It's Either Voyeurism or Celebrity Culture Gone Wrong. Either Way, It Sucks.

[liz_marcs]

Just when you thought the MTV/VH1 reality shows couldn't get any lower, behold, "Celebrity Rehab."

Jesus Christ on a Pogo Stick.

As short as the article is, the bit about Jeff Conaway (Taxi, Babylon 5) really broke my heart. I seem to recall reading that Conaway has been addicted to various substances off-and-on for years. Including religion, as it so happens. He was in his "born again" phase during his run on Babylon 5 and freely spoke about his past alcohol- and drug-abusing ways back then.

From the looks of things, he's firmly off the wagon and circling the drain.

Gah.

Dr. Drew, oh, how could you?

As for my opinion, I'll let Craig Ferguson speak for me. From February 2007:

Comments

[madripoor-rose.livejournal.com]

Damn. Remember when those channels...just played music videoes?

[amazonstorm.livejournal.com]

You remember that, too?

*shakes head* I'm almost 22 and I feel old. I weep for those days.

[(Anonymous)]

The Canadian equivalents to MTV are MuchMusic and MuchMoreMusic. They are owned by the same company that owns Space (our answer to Sci-Fi Channel). So the other day I'm watch Space and I'm being bombarded by ads from MuchMoreMusic for the new line-up which has basically doubled the amount of reality tv they show. The last line of the ad is that at MuchMoreMusic they give you more of what you want. I keep wanting to shout I want more music.

[ebony14.livejournal.com]

It's sad about Jeff Conaway. He's a pretty good actor, and Bab5 gave him a lot of face-time with a good character.

[unusualmusic.livejournal.com]

Why in the world????? Is the money that needed!!! Is there *ANY* concept of privacy anymore?

[hilleviw.livejournal.com]

That Ferguson monologue planted me firmly in his camp...he's the only one of the current crop of talk show hosts I have any interest in watching. The fact that his show has a legit deal with the WGA and that he's been an outspoken advocate of the WGA has only endeared him to me more.

[lillian13.livejournal.com]

I know. I was watching "Best songs of the '90's" a week or so ago, and in the middle of it I was subjected to a...must have been 5-10 minute "preview" of this thing. I. could. not. stop. watching. It was a slo-mo trainwreck, complete with bood, screaming, and vomit. Ghastly.

Do Not Want.

Heatbreaking to see Jeff in there. I met him in his sober days and he was a really nice guy.

[szandara.livejournal.com]

That's so sad about Conaway. And what's even sadder is how exhibitionism has become such a value in our culture, and pain is just another spectator sport.

[julia-here.livejournal.com]

I miss the hell out of MTV, with the idiot VJs and the bouncy videos and the fun...

The only quibble I have with the Ferguson clip (which is funny, and true, and important) is that those guys at the front of the white pages? People who have alcohol problems due to serious mental illness, who fail over and over to stay sober even going to the rooms seven days a week, need more than that, and two suicides in my family say that whatever that "else" is doesn't yet exist.

(Kesey is here because of the start of Sometimes a Great Notion, and because he drew some lines about drugs and alcohol which let some of his friends find the way out, while trapping others in the wrong part of the maze).

Julia, the paradox is, you can't get well by yourself but nobody else can do it for you.

[sobelle.livejournal.com]

the paradox is, you can't get well by yourself but nobody else can do it for you.

well said... so sad and so true...

I was horrified at the turn to the cheaply produced ~reality~ shows and still wonder where it will all bottom out...

[mpoetess.livejournal.com]

Wow do I wish it surprised me to see the mention of Jeff; I caught him at a con in.... 96? 98? Maybe? And the roomie and I noted for years after that we had never seen anyone look as hungover as he did that morning.

[anelith.livejournal.com]

How sad about Jeff Conaway.

I pretty much hate all reality shows regardless, but this one sounds like so far past the bottom of the barrel that it's impossible to view it with human eyes.

[marenfic.livejournal.com]

I am appalled about this show, and that someone who works in mental health would exploit addicts on television for fame is disgusting. Dr. Drew is behaving incredibly unethically in my view. Detoxing is humiliating and ugly and awful enough in a medical facility without cameras-- it's absolutely disgusting to me that these people are going to have what little tiny shred of dignity that is allowed by privacy stripped away. And I'm sorry, I seriously question the legality of anyone signing a waiver and consent forms for this kind of care when they are under the influence.

I think this is crossing a line, big time.

[skipp-of-ark.livejournal.com]

I'd been told about Ferguson's monologue about this when it first aired, and I thank you for the opportunity to see it for myself. It's as refreshing and candid as I was told. As for Dr. Drew...anybody remember the days when we respected him more than Adam Carolla? *sigh*

[brynnydd.livejournal.com]

I hadn't seen the Ferguson speech before. Thanks for sharing. My respect for him keeps going up.

As far as Dr. Drew... *shakes head* I'm pretty much disgusted with a lot of Hollywood. In my opinion anyone who is willing to exploit their patient's shouldn't be allowed to be a Dr.

[shadoestar.livejournal.com]

Just when I think MTV can't sink any lower, they always find a way to prove me wrong.

I think the last time I saw an actual music video on MTV was in 1998. Somehow, they lost their way and now that channel's just reality and celebrity gossip shows 24/7. The might as well merge with E! and get it over with.

[a2zmom.livejournal.com]

It's the ultimate reality show - if you get lucky you might get to see a celebrity drop dead so you can feel superior.

Just horrible. And sad.

[1-mad-squirrel.livejournal.com]

I've seen this vid clip before and was glad to watch it again. Like any story dealing with addiction it's hilarious and tragic at the same time. Very weird for me, too, as a Pagan, to find myself saying "Amen" a number of times throughout the video.