Intervention (TV series)

Intervention is an American series that premiered on March 6, 2005, on A&E. It follows one or two participants, who are dependent or addicted to drugs. 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.

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 Furler
Country of originUnited States
Canada
Original languageEnglish
No. of seasons21
No. of episodes307 (list of episodes)
Production
Executive producers
  • Gary R. Benz
  • Michael Branton
Production locationUnited States
Camera setupMulti-Camera
Handheld HDV cameras
Running time43 minutes
Release
Original networkA&E
Picture formatNTSC (480i)
HDTV (1080i)
Audio formatStereo
Original releaseMarch 6, 2005 (2005-03-06) –
present
External links
Website

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, and the season 14 premiere on March 22, 2015.

Part 1 of season 14 ended on May 10, 2015. Ten additional episodes aired beginning on July 26, 2015. Season 21 premiered on July 20, 2020.

Overview

The show follows one or two participants who have either substance dependence or addiction. 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, all-expenses-paid 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 cast for each episode is primarily the addict and their family and friends. The only regular cast member in each episode is the interventionist. The series started with three regular specialists and gained many more.[4] Ken Seeley is a methamphetamine addict who founded Intervention-911, a service specializing in interventions and in finding appropriate treatment centers for each kind of addiction. Jeff VanVonderen is former pastor and alcoholic. Candy Finnigan is an adoptee, mother, and alcoholic. Jenn Berman, PsyD is a Beverly Hills-based psychotherapist who made a single appearance in Episode 22.

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 episode 2 due to a compulsive shopping disorder. Travis Meeks, lead singer of the Alternative rock band Days of the New, appeared in episode 6, focusing on his methamphetamine addiction. Antwahn Nance, a 6'10" former NBA power forward for the Los Angeles Clippers, was featured in episode 4, 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 episode 6, with heroin addiction. Tressa Thompson, a women's shot put champion, was featured in 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 episode 8, lost both careers due to his methamphetamine addiction. Rocky Lockridge, a two-time Super Featherweight boxing champion, was featured in episode 113, due to his homelessness and drug addiction. 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 over 200 TV shows and movies, was featured in episode 1, 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 battling an addiction to methamphetamine and alcohol.

Episodes
Main article: List of Intervention 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
1630March 6, 2016January 3, 2017
179July 31, 2017September 18, 2017
189January 2, 2018February 27, 2018
198June 5, 2018May 21, 2019
206August 6, 2019September 10, 2019
218July 20, 2020September 14, 2020

Reception

The show received the 2009 Emmy award for Outstanding Reality Program.

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 is glossed-over.[5]

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.[6] On March 8, 2016, Intervention: Codependent premiered on LMN.

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. "Breaking News - A&E Network's Emmy Award-Winning Series "Intervention" Returns for a Tenth Season". TheFutonCritic.com. 2010-12-01. Retrieved 2013-05-23.
  5. Gilbert, Matthew (2005-03-05). "Vile 'Intervention' pulls a fast one". The Boston Globe. Retrieved 2007-06-01.
  6. Patten, Dominic. "Staff Writer". Lifetime Orders Teen Trouble. Deadline. Retrieved 25 December 2012.
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