Charade

Charade: An act or event which is clearly false.

Usage:
Everyone knew who was going to get the job from the start - the interviews were just a charade.

Excerpts from soaps, novels and films:

24
“Sherry Palmer: Do you have any idea what’s going on out there? Since no one has seen a body, the media’s circulating all kinds of rumors.
David Palmer: Look, I will tell them as soon as I have confirmation that Jack Bauer’s daughter is safe.
Sherry Palmer: And then what, David? You’re gonna play dead? And I’m supposed to hide in here and play the grieving widow? Just how long do you think we can keep that charade up?”