Intervention
Title screen of seasons 1-15
GenreDocumentary
Created bySam Mettler
StarringJeff VanVonderen
Candy Finnigan
Others; see "Interventionists" section
ComposersScott Klass
"Five Steps" (closing song)
Performed by The Davenports
Craig Marks (Theme & Incidental music, 2005 – 2013)
Dominic Messenger (Incidental music, 2006 – 2007)
"Breathe Me" (2008 season preview song)
Performed by Sia
Country of originUnited States
Canada
Original languageEnglish
No. of seasons24
No. of episodes338 (list of episodes)
Production
Executive producers
  • Gary R. Benz
  • Michael Branton
Production locationUnited States
Camera setupMulti-Camera
Handheld HDV cameras
Running time43 minutes
Production companyGRB Entertainment
Original release
NetworkA&E
ReleaseMarch 6, 2005 (2005-03-06) –
present

Intervention is an American documentary series that premiered on March 6, 2005, on A&E. It follows one or two participants, who are dependent on or addicted to drugs and/or alcohol. They are documented in anticipation of an intervention meeting by family or friends. During the intervention meeting, loved ones give the addict an ultimatum: go to an inpatient drug rehabilitation program immediately, or else risk losing contact, income, or other privileges. The show follows up on the recovery progress for future episodes or for web shorts.

On May 24, 2013, A&E announced it had concluded the series, with remaining episodes to begin airing in June 2013.[1] The final episode in the lineup aired on July 18, 2013, and concluded with reflections from past addicts and thanks from the producers to the interventionists, family members, treatment centers, and addicts. On August 5, 2014, however, LMN announced the revival of the series with a new season premiering in 2015.[2]

A&E revealed the return of the show on January 13, 2015,[3] and aired both a special behind-the-scenes episode showing the filming process and updates from former addicts. Season 24 premiered on June 13, 2022.

Overview

The show follows one or two participants who have either substance dependence or addiction, and occasionally, eating disorders. It is a documentary of their addiction, including graphic substance abuse and its effect upon their lives, until a surprise intervention event is conducted with a professional interventionist. It is intercut with interviews with relatives and friends. In the intervention, the addict is given an ultimatum: either undergo a 90-day, fully covered treatment plan at a rehabilitation facility or risk losing contact, income or privileges from their relatives and friends.

In situations where the individuals in the addict's close circle have become codependent or otherwise traumatized by the addict's behavior, the interventionist usually recommends that the entire family seek counseling to enable them to move on. Medical detoxification is available when drug withdrawal is dangerous.

Interventionists

The role of the Interventionist on the show is to persuade the addict to consent to the treatment being offered.[4] If the patient agrees to recovery, some of the Interventionists will accompany the addict to the treatment facility or provide a nurse. They will advise each addict on which center they are assigned to base on their addiction, which is typically in a different state than where they reside.[5] Many Interventionists have appeared on the show since its start in 2005.

Ken Seeley is an Interventionist, certified in CCMI-M, CIP, CTP, CADC, CAS. He is a recovering addict himself devoting his life to helping others and has his own recovery treatment facility in Palm Springs, CA. Seeley has made many appearances on the show since 2005.[6] Jeff VanVonderen is a Certified Intervention Professional, also gives motivational speeches across the country, and has been highlighted in several publications. VanVonderen has appeared on several episodes of the show starting in 2005.[7] Candy Finnigan is an Interventionist, Certified Master Addiction Counselor III. and Board Registered Interventionist II. and received several certificates in drug addiction. Finnigan is a recovering addict herself and has written a book called "When Enough is Enough" about how others can offer support for someone with an addiction.[8]

Sylvia Parsons, Interventionist, certified in MS, LCAS, CSAC, QSAP, QMHP with a Master of Science Addiction Counseling. She is a professional therapist with her own counseling facility. Parsons is a recovering addict herself and has been sober from 2006 to the present.[9] Michael Gonzales is an Interventionist and certified CIP, CTP, Cpi., Full Member of AIS. He has dedicated his life to helping families and addicts on healing from addiction. In the past, Gonzales has spent time in jail and recovered from addiction.[10] Heather Hayes is another Interventionist certified in M.Ed., LPC, CIP and a Master's Level, Licensed Counselor. She has been featured on other broadcast networks, public speaking engagements around the world and has written several documents about addiction. Hayes helped many addicts on the 2018 broadcast of the show.[11]

