MovieChat Forums > Intervention (2005) Discussion > Intervention finally crossed the line...

Intervention finally crossed the line...

posted 10 years ago by Gabe1972
27 replies | jump to latest

I've watched this show for years, and it's always been presented in a respectable way. Hard hitting, and revealing, but respectable.

This ended with Samantha C (4/5/2015) episode. During this episode, we were treated to the sounds of Samantha's encounter with her "customer". We got to hear bodies slapping together and her customer's climax. Wonderful. Really wonderful.

I think this is where they lose me as a viewer. As I stated, this show has always been respectable, but they crossed over the line when they went into reality show, low rent garbage with that particular scene.

Frankly, I'm disgusted. They didn't need to go there, and I don't know why they did. Perhaps to try to get higher ratings? Maybe trying to snag a younger demographic? I don't know. But, for whatever reason, the respectability ended with that event, and so did my viewership.

"Well, the world needs ditch diggers, too."

[–] morguebabe 10 years ago

I really don't think the younger generation has a real vested interest in hearing sex sounds on a show about addiction.

[–] Karma-For-You 10 years ago

It didn't turn me off to the show, but I definitely remember that short scene and it was something I really didn't need to hear.

[–] Samuraibro 10 years ago

Seriously?

That part was probably 10 seconds long, you are making it sound a lot worse than it actually is. 

[–] Gabe1972 10 years ago

Yes, seriously.

"Well, the world needs ditch diggers, too."

[–] jnorgle 10 years ago

That really surprised me. I mean, it kinda sounds the same as the fake ones, but you know it's not (unless they are hiring fake "addicts", but that's another bag of worms)...a lot of things I've seen and heard over the last 10 years makes me wonder what TV will be in 25 years...could be an editing mistake and someone's going to have to find a new career, but I just doubt it...you likely aren't the only one with this reaction and if they keep on doing this, the demographic that isn't complaining is the one they are for some reason catering to...😛

[–] Gabe1972 10 years ago

I wondered if maybe they have new producers that wanted to make the show "edgier". If that's the case, they are doing it in the wrong way, as the last thing they need to do is sensationalize the program.

I also wonder what TV will be like in 25 years. I remember watching the last episode of MASH when I was a kid, and Hawkeye called his psychiatrist an SOB, and that absolutely shocked not only me, but my parents, as well. Today, it's a whole new ball game. So, for sure, 25 years from now it's going to be quite different. The type of stuff they showed on Sons of Anarchy, which REALLY pushed the envelop for that type of network, is a good indication of what will be acceptable in the future.

But, of course, they didn't even show a bathroom in the 50s, and to say the word "pregnant" was a travesty. Those things seem extremely tame by today's standards. I guess it's all in the perspective of the era you grow up in and what you are used to.

We shall see.

BTW, I haven't yet, and it probably won't make any difference, but I am going to write to A&E and express my feelings about the episode. Maybe, if enough people do the same, they might pay attention.

"Well, the world needs ditch diggers, too."

[–] Karma-For-You 10 years ago

There's a Tom Petty music video that plays on tv and the word "joint" is in the song, but the tv station distorts the word "joint" so you can't tell what he's singing (unless you know the song). It always makes me laugh because the word "joint" can't be said on tv, but they let all this other garbage in.

[–] Gabe1972 10 years ago

Yep, the song "You Don't Know How It Feels". It's a good song. I remember when that came out. The interesting thing is that when it debuted, and you could watch the vid on MTV, they didn't distort the word, but when it played on the radio, they did. Now they distort it on both.

I live close enough to the Canadian border that I can get a Canadian rock station and hear the songs without being cut like that. They cut eff words and such, but no light cuss words, and certainly not "joint", like the American stations do.

"Well, the world needs ditch diggers, too."

[–] BridgitteVonHammersmark 10 years ago

Apparently, you are one of my 'ignored users', don't remember why, but before that kicked in, IMDB showed me your OP, and I have to agree with you, that audio was COMPLETELY not needed. It just adds a sleaze factor to the show.

