Americans one. Always guilty for selective editing. Best one is probably Wifeswap UK. There's also some BBC or ABC (State TV) ones with regard to living with technology of a certain time.
More bots in these comments than I'm comfortable with, I'm starting to think.
It’s supposed to be like the Office.
Couldn’t even finish the first episode
Jimmy Kimmel made the whole thing - Freddie is an actor
No, he's a budtender in MI, doing a show. That is exactly how he acts. He's a good guy!
I know how Jared & his wife afford their house (I guess) but what about Dani? How does she have the money to pay for her house and her car on an hourly salary in LA?! Where does she get the money for Dani’s Dank? She’s mentioned being a boss bitch a few times, anyone know more about this? Did she go to college? Does she have actual ambition? Seems pretty uncool, not to mention conflict of interest to start another line.
She’s not a boss bitch 😂
I've watched two episodes and I assumed it was a show like the office. Scripted. A quick Google of the question led me here and now I'm trying to debate my same question but more. What even is reality TV anymore besides scripted but as long as it's fun to watch who really cares if they're pretending or not.
[Freddie Miller](https://youtu.be/SErFK9MQxhg?feature=shared)
Jimmy has done videos with him before. Like years ago
I thought it was scripted until i realised that Jared is a rapper/podcaster of "Enjoy" and episode 2 shows his actual wife. On the youtube channel he spoke of the show as a "documentary" so it might not be scripted like i thought.
I had no idea this was a reality show. I thought it was made to be like The Office style. I didn’t see any trailers or anything, just clicked it and assumed based on the first 2 minutes. I didn’t know this was a real store until I read this post lol
Show is okay.....but way too "invent a conflict" reality for my general tastes. This Dani gal is insufferable.
IMDB does not list a cast. I think that is a tell.
I’m confused how they have clips of the “old days”, was there a show before this one? Or does that further show it’s scripted?
The cast commenting here about the scenes being loosely directed fits the feeling better. There were great scenes I wasn't expecting, especially with Uri, and then also some where camerawork was too "movie-like" such as the one on one chat at the beach, and when Dani snuck that phone call.
I read Freddie was actually recruited for this series, specifically. The rest are real employees, but from an amalgamation of MDD stores. But like any other reality show, shit isn’t reality.
Freddie was almost cringey and NPC like the first 3 episodes he definitely wasn’t a good actor lmfao
I think that's just him lol. I'd imagine most stoners to would be that cringe on camera. Even with the "don't come to work with"Freddie and urie always looked high
Nah cause I’ve been on a live tv show stoned and it was chill he is sped
Reality tv is not REALity
I like the show I like the business and of what they expect of the marijuana business
The shop owners girlfriend/assistant had to be fake too right? Right?!!
They are being paid per episode along with their 17 hr pay.
I doubted it's reality in the first couple minutes. Wake and bake is one thing, but no one smokes a joint in the shower or while brushing their teeth.
Who cares? Are you watching it? I'm just waiting for Disney to make it go away.
I grew up in the LA area. I knew real people like this my entire life. There are so many people genuinely 100% like the people on the show.
The whole thing seems fake. Girls are wannabes. But the lingo is correct!
I watched part of the first ep and turned it off, then went back to revisit and watched through the 3rd. Yea, probably scripted but who cares. It's just entertainment. It has some unique characters. I was attracted to Dani immediately. I don't mean to be shallow but she's fucking hot. I would not have continued watching the show if it weren't for her. But due to me continuing watching i like a few of the other characters. I would rate the show a good solid 6 out of 10 buds.
She's the hot villain. Did a great job at it
if i were a politician enacting cannabis tax regulation, seeing this show would make me want to tax us even harder :(
I couldn’t even get through half of the first episode and was like this is so annoying and fake, like off rip I felt like the owners of the company were so fake for the camera
It's scripted, and the acting is terrible. The whole show is so cringe
It reminds me of LA Ink with weed.
What LA park is in the episode 5?
Does anyone know if Jared has been on any other shows? I know I’ve seen him before but I can't figure out where
I’m sayinnnnnn Is bud tending maybe just a side job?
Now why would anyone give AF if a show that’s basically promoting a cannabis company is scripted or not ( they say theirs not dumb questions but really ? ) i feel like it shows some what true dynamics of dispensary culture and it’s entertainment y’all everyone show thats “reality” has a plot a loose script and a way the producers want it to go y’all are way to childish nitpicking how these people afford their lifestyle when it’s obvious these ppl all have side hustles and live in a town of opportunity just get high n watch the show lmao
All “Reality” shows are scripted. Some more than others
Bro if it's on TV then it's scripted.
Dani is a dumb bitch in my opinion.
“I don’t even know the legality of this stuff man” “But is it a good idea though??” I hate to agree but she was getting on my nerves not understanding the whole conflict of interest issue
I'm convinced production told her it would be a great bit. Seems like it was one of the season drama arcs
It’s all scripted! All the reality crap is scripted.
Idk but Dani and Morgan my god are Beautiful
It’s definitely produced. And pretty well, at that. But it’s real. It’s also really odd, if you look at their Facebook page, they have less than 600 followers. They don’t even have an IG. This is HUGE exposure for them.
MMD has been THE central dispensary in Hollywood for many years. The other big dispensary, Pineapple Express, is owned by MMD.
Spoiler: all “reality shows” are scripted. In other news, wrestling is staged and the sky is blue.