James "Jim" Reidy is an Interventionist who has spent over a decade of his life battling his own addiction. He has devoted his life to helping others in their recovery for addiction, traveling to many states, and working with their support system.[12] Leticia Murphy is in Interventionist, certified in M.A., LMFT, LCADC. She has her own business in Las Vegas, Nevada where she sees clients for various mental health issues.[13] Donna Chavous is an Interventionist, who chose this path after being addicted for many years and seeing others die from it. She started helping addicts on the show in 2010.[14] Vance Johnson is an Interventionist and Recovery Ambassador on the show as well as the states. He is a former athlete and addict that has recovered and is helping others in their healing journey.[15]

Celebrity subjects

Most episodes feature average people, with a few entertainment professionals. Vanessa Marquez, a supporting actress on the first three seasons of ER, appeared in season 1, episode 2 due to a compulsive shopping disorder. Travis Meeks, lead singer of the Alternative rock band Days of the New, appeared in season 1, episode 5, focusing on his methamphetamine addiction. Antwahn Nance, a 6'10" former NBA power forward for the Los Angeles Clippers, was featured in season 2, episode 8, as he ended up homeless due to his crack cocaine addiction. Chuckie Negron, the son of Three Dog Night vocalist Chuck Negron, was featured in season 2, episode 10, with heroin addiction. Tressa Thompson, a women's shot put champion, was featured in season 4, episode 7, as her Olympic dreams were ended by her methamphetamine drug abuse. Aaron Brink, a porn star and once moderately successful mixed martial arts (MMA) fighter, featured in season 6, episode 8, lost both of his careers due to his methamphetamine addiction. Rocky Lockridge, a two-time Super Featherweight boxing champion, was featured in season 7, episode 13, due to his homelessness and drug addiction. He later died, in 2019, due to complications after suffering a stroke. Linda Li, an actress who played a Taresian woman in the Star Trek: Voyager episode "Favorite Son" as well as appearing as an extra in TV shows and movies, was featured in season 7, episode 1, where she battles an addiction to Actiq, a transmucosal Fentanyl lozenge on a stick or "perc-a-pop". David Sax Jr., the son of former Major League Baseball player Dave Sax and nephew of former Major League Baseball player Steve Sax, was shown in season 14, episode 12, battling an addiction to methamphetamine and alcohol. Amber Rose, a model, musician, and social media phenomenon, is featured in season 24, episode 6. She travels back to South Philadelphia, to help her childhood best friend Tina. Tina, is heavily addicted to fentanyl and crack cocaine.[16][17][18]

Episodes

SeasonEpisodesOriginally aired
First airedLast aired
114March 6, 2005August 21, 2005
221October 30, 2005December 17, 2006
315March 16, 2007September 7, 2007
410December 3, 2007March 17, 2008
517June 23, 2008November 30, 2008
614December 15, 2008March 23, 2009
717May 25, 2009October 19, 2009
818November 23, 2009May 10, 2010
99June 28, 2010August 22, 2010
1013December 13, 2010March 21, 2011
1112June 20, 2011September 12, 2011
1213January 2, 2012April 2, 2012
1321August 13, 2012February 4, 2013
1412June 13, 2013December 30, 2014
1529January 6, 2015August 30, 2015
1633March 6, 2016January 3, 2017
178July 31, 2017September 18, 2017
189January 2, 2018February 27, 2018
198June 5, 2018May 21, 2019
206August 6, 2019September 10, 2019
218July 20, 2020September 14, 2020
2220March 15, 2021September 27, 2021
238October 18, 2021December 6, 2021
246June 13, 2022July 25, 2022

Reception

The show received the 2009 Emmy award for Outstanding Reality Program and the 2010 Emmy award for outstanding picture of reality editing..[19]

Criticism

Matthew Gilbert of The Boston Globe, a critic of the show, argues that the program is exploitative and showcases individuals as they self-destruct. He also argues that the confrontation within the intervention is milked to show only the most dramatic moments and that the final results of the intervention and subsequent rehabilitation are glossed-over.[20]

Melanie McFarland, another television critic, also laments that the show does little to educate on successful intervention and instead deceives the subjects of each episode in order to film them at their lowest point.