[–] sodontapologize 10 years ago

It was gross, but I think they added it in to show how far she really was going to support her addiction. I was surprised to see them pretty much show her clients as well, it didn't sound like they tried to mask their voices over the phone either.

At the end of the day it should have been left out, but her episode had so much going on that a 6 second clip of moaning was really nothing compared to other things she was doing and saying.

[–] Gabe1972 10 years ago

There have been numerous people that have gone to these lengths, and even further, to either obtain their drugs or the means to get said drugs. This wasn't done to show how far she would go. This was done to make the show more sensationalistic, as it seems they think that may bring back viewership.

In my opinion, they made a mistake in doing this, and rather than bringing in more viewers by this type of thing, all it will do is push some longtime viewers away. Remember, in the years this show has been on, they've shown how terrible this type of thing is, but they have always done it in a respectful manner. By doing this, they have lost that claim to be able to say that they haven't stooped to the level so many other programs have. It's sad to see this happen.

It's like they are trying to bring the younger generation in to watch this, when the problem is, most of the younger generation doesn't care for a program like this anyway. If they keep it up, I'd be willing to bet that it is going to simply backfire on them.

"Well, the world needs ditch diggers, too."

[–] nutmeg30 10 years ago

Sooo....you are ok with sitting around for an hour watching junkies shove needles in their arms/necks/groins, putting *beep* up their noses, lying and stealing from their loved ones, talks of STDs and prostitution, but you are offended by a <10 second clip of some moaning? Weird. I honestly think that it was more tame than some of the things they show on intervention.

[–] Gabe1972 10 years ago

One, it's respect. Two, this program, even with showing the frank things that you describe, has never gone to the level of the things in other programs. With this, they did.

They've brought a program that always showed the ravages of drug addiction with a certain respect, to a program that, with that simple scene, has brought it down to the level of the other sensationalized reality shows of today. The ridiculous ones. The ones that are geared toward the people with IQs so low they couldn't figure out how to get OUT of a locked car. And those programs are as popular as could be. They had never done this before. They always kept it intelligent and respectful. That's over. What it also showed is that the producers of the program are caring more today about ratings than the quality of the program. The show, towards the later seasons, didn't have huge ratings, but the producers cared more about the program and what it stated that it did about those ratings. That has changed, obviously, and it's sad to see that.

"Well, the world needs ditch diggers, too."

[–] tlr2902 10 years ago

lying and stealing from their loved ones, talks of STDs and prostitution

I think it's all nasty. Also, if I was her mother, with a young girl in the home, I would not be letting her in the house until she was deloused and treated for her STDs, and I certainly wouldn't be sleeping in the same bed as her, and letting my young daughter also sleep in the same bed as her...GROSS!!!

It's not the size of the dog in the fight, it's the size of the fight in the dog

[–] Adiane 10 years ago

The series documents the life of the addict as they prepare for the intervention. This addict's life involved prostituting herself. It may have been an unpleasant bit of audio but I don't think it was at all sensational. It was relevant, accurate, brief, and wasn't overemphasized. It wasn't played up in the episode's promotion, so if it was an attempt at a ratings grab then whoever planned it that way seriously dropped the ball. In any case it has nothing to do with intelligence, so I'm not sure where you're coming from with that particular complaint either.

[–] Gabe1972 10 years ago

There are two possibilities that I can glean from your response. The first is that you haven't been watching the program over the years, so the comparison is unknowable to you. Or, the second is, if you have been watching it over the years, but still don't see what I am talking about, there's nothing I can do to convince you, and won't even try.

As for the intelligence mention, I'm not even going to try to explain that one. There are programs out there meant for morons, and they are very popular. I am sad to see this one jumping the gun to go that way. Again, if you haven't been watching over the years, don't comment.

The bottom line is, if you haven't been watching this show over the years, then then the topic in this entire thread doesn't apply to you. You can't compare what you haven't seen.

