SpuffyWeb Sadly Over-hyped

GazerRise Fantastic!

Taraparain Tells a fascinating and unsettling true story, and does so well, without pretending to have all the answers.

Rio Hayward All of these films share one commonality, that being a kind of emotional center that humanizes a cast of monsters.

Parker-Kate Individual participants of all ages who are addicts are paid to be in what they believe is a show documenting their unique struggle with addiction, which it is. Whey do not know is that it will end in an intervention with friends/family. At the intervention they are offered the chance to attend an upscale in-patient rehab facility in a state other than where they live followed by the option to enter a sober-living facility for further treatment. This show is raw, transparent, gritty, as these people are at rock bottom and desperately in need of help. After all, they are in a position in which they are having to be tricked into an intervention.I've been watching this show since its inception so it's pretty clear that I'm a fan, but from the scores it would appear that I am in the minority. The show has been on for so long, using the same format ( a.k.a tricks and setup) that it's hard for me to believe at this point that there is anyone who hasn't seen the show to fool anymore. If anyone asked me if I wanted to be in a documentary about addiction I would immediately suspect it was this show. Some episodes are more interesting than others, the deeper into their addiction they are the more interesting it is In my opinion. The episodes consist of interviews with the people who have asked the show for the intervention; family, friends, etc. There's the backstory on the addict and how they grew up, information on their past traumas and contributing factors. These interviews are conducted without the knowledge or consent of the addict. The majority of the episode consists of the film crew following the addict day to day. Obtaining and consuming their drug of choice, stumbling, staggering, fighting, sometimes even overdosing. You see not only how it affects them but also those around them. Their last "interview" is actually the intervention. They show up unaware that they will face a room full of loved ones offering them the opportunity of a lifetime, but that is not always the spirit in which it is received. Sparks generally fly as the participants feel ultimately betrayed. At the intervention they are offered the opportunity to go to an insanely upscale rehab center, followed by sober living free of charge. For those who accept the help the show ends with a 90 day follow-up at their facility. An interview as to how things are going, how they are feeling and what their future plans are.

timspeakman Whenever I watch this show, which is one of my favorites besides Forensic Files, 48 Hours and Seinfeld, I wonder how these people are still breathing. The episode I watched last night featured a woman who drank twenty (20) beers per day (8% alcohol by volume) and lived with her parents. She lost six (6) jobs due to drinking on the job! She started drinking at an early age and was even hammered at her wedding - two years into her marriage, her husband got tired of her guzzling beer so he divorced her. Then she started drinking like crazy, like that would solve the problem, and when she had to take drug/alcohol tests for probation, she would start huffing paint since it wouldn't show up on a test. Wow. She even got so hammered one time that she pulled down her pants and took a crap on a stranger's vehicle while people were laughing at her and filming her. Why do parents keep enabling people like this by giving them money? She was admitted to the hospital on more than one occasion and had a BAC of 0.49!! Good Lord. On the way to the hospital, she called her mom a "*itch" and her mom just kept driving...if I said that to my mom, I would have been slapped into the year 2049. I used to drink but stopped after realizing that there's no point - these people think it solves problems but it does the opposite by creating problems.

ShelbyTMItchell This is really a scared straight show. As it shows people that are addicted to their addictions. Like food, drugs, alcohol, you name it as they are addicted to it.It shows a family that wants to help that person. That is addicted. In reality it is just a facade to help show that person tough love aka the intervention with a tough love psychologist. As they read notes on why that person is hurting them with their addictions. And to get help at a rehab usually out of state.It works sometimes and then other times, it does not. Sad but true. As the show is a learning process after the cameras have stopped rolling. Really sad when they don't get over their addictions. Which happens it seems most of the time.For their vices will be there as a reminder for them to stop due to a lot of things but two things come to mind. Their families and their lives hanging in the balance.Really a scared straight show!

Angela Germain I am not the reality show kind of chick...or at least I wasn't. This show is the best. The people know their are taping a documentary about their addictions but don't know about the intervention. Its actually kind of scary to know that people actually go through different addictions and see how it affects them mentally and physically. I always cry (happy tears) when the intervention comes and they end up going to get help.They always do follow ups as well letting us know how the treatment went and if they are still doing good. Very inspirational and it shows that even the "strongest" can be even stronger getting help and overcoming their addictions! I love this show!