What happened
Oobah Butler, a gonzo journalist who describes his work as that of a professional hoax artist, is headed to HBO with a new series titled "Scams for a Better Tomorrow," Variety reported. A24 is producing the show, which follows Butler as he stages large-scale stunts meant to show how easily bluster and bunk can pass for legitimate business.
According to Variety, the series targets a range of fields, including wine, wellness and royalty. The official logline, as quoted by the outlet, says Butler "hatches elaborate and increasingly audacious schemes by gaming online reviews, assuming made-up personas, and launching fake companies with entirely bogus backstories."
What the trailer shows
A trailer for the program, listed as "Oobah: Scams for a Better Tomorrow," gives a taste of the approach. In it, Butler creates a mock skincare brand whose centerpiece is a serum said to be made from children's tears. He then tries to win over influencers, ordinary consumers and Wall Street investors.
Variety notes that Butler tells an incredulous attorney, "It's a gold rush of bullshit, and I want in." The line suggests the show will treat the wellness economy, where marketing claims can outrun evidence, as fertile ground for satire as well as investigation.
Butler's track record
Butler is best known for viral stunts. The best-known example, per Variety, is a fake restaurant that climbed to the No. 1 spot among London dining establishments on TripAdvisor, a feat that depended on manipulating the kind of online reviews that many diners rely on when choosing where to eat.
He previously worked for Vice magazine, where he hosted YouTube videos that drew tens of millions of views, according to the report. In 2021 he became a co-host of "Catfish UK." Variety adds that in 2026 he released a film for Channel 4 called "How To Trick Your Way Onto The Property Ladder."
Who is behind the series
Butler created the series and is an executive producer. Variety lists his fellow executive producers as Dave Kneebone and Janel Kranking of Abso Lutely Productions; Eli Bush, Ronald Bronstein and Josh Safdie of Central; A24; Daniel Lucchesi; Tristan Cross; Adam Schwartz; Richie Doyle; and Conor Hannon. Lucchesi also directs.
The show is A24's fourth unscripted series with HBO. The earlier projects, Variety said, are the docuseries "Neighbors," which has been renewed for a second season, "Born to Bowl," and a series from Ben Stiller about the history, culture and legacy of the New York Knicks.
The report does not give a premiere date or say how many episodes HBO has ordered, and it does not name the specific industries or individuals the stunts will target beyond the broad categories noted above.