Legacy

During early 2011, A&E aired the series Relapse, which ran for five episodes. Each episode focuses on sober coaches' work with long-time addicts who have been unable to get clean after repeated attempts at treatment. Coach Seth Jaffe became an interventionist on the main series.

Several spin-off series were launched. On September 9, 2011, Intervention Canada debuted on Slice Network. On December 28, 2012, Teen Trouble debuted on Lifetime which is executive produced by Bryn Freedman, a former Intervention producer.[21] On March 8, 2016, Intervention: Codependent premiered on LMN. [22]

There are countless television references to Intervention, including parodies of being addicted to the show.

On April 16, 2010, the video "Best Cry Ever" was posted on YouTube, featuring a clip from Season 7 episode "Rocky". The clip centers around a dramatic scene in which former professional boxer Rocky Lockridge is crying in a distinctive way. It has become an Internet phenomenon. A Saturday Night Live sketch features an Intervention parody with guest host Jon Hamm crying in a similar fashion.

References

  1. ↑ Hibberd, James (May 24, 2013). "'Intervention' cancelled". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved May 24, 2013.
  2. ↑ Bibel, Sara (August 5, 2014). "Lifetime Move Network Greenlights New Season of 'Intervention'". TV by the Numbers (Press release). Archived from the original on August 8, 2014. Retrieved August 5, 2014.
  3. ↑ "A&E's Emmy-Award winning and critically-acclaimed docuseries, 'Intervention', returns to the network..." A&E (Press release). January 13, 2015. Archived from the original on January 30, 2015. Retrieved January 17, 2015.
  4. ↑ Westreich M.D. ; Leventhal, Laurence; Eric (2011). Psychotherapy for the Treatment of Substance Abuse: Intervention with the addicted Person. American Psychiatric Publishing, Inc. p. 153. ISBN 9781585623907.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  5. ↑ "A&E Intervention TV Series, Find Help, Treatment facilities".
  6. ↑ "A&E Intervention TV Series Bibliography of Interventionist Ken Seeley".
  7. ↑ "A&E Intervention TV Series Bibliography of Interventionist Jeff VanVonderen".
  8. ↑ "A&E Intervention TV Series Bibliography of Interventionist Candy Finnigan".
  9. ↑ "A&E Intervention TV Series, Bibliography of Interventionist Sylvia Parsons".
  10. ↑ "A&E Intervention TV Series Bibliography of Interventionist Michael Gonzalez".
  11. ↑ "A&E Intervention TV Series Bibliography of Interventionist Heather Hayes".
  12. ↑ "A&E Intervention TV Series Bibliography of Interventionist Jim Reidy".
  13. ↑ "A&E Intervention TV Series, Bibliography of Interventionist Leticia Murphy".
  14. ↑ "A&E Intervention TV Series, Bibliography of Interventionist Donna Chavous".
  15. ↑ "A&E Intervention TV Series Bibliography of Interventionist Vance Johnson".
  16. ↑ "Amber Rose Travels to Her Hometown in Search of Her Childhood Best Friend on 'Intervention' (Exclusive)". www.yahoo.com. 22 July 2022.
  17. ↑ "Anyone that has family members or friends battling addiction knows that money can not help. They have to want to get help on their own. I have tried for many years with no luck 😔 so I reached out to professionals to help me get my best friend…. SISTER! (since kindergarten) the help she needs to get her life back. TONIGHT season finale of Intervention 9/8c on @aetv". instagram.com.
  18. ↑ "Amber Rose Searches for Her Childhood Best Friend in 'Intervention' Finale Sneak Peek (Exclusive)". etonline.com. 22 July 2022.
  19. ↑ "Intervention Awards and Nominations". Intervention (TV Series 2005-Present). Retrieved 15 October 2023.
  20. ↑ Gilbert, Matthew (2005-03-05). "Vile 'Intervention' pulls a fast one". The Boston Globe. Retrieved 2007-06-01.
  21. ↑ Patten, Dominic (14 November 2012). "Staff Writer". Lifetime Orders Teen Trouble. Deadline. Retrieved 25 December 2012.
  22. ↑ "Intervention Release Date". Intervention: Codespendent TV. Melissa Camacho. Retrieved 15 October 2023.
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