I discovered the show a couple years ago (my TiVo did actually) and it seems to have gotten more & more popular in the last two years. It’s now not uncommon for the addict to even recognize Van Vonderon or Finnigan from the series once confronted by them at the end. I’ve also noticed that for the last couple seasons they no longer have the addict *spell their name *after they say it for the first time when they’re doing their initial interview like they always used to, I’m assuming maybe because it became a giveaway to them?
So how many production companies are there out actually making just “a documentary about addiction” as Intervention always claims to be doing at the beginning? HBO used to do those, but that was years ago. How much ‘lying’ do the producers actually do? Do they use a fake show or network name? I think its not only a really great series but that they do often bring a lot of real help to people (as opposed to most reality shows which are just mindless, exploitive, garbage) so I’d hate to see it become a victim of its own success…
Who knows what gets left on the editing room floor? I wouldn’t be surprised if a lot of them realize it’s Intervention and go along with it anyway. On the other hand I don’t know how many hardcore rock-bottom drug addicts spring for A&E.
It is basic cable. You don’t even need a box on most systems, so if a neighbor has it, you can put a splitter in and run a wire from their place and plug it into a TV directly.
Sorta OT, but this would seem to be a thing for any of the “surprise” type shows.
Frinstance, how many times can some unknown diner cook with a special sandwich or soup be fooled into thinking he is on some random Food Network special (I can’t ever recall having seen a one-off Food Network special.) and be completely stunned when Bobby Flay shows up to “Throwdown” and they always accept. They need an outtakes show where the fooled cook is either pissed off or declines the challenge.
Home makeover shows do the same thing. Huge packs of people with cameras randomly show up at their houses and everyone is home, dressed completely, and wearing makeup. Yet are absolutely SHOCKED that <insert random semi-famous TV host> is at their door.
Wierd. Never seen the crews ever show up and have the family sitting around in their drawers watching cartoons or the football game.
This is why I lump Intervention in with The Biggest Loser and Home Makeover. Some of the worst challenges people have to deal with can be overcome if you throw enough money at them!
Not Antinor01, but I remember an episode where the guy figured it out (it was explicitly said he had, no guesswork on the viewer’s part was needed) and tried to run off. I think they threatened him with jail to get him to come back.
There was an episode where the interventionist introduced herself and the girl addict says “I know who you are, and I know what this is!” She still ended up going for treatment.
With the home makeover, I believe that they tell the family that they are one of several families in the running, and to be ready for a crew on a certain day, but that they may not be chosen.
Jeez, I think that’s doing a huge injustice to Intervention. Yes, technically speaking, its a “reality show”, but in today’s context its better simply called a documentary. The intervention is not ‘the big hidden surprise at the end’ like a game show, that’s simply how addiction interventions work. They have to be an organized, cooperative, secret in order for them to have any chance of success. The fact that that also happens to be a good structure for a TV show is only a coincidence.
I make the point because I love true reality shows like these, shows where the things you see happening for the most part would happen the same regardless of whether the cameras were there or not. Deadliest Catch, Swamp Loggers, Holmes on Homes etc. So-called “reality shows” (Survivor, Big Brother etc.) are nothing of the kind. Reality that is. In fact they are as far from ‘reality’ as the producers can possibly get them. No one in their casts are ever ‘real people’, they’re always TV-pretty amateur actors, put into ridiculously unreal, wildly artificial situations, and filmed while they argue, fight and/or fuck. And often with a sickeningly thick layer of seriousness or pretension poured on top to try and sell the ‘keepin’ it real man’ concept.
Sorry to go off, but the two show types are polar opposites. One is true reality, real emotions, real human beings, and real quality television. The other is exploitive (sometimes to the verge of criminality), mindless, vapid, posing, not even entertaining except to the LCD, garbage.
I’ve seen a few Intervention episodes where it was obvious the addict knew exactly what was happening. One, I believe, refused treatment but “wanted to be on TV”, IIRC.
