While the famous Wahlberg brothers prepare for the second season of their hit A&E reality show Wahlburgers, a new article claims the show falls victim to the popular world of 'scripted' reality TV.

According to Escapist Magazine, the show is only about half-real, though it claims to be a true reality show as it follows the lives of Mark, Donnie and Paul Walhberg as Paul tries to successfully run the Hingham, Mass. based Wahlburgers restaurant.

The article claims that not only are some of the situations contrived by producers to provide entertainment and increase ratings, but each member of the family is cast in a specific role.

Wahlburgers Expanding To NYC As Well?

While believing that Paul truly does have contempt for being in front of a camera and that matriarch Alma has genuine reactions to events, the article states that the most famous of the brothers, Mark, is cast in a more villainous role as the movie star who rolls into town and causes nothing but trouble.

"The most interesting spectacle, though, undeniably comes whenever Mark rolls back into the plot. Reality shows need pretend villains to go with their make-believe heroes, and mark jumps back into the role with workmanlike abandon that's vaguely admirable considering he's the only person involved with a major movie-star reputation to protect," the article says.

"It's not so much that he's malevolent, just that Wahlburgers' conceit of Paul as the beleaguered guy who 'Just wants ta make hamburgah's!' means that Mark has to be the main catalyst for things getting in the way of that: The rich fancypants brother holding the money who swoops in on private jets, drops some new business-related indignity in Chef Paul's lap and jets off to make Michael Bay movies," it adds.

This is in sharp contrast to a February interview with producer Rasha Drachkovitch, who told The Wrap that the show was totally genuine, and despite Mark coming off like a bad guy at times, he really wasn't one.

"There's a lot of sides to Mark. The bottom line is he really says a lot of this because that's his relationship with his brother. Even growing up, that's kind of how they handle each other. ... They kind of work at different speeds. And it's great for us. For me as a producer, you have a natural - I wouldn't call it a conflict. But they're constantly challenging each other's approaches to life," she said at the time.

The show's second season, which has not yet received an airdate, could potentially feature more struggles between the brothers as they prepare to expand the franchise to other areas of Boston, Philadelphia and Toronto.

Jenny McCarthy could also become a more permanent part of the cast, following her recent engagement to Donnie.

Tags
The wahlburgers, A&e, Reality TV