Hot Bench

Dancing With the Stars is breaking voting records even after 35 seasons, cringe Love Is Blind clips are breaking the internet, and Love Island is still breaking hearts week after week... It seems we are having a reality TV renaissance. But what's behind it?

Are we yearning for people to be “real” and "messy" in an online world so otherwise polished? Or are we falling for a trap? Is reality TV the furthest thing from reality of all?

CBS News correspondents Vlad Duthiers and Kelly O'Grady are breaking it down in the very first episode of the...

A minivan purchase goes from family vehicle to financial headache! The buyer claims she was sold a van with a dying transmission, while the seller argues it ran fine and that’s the risk of buying used! Tune in as trust and transmission trouble are on trial.

A spare room is at the center of a housing headache! She claims there was a promise of a year-long living arrangement and abruptly kicked out, while he argues she was only ever a temporary guest who couldn’t follow the rules. Watch as both sides argue over a living situation that came with more drama than square footage!

A wig purchase leaves one customer pulling her hair out! The customer claims the wig didn’t fit and wasn’t what she wanted, while the shop owner claims the purchase was approved and non-refundable! This dispute is anything but a good look!

An SUV sale between exes quickly runs off the road! A woman claims she returned the vehicle after discovering problems and never got her refund. Her ex argues she still owes money and claims she still has the SUV! This breakup comes with plenty of automotive baggage.

A milestone birthday ends with disappointment and demands for a refund. A mother claims the decorations and party favors failed to meet expectations, while the decorator argues she went above and beyond despite difficult circumstances. This celebration is ringing in the drama!

A bargain truck purchase turns into a roadside nightmare! A buyer claims the vehicle was falling apart, while the alleged seller argues he merely brokered the deal and isn’t responsible. One truck, two stories and no brakes on the drama!

A former family friendship breaks down over money and broken trust. One claims he repeatedly helped with car expenses and was never repaid, while the other argues repayment was never part of the deal. Now the judges must determine whether repayment was promised or presumed.

What started as a short-term rental turns into a long-term headache! The landlord claims his tenant allowed unauthorized guests who left the property in disarray, while the tenant claims the guests took over the arrangement, which he knew! Looks like this rental dispute, is checking into court.

An off-leash encounter sends neighbors straight into court! One claims his dog was seriously injured, and he was stuck with thousands of vet bills. The other claims it was simply a brief scuffle. With disputes like this, somebody’s story isn’t passing the sniff test!

A simple favor leads to a painful falling out. A couple claims their former church friend crashed their truck and won’t pay for the damage, while she argues a faulty tire is responsible for the accident. Watch as the judges navigate a collision of faith, favors and hard feelings.

A home repair turns into a bitter battle over workmanship and money. A contractor claims he’s still waiting to be paid, while the homeowner argues she’s still waiting for quality work! Watch as the judges determine whether this project was a job well done or a costly mistake.

A trip through an intersection turns into a collision of accusations! One driver claims a truck ran a red light and left her with a damaged minivan, while the other alleges she drove straight through a red light and into his truck! Watch as the judges uncover which story has the right of way.

A bargain rental quickly becomes a costly disagreement! An aunt and uncle claim their niece and nephew left owing rent and cleanup costs, but they claim the house was a mess and wasn’t worth the rent increase. This housing battle is anything but home sweet home!

This AI project may have generated more drama than results! One woman claims she was hired and then reclassified as an unpaid intern, while the business owner argues a contract was never signed and she barely worked! It’s up to the judges to decide whose story needs a software update!

A decades-old relationship is back with vengeance! He claims his childhood ex’s social media rant hurt his reputation, while she argues he’s been telling stories about her too! These two former sweethearts are anything but friends online!

This used-car deal may have stalled before it even started! The buyer claims he was sold a vehicle in poor condition, while the seller argues he is being blamed for someone else’s scam! Talk about a deal with no warranty on the drama.

A failed relationship drives a bitter dispute over a car. She claims he promised to make payments and maintain the vehicle, while he argues she never followed through on transferring ownership. Looks like this relationship came with a very expensive return policy!

A casino-themed birthday bash leaves one man feeling like he lost a bet! He claims he deserves his deposit back after canceling early, except the planner argues the money was already committed to vendors. It’s up to the judges to decide whether this refund request is a winning hand!

