Are You Scared?

Are You Scared? is an anthology horror series created by Ryan Bergara. In the show, Bergara reads a horror story from the internet to his co-host Shane Madej. Throughout the first two seasons, neither host knows whether the story is fictional or real until they reach the end.

The first episode of Are You Scared?, "Are You Scared of the Voice in the Walls?", premiered on June 19, 2020.

Promotion
In the week leading up to the show's announcement, several cryptic videos and posts were posted to various Watcher social media accounts. A loose narrative emerged that involved Bergara being stalked by a mysterious entity and eventually going "missing". The story concluded on June 17, when Watcher Weekly #24 ended with the announcement of Are You Scared?.

A similar marketing campaign was used to promote season two of the show, creating a narrative in which the Professor kidnapped Bergara.

This use of unfiction has been referred to as an ARG, or alternate reality game, by many (including Madej), though the lack of interactivity or puzzle elements means that it is not truly a game.

The third season had no corresponding unfiction campaign, although its marketing was still interesting, as it accidentally overlapped with the news of Bergara's engagement.

Episode Format
Each episode begins with a monologue setting the scene for the story to follow. The majority of the episode consists of Bergara reading the story aloud, interspersed with commentary and asides from both himself and Madej. After the story is concluded, both hosts learn whether the story is fictional or real.

The format is changed for Season 3, as all stories presented there are fictional, and are understood as such from the outset.

In Season 4, voice acting is introduced, with a story in the format of a forum board being told with minimal narration from Bergara, and several voice actors playing the characters' parts.

"Are You Scared of the Voice in the Walls?"

 * Airdate: June 19, 2020
 * Story Title: "In The Walls"
 * Story Status: Fiction
 * Story Author: Anonymous

"Are You Scared of What's Outside Your Bedroom?"

 * Airdate: June 26, 2020
 * Story Title: "My Final Call as a Police Dispatcher has Scarred Me"
 * Story Status: Fiction
 * Story Author: u/YungSeti

"Are You Scared of Being Home Alone?"

 * Airdate: July 3, 2020
 * Story Title: "Home Alone"
 * Story Status: Nonfiction
 * Story Author: u/StaringVoid

"Are You Scared of the Face in Your Window?"

 * Airdate: October 9, 2020
 * Story Title: "The Red Man"
 * Story Status: Fiction
 * Story Author: Jaisen Morales (A.K.A. Jaisenmaree)

"Are You Scared of Your Roommate?"

 * Airdate: October 16, 2020
 * Story Title: "Something Got My Friend"
 * Story Status: Nonfiction
 * Story Author: Anonymous

"Are You Scared of What Lives in the Woods?"

 * Airdate: October 23, 2020
 * Story Title: "Rabbits in the Creek"
 * Story Status: Nonfiction
 * Story Author: Anonymous

"Are You Scared of the Lady in White?"

 * Airdate: October 30, 2020
 * Story Title: "The Passenger"
 * Story Status: Nonfiction
 * Story Author: Fatihah Malek

"Are You Scared of Sleepwalking?"

 * Airdate: November 6, 2020
 * Story Title: "My Boyfriend Used to Sleepwalk"
 * Story Author: S.J. Ralston (A.K.A. MindfulWrath)

"Are You Scared of Charles the Bear?"

 * Airdate: November 13, 2020
 * Story Title: "Charles the Bear"
 * Story Author: Haley Golaszewski

"Are You Scared of Being Trapped?"

 * Airdate: November 20, 2020
 * Story Title: "Going Down"
 * Story Status: Fiction
 * Story Author: Maya M.

Are You Scared of Being Hunted?"

 * Airdate: November 27, 2020
 * Story Title: "The Phone Stalker"
 * Story Status: Nonfiction
 * Story Author: Julian Hernandez

"Are You Scared of a Job Interview?"

 * Airdate: April 30, 2021
 * Story Title: "Help Wanted"
 * Story Author: Garrett Werner

"Are You Scared of Smile Dog?"

 * Airdate: May 7, 2021
 * Story Title: "Smile Dog"
 * Story Author: Anonymous

"Are You Scared of Working Out?"

 * Airdate: May 14, 2021
 * Story Title: "Bike or Die"
 * Story Author: Garrett Werner

"Are You Scared of Someone Hiding in Your Home?"

 * Airdate: May 22, 2021
 * Story Title: "Someone is Hiding in my House"
 * Story Author: Marcus Kliewer

"Are You Scared of the Devil That Lives Inside You?"

 * Airdate: May 29, 2021
 * Story Title: "The Devil That Lives Inside Me"
 * Story Author: Travis Brown

"Are You Scared of Your Childhood?"

 * Airdate: June 4, 2021
 * Story Title: "My Mom Sent Me Old Home Videos"
 * Story Author: Tor-Anders Ulven

"Are You Scared of the Holidays?"

 * Airdate: December 18, 2020
 * Story Title: "A Christmas Treat"
 * Story Author: Michael Whithouse