Intervention: Whatever, At Least Jeff Van Vonderen Is Back
I was kind of hoping nobody would notice how kind of exploitative Intervention has gotten lately, since I'm always like "It's so smart and tasteful!" Despite (or in addition to) being extremely entertaining, the show's characters have gotten more and more desperate. Or maybe they've gotten more and more...funny? Humiliated? For the past few weeks I've dismissed the change in tone as being due to the absence of Jeff Van Vonderen, but oops, this week he was back, and it was one of the craziest episodes ever. So whatever, everyone's talking about it. So meet Allison:
(The rest of the episode is on YouTube in four parts starting here.) I still think I was right when I argued with Gabe about Intervention and claimed it was helpful and more classy than most reality TV, but the show is getting dangerously close to the lowest common denominator. But then it's impossible to judge it when it's such compelling TV. The only way I can describe it is it's starting to feel like other reality shows, and I thought we watched Intervention because it wasn't like other reality shows. I just hope Jeff Van Vonderen can save it before it hits rock bottom.
Posted by Lindsay at 3:45 PM in Reality TV
Tags: Intervention | Jeff Van Vonderen
i kinda can't stand that guy.
he reminds me of the substitute teacher type i'd pick fights with because i hated authority and he didn't really have any.
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also, allison: WTF.
the first time i saw the ad for this episode i wasn't really paying attention and i was sure it was a parody of the show.
but after watching it, it makes me want to punctuate minor thoughts with a loud inhalant huff.
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What a miserable episode. But the TV movie could be a great role for Anne Hathaway. Provided she's not allergic to cats.
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I travel for work a lot and am constantly terrified I'm going to check into a hotel, hit the bar, then go upstairs to my room to find JV2 sitting on my bed with my family and friends.
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oh well, she agreed to be in a documentary about addiction, and she really took full advantage of that! I especially enjoyed her line "what is this mental retardation day?"... go allison!
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That was indeed the best part.
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I thought the best line was "I'm walking on sunshine" - it was totally in the delivery! cracked me up, made me feel guilty for laughing and compelled me to watch the rest of the episode.....
oh and Candy Finnigan ROCKS
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She was the Sarah SIlverman we could love. Mental retardation day was amazing considering the fact that earlier in the day she was walking on sunshine and bouncing on sugar daddy. Obviously incredibly smart behind all the dead brain cells and incredible junkie hypocrisy. 'Control yourself mom!'
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Yeah, I watched it again last night and Allison knows exactly what she's doing. I have a theory that those things don't even get you high, she just doesn't want to get a job.
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Yeah, it was clear that she was aware on one level what was going on. However, as a former gas sniffer, I can testify that when you start to go into the bell jar from inhalants, it's like everything in the world is still around you -- but all warped, f'ed up, and weirder than you can imagine.
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when that was on this weekend i had to turn it off - her amy winehouse face was making my body hurt all over and that fucking can of inhalenent never left her lips
so did she get clean?
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according to her sister on the boards on a&e.com she's been sober, her cats are in foster care (??) and sugar daddy isn't in the picture.
she was definitely basking in the attention..cracking jokes, belittling others and at one point actually believed the camera crew was there to be on her side..providing a barrier between her, her family/police. but when she was high she was hiiiiiiiigh..five minutes later she was sober. she may have been smart but that habit was such a bad investment.
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Just be glad Intervention is there to give us a glimpse into the Hell of addiction. Otherwise even more of the brainless might jump into the fire like these poor souls. Until you've experienced an addict's tornado of lies, confusion, fear, and dirt-under-their-fingernails, count yourself lucky it's on tv and not in your bed or mirror.
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Jeff has always been my favorite interventionalist, and I wondered why he was off the show for awhile. Did he relapse with alcohol?
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Yes, he did relapse on alcohol awhile back. He said he thought he coulkd handle it--pretty amazing considering the total abstinence advice he hands out to those he "intervenes" on. He is on leave from the show. I find him arrogant, rude and condescending, frankly.
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Yes, he did relapse on alcohol awhile back. He said he thought he coulkd handle it--pretty amazing considering the total abstinence advice he hands out to those he "intervenes" on. He is on leave from the show. I find him arrogant, rude and condescending, frankly.
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hi jeff
i would see you on tv every monday night and i would talk to my friend about allison about her drug problems i am glad that she is doing well and hopefully she could get another cat again i am sure that they fine a good home for her cats. can i have allison e mail address and wish her the best
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>>
If you knew Jeff like we know Jeff, you'ld know alcohol abuse is not the only temptation he likes to court. Some of us are still trying to recover from making his acquaintance and being seduced into playing one of his favorite games.
But then, thinking about it now, I suppose being what he was when we knew him has given him ample field experience to know how to help other people's victims in emotionally/spiritually abusive relationships. It is comforting to see that others are getting the help they need. At least that's what I hope comes from all this, and the way it looks from this side of the television. Just remember, I was his dupe once before.
Come to think about it, I think I'm still in Kerry's camp and will borrow these words, "I find him arrogant, rude and condescending," and, I need to add, exploiting. So take care and be careful!
Happy trails to you!
Gerty
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>>
If you knew Jeff like we know Jeff, you'ld know alcohol abuse is not the only temptation he likes to court. Some of us are still trying to recover from making his acquaintance and being seduced into playing one of his favorite games.
But then, thinking about it now, I suppose being what he was when we knew him has given him ample field experience to know how to help other people's victims in emotionally/spiritually abusive relationships. It is comforting to see that others are getting the help they need. At least that's what I hope comes from all this, and the way it looks from this side of the television. Just remember, I was his dupe once before.
Come to think about it, I think I'm still in Kerry's camp and will borrow these words, "I find him arrogant, rude and condescending," and, I need to add, exploiting. So take care and be careful!
Happy trails to you!
Gerty
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