A breakup leaves one ex seeing red... on her credit card statement! She claims she covered a car repair bill and got stuck with the payments, while he argues she offered to help before abruptly ending the relationship! Watch as the judges sort through a debt loaded with emotional interest.

A family catfight turns into a purr-fect storm of drama! One side claims a teenager left his treasured pet with Grandma during a vacation, while Grandma claims she’s grown attached and doesn’t want to give it back! Will a grandmother’s wishes outweigh a teenager’s broken heart?

Two former friends dig themselves into a dispute over a deal gone wrong! One claims he’s still owed money for a “skid steer,” while the other argues he got stuck with a machine that belongs in the scrapyard. Watch as the judges see if the truth can gain some traction.

A home restoration project springs a major leak in trust! The contractor says the job was done and additional work was declined, while the homeowner claims the house was torn apart and left unfinished. This is a job that came with more problems than permits!

A puppy partnership turns into a doggone disaster! One woman claims she was promised two puppies from a planned breeding arrangement, while the other says she ended the deal when they ended their friendship. Emotions run high in this tail wagging tug of war.

The lease may have expired, by the drama is still month-to-month! The landlord claims his tenant left behind unpaid rent and havoc, while the tenant claims the roommates made his life miserable. Watch as the judges tackle a living situation that clearly failed inspection.

A neighborhood dog dispute has both sides barking mad! She claims her Maltipoo suffered devastating injuries, while he claims his Pit Bull is not aggressive and she escalated the situation! When accusations fly, the truth is anything but easy to leash.

What started as a repair job turns into a bumper-to-bumper blame game! One driver claims a mechanic failed to properly fix her cars, while the mechanic argues she caused her own troubles. This is one dispute running on more excuses than gasoline!

A gas bill turns two former friends into sworn enemies! One claims her roommate always found excuses to not pay utilities, while the other claims he always drove her around and paid for other expenses! Talk about a utility bill with lasting power!

A walk around the block leads straight into court! One neighbor claims a dog attack left his pet injured, while the other neighbor argues the vet bills don’t pass the sniff test. Watch as the judges determine who’s responsible for this neighborhood dogfight.

What was supposed to be a family vacation turns into a debt frustration! An aunt claims her niece stopped making payments on a loan for a cruise, while the niece argues extra charges sank their agreement. Watch as the cruise dispute makes some serious waves!

A new puppy brings home a big problem! The buyer claims her puppy was diagnosed with parvovirus within 24hrs, while the pet shop owners argue the dog was healthy and the diagnosis was wrong. It’s up to the judges to dig to the bottom of this canine controversy.

A 25-year-old friendship hits a dead end over a broken SUV. She claims she bought a lemon that disappeared. He argues, he can’t be expected to refund a vehicle that drove right out of the dispute! Sounds like this deal came with too much mileage and not enough trust.

Family stepped in during a time of crisis, but gratitude has given way to resentment. He claims she broke her promise to repay him, but she claims he’s forgotten all she’s done for him. Now it’s time to tally favors vs finances.

A deal over a chain goes from golden opportunity to gold-plated headache! The buyer claims he paid for a gold chain and got a fake. The seller denies knowing the chain was fake and argues it was thoroughly checked and sold “as-is.” Listen as this dispute has everyone searching for the missing link in the truth!

Cash, contracts and accusations collide in this breakup battle! She claims she financed her boyfriend through hard times and was repaid with betrayal. He argues he never cheated and owes her nothing! Listen as the judges sift through receipts and resentment.

A whirlwind romance hops straight into court! She claims her beloved rabbit suffered a fatal injury while in his care, while he denies responsibility and argues she’s really after his money. Now it’s up to the judges to separate hare-say from hard facts.

A friendship ends, but the bill remains. She claims repeated loans were never repaid despite a signed promissory note. He argues the money came with the relationship, not a repayment schedule. It’s up to the judges to separate financial facts from personal fiction.

A neighborhood dog dispute has both sides barking mad! One owner says their dog Coco needed three surgeries after an attack, while the other argues it was just a nip that was two years ago! Only the judges can keep this case from going off the leash.

A moving day mishap turns into a heavyweight courtroom battle. A customer claims movers left a trail of damage and missing possessions, but the company owner insists the claims are loaded with exaggeration. It’s up to the judges to sort through this truck load of accusations

A relationship that ran out of gas long before the money did! He claims he’s owed for car repairs while she argues he’s hounding her over a gift. Watch the judges navigate the wreckage of this romantic road hazard