Celebrity Rehab: Reality TV gone to far?

[DayDreamer]

Posted: 11/26/07 at 10:25pm

I just did a double take - I have the tv on for noise and heard something about a "Celebrity Rehab" tv show. I thought I must've misheard - but no, there is a show of B-listers going to rehab on national tv. Losing weight is one thing, but rehab? Am I just old?
Celebrity Rehad with Dr. Drew

[DayDreamer]

Posted: 11/26/07 at 10:42pm

Some of the celebrities were Brigitte Nelson (alcohol), one of the Baldwin brothers (I think he was the one in the weight loss one too) and the guy from Taxi - I think he was the mechanic. Don't remember who the other people were ...

[Elphaba]

Posted: 11/26/07 at 11:13pm

no you aren't old, you just have taste.

[SueleenGay]

Posted: 11/26/07 at 11:40pm

If this helps just ONE addict realize they are NOT ALONE and there is HELP available and most importantly if it will give Lief Garret just one more chance to grab the big brass ring of fame, I don't see how anyone can object.

Besides, I think Dr. Drew is kinda sweet.

Actually, it COULD be done in a way that might be informative and inspiring as long as they keep the "Surreal life" aspect at a minimum. Maybe if Oprah got involved? But you just know there will be some episode where the Baldwin sneaks booze into the house after hours and they all end up puking in the hot tub...then they have to face each other in the morning...

WHEN DOES IT START? I GOTTA SET THE DVR!

[TheatreDiva90016]

Posted: 11/27/07 at 12:27am

"and the guy from Taxi - I think he was the mechanic."

Uhm, that was Andy Kaufman, and he's been dead for YEARS now.

[SueleenGay]

Posted: 11/27/07 at 12:30am

I think they mean Jeff Connaway, the guy from Grease!

[TheatreDiva90016]

Posted: 11/27/07 at 12:31am

Oh, THAT mess.

[mattonstage]

Posted: 11/27/07 at 7:30am

They could probably just fill the whole show with former Surreal Life and Celeb Fitness people. I just find the whole thing so sad, taking such a personal problem and trying to fix it in front of the whole of the VH1 audience.

[mominator]

Posted: 11/27/07 at 8:02am

Just when you think TV couldn't sink any lower....

[Rathnait62]

Posted: 11/27/07 at 10:48am

Exactly, matt. Some of those Surreal Life seasons could have been subtitled "D-Listers on the Edge of Rehab".

[Borstalboy]

Posted: 11/27/07 at 12:32pm

This is an interesting idea, but you know someone--probably Conaway--will try to make a big "play" for the cameras so he'll get more screentime, there will be a lot of "conflict" and the whole thing will turn into sensationalistic sh*t.

Call me optimistic, but I think people have gotten over the reality show hump. Even here! Anyone notice how there's no I Love New York 2 thread? Or a Tila Tequila thread? Or The Bachelor? Or...

[robbiej]

Posted: 11/27/07 at 12:37pm

And with Connaway and that Baldwin brother, it's gonna get all kinds of Christ-ey in there!

[Rathnait62]

Posted: 11/27/07 at 12:38pm

"and the whole thing will turn into sensationalistic sh*t."

Turn into? Isn't that the whole idea to begin with?

[Borstalboy]

Posted: 11/27/07 at 12:40pm

I think its Big-N-Lumpy Baldwin who is the addict in the fam, not Blonde-N-Dippy Baldwin who got jazzed for Jesus.

[TheatreDiva90016]

Posted: 11/27/07 at 12:42pm

Maybe, just MAYBE, they need everyone watching them, so they don't slide back into whatever they were doing wrong in the first place.

But it IS creepy.

[DayDreamer]

Posted: 11/27/07 at 12:43pm

In the thing I saw last night they already showed someone very dramatically being taken to the ER. It might have been Conaway.

[Wilhelmina]

Posted: 11/27/07 at 12:43pm

Thank goodness! Voiceanth has another reason to live.

[Rathnait62]

Posted: 11/27/07 at 12:44pm

Really, Diva? It doesn't seem to be working for Lindsay and Britney and all the others who we've seen go to rehab and come back out and go right back into the behavior.

[Borstalboy]

Posted: 11/27/07 at 12:45pm

Oooh! Do you think they'll show them pumping his stomach?? I can't wait to watch now!


Oh and I think they already tried this once on VH1 (where else?) with Tom Sizemore.

Updated On: 11/27/07 at 12:45 PM

[TheatreDiva90016]

Posted: 11/27/07 at 12:46pm

But they aren't having their treatment filmed.

I dunno, I think the Lindsey's and Brintney's are only going into rehab because they are being forced. If these guys are doing it on their own, and not being ordered by a court, MAYBE it's just the kind of support they need.

I'm just saying...

[Rathnait62]

Posted: 11/27/07 at 12:54pm

You don't think there's any kind of ulterior motive to doing it on TV? They're addicted to fame as well as drugs/alcohol.

[DayDreamer]

Posted: 11/27/07 at 12:56pm

Ok. I'm a hypocrite, I admit it. Now I'm strangely fascinated ... I'm certain I will not watch, but still ...
A "Celebrity Rehab" Emergency

[doodlenyc]

Posted: 11/27/07 at 1:21pm

oh please...y'all will watch but tell everyone you were watching pbs or reading.

The reason there is no I Love NY2 threads? It really stinks...but as soon as they come up with another Charm School? Look out!

Jeff Conaway already had to leave Celebrity Fit Club a while ago, so this is great. He was denying that he was using, but it was so obvious.

Fit Club was pretty well done, and several celebs did a fine job (Tina Yothers and Maureen McCormick being two of the biggest losers.) There was, however, a loose cannon on each season, and two of them are on this show. Where are Willy Ames and Dustin Diamond?

[TheatreDiva90016]

Posted: 11/27/07 at 1:28pm

"They're addicted to fame as well as drugs/alcohol"

Well, that goes without saying.

I just think the mentality is, "What's the point of doing it on my own, because no one cares."

There was a line from the Nichole Kidman movie 'To Die For' that pops into my head, something along the lines of 'If what you are doing isn't being watched by everyone else, then what's the point?'