The topic is for those who have been watching it over the years and can understand what I am referring to.

"Well, the world needs ditch diggers, too."

[–] Samuraibro 10 years ago

Why did you even make this thread if all you're going to do is shoot down other people who try to share their opposing views? 

[–] Gabe1972 10 years ago

An opposing view is one thing, and that's fine. I have no problem with that. What I don't care for is when someone gives an opposing view that isn't qualified to give that opposing view.

To give an extreme example, just so it's clear what I am saying, if someone has worked at CERN for years, and is exploring the possibility of new and unheard of molecules, and someone who has never worked in the field in their life walks in and says, "you are wasting your time because those things don't exist and you are wrong", would you put any credence into what they said? Of course not.

Now I know this example is quite extreme compared to what we are discussing, but I just wanted it to be clear about what I am saying. For someone to have a differing opinion is one thing, and that's happened, and I will respectfully discuss this with them, but when someone starts off with statements showing that they don't even know what I am comparing this particular aspect to because they haven't seen the program throughout the years, that is a different story.

It's pointless to oppose what you don't know. If the person did know, they would know that from the beginning of this series there have been every kind of depravity discussed for people to earn money for their drugs. Not only discussed, but done. But, there has never been a time, in even one episode, where they actually exposed such an act, and that is where they changed it up. That's what's different. It's always, ALWAYS, been respectful. Discussed, but never actually giving us a sordid sound clip. That's what's different, and in my opinion, moving into sensationalism to attract a new audience.

I simply chalk it up to new producers who are trying to regain the numbers the show used to attract. If that's the way they want to do it, fine, but what they are going to discover is that it may attract some other viewers, they are going to drop some of their core.

To add, if I had just come across the show, having never seen it before, and thought it crossed the line, then anyone at all could have a differing opinion. I'm simply comparing it to the original seasons before this new one started. It's not an opinion on the show as a whole, it's an opinion on this particular episode, which seems to be indicative of a new direction for the show. If this is the only time, fine, but if they continue to do this, then they have changed, and even with the one, they have changed.

"Well, the world needs ditch diggers, too."

[–] Adiane 10 years ago

Oh crap, this is an INTERVENTION thread? I've never even seen that show, I thought this was about Toddlers and Tiaras. You're right, I clearly have no place in this discussion.

Sigh. Really?

You don't have to be trying to convince people in order to explain your own opinion. What is it about that audio clip that caters to morons or indicates that this is becoming a ridiculous show meant for morons? What about it is any more disrespectful than some of the more bizarre and outrageous moments from past seasons? What TV exec would think along the lines of "You know what we can do to get more younger viewers? Let's play audio of a junkie prostitute turning a trick to get her fix! Young people LOVE that!"

[–] Gabe1972 10 years ago

Okay.

"Well, the world needs ditch diggers, too."

[–] Adiane 10 years ago

The fact that you assumed I haven't watched this series for years, which I have, is quite strange. I'm genuinely interested in hearing explanations for your opinions. Not just "this is sensational/disrespectful" but why you see it that way.

[–] Gabe1972 10 years ago

Okay.

"Well, the world needs ditch diggers, too."

[–] Adiane 10 years ago

Okay indeed.

[–] Gabe1972 10 years ago

Okay.

"Well, the world needs ditch diggers, too."

[–] MrsTeller 10 years ago

Yes, it was pretty gross and unnecessary but not that serious. It lasted all of what, 5 seconds. I've watched this show since the very beginning and this is not this first time I have seen or heard something disgusting or unnecessary. I don't think it has anything to do with appealing to younger viewers because they didn't advertise the scene. How would they even know it was going to happen.

I'm very surprised this very, very short audio clip would deter you from continuing to watch after all the other stuff they have showed over the years.

I think they just gave us a real look at an addicts daily struggles and this is it for her. It's shocking, it's disgusting, it's something you can't believe you're hearing but that's her life as an addict.