MovieChat Forums > Intervention (2005) Discussion > Samantha from 4/26/2015...

Samantha from 4/26/2015...

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

I was shocked when I saw this episode as this women was from Randolph, NY, which is in the middle of nowhere, and very near to where I live. I thought I would never, EVER see them actually do an episode of someone from such a small place.

Of course, this will mean nothing to most of you, but again, I was just shocked. When you live in an area that is out in the boonies you never expect anything to happen which would actually make it on national television.

On another note, I'm glad she decided to stay in California. This area is somewhat depressing, and it's good to get away and get a fresh start. Kudos to her for doing so and I hope that her sobriety lasts.

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

[–] tlr2902 10 years ago

I thought her dad was quite a douche. I get that she's infuriating, but you don't wish your kids to kill themselves.

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

[–] Gabe1972 10 years ago

Yeah, he definitely said some hurtful things, but I completely understand it. Sick of the lies, the deceit, and the stories along with both. I noticed he didn't ask her for the receipt when she got back from the bank, or they just didn't show it. He knew, even with all of her promises, she was lying with that, too. He was a pretty staunch guy, for sure.

I can understand that it would be frustrating to no end when everything someone says to you is a lie. But, as we know, this is nothing new. We see this pretty much every week, with every person.

Yeah, him saying that he wishes she were dead was pretty darn harsh, but again, I can understand his anger. But, you know as well as I do, people say things they don't mean when they are extremely angry and have just had it all together. He may have actually meant it at the exact second he said it, but I'm sure immediately afterward he didn't and regretted having said it.

On a side note, I was wondering where he could be getting all of this money from to support her habit, but then in a couple of scenes I saw that he dabbles in the market, with the computers and monitors tied in. So then I realized that he probably had some dough. It's one of the few things you could actually do in Randolph, as there's not much work around there.

Also, I've never, EVER heard of a bank cashing a check and giving you most of it when you have a negative balance. I couldn't figure that one out. He wrote it for the exact amount she was overdrawn, or a few cents over to keep the account open. So they accepted a small amount to go towards the overdraft and gave her the rest? HUH? Something seems odd with that. It almost made me wonder if the person she was speaking to at the bank was actually one of her friends posing as a bank employee. If I had a negative $200 balance on my account, and I was given a check for $201.00, written to me, the bank would take $200 to pay off the overdraft on my account before they would give me a penny from the check. No exceptions. Either it's a really odd bank or, again, someone posed as a bank employee on the phone and gave a fake overdraft amount so she could actually take care of it and have most of the rest in cash.

Also, he could have written "For Deposit Only into account XXXXXXXXXXXXX" on the back of the check, and he would have known that, so I think this, at least, was a little fishy.

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

[–] tlr2902 10 years ago

I think he got money from his deceased wife too.

Yes, he should have written "for deposit only", but in Canada, you can pay off part of it and keep some money, or you can put the money in, and go right back in to your overdraft.

I was wondering who paid for her car, that she kept driving, her cell phone, etc. I saw the mom pay for the gas. If that was me, I wouldn't give her a red cent.

People who watch this show should know by now that "I don't want to see [enter name here] living on the streets" is unacceptable. You can support your loved one in their treatment or to get well, but giving them a place to live and money, is loving them to death.

I also think that all family members should go in to some type of treatment themselves, for enablers.

My brother in law was a horrible addict, and the last time he called us when he was using, I finally refused to let him stay with us. He's clean except for weed now, but that's the least of my worries.

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

[–] Gabe1972 10 years ago

I think with regard to the phone, her father paid for it, as I think the sister alluded to that when talking about how she has never paid for anything. I wouldn't doubt the car, as well, but who knows.

With regard to the mom paying for gas, I think she did that because she knew that Samantha was really seeking money for drugs, and not gas. Her mother giving her $5 doesn't even sound like it would have been enough to pay for one of those little envelopes, though I doubt she even really used the $5 for gas.

And I totally agree with you about loving people to death. You always hear them say that they would rather give them money and have them live in their homes than know that they are living on the streets. Like this is actually helping them! Sheesh. Sometimes you just have to let them deal with the world they create for themselves. Enabling is NEVER the answer.

I also agree that family members need some type of counseling as well. Addiction tears the whole family apart, as we've seen so many times on this program, and many have experienced in their own lives.

Perhaps he got money from his deceased wife, too. With as much as he claimed to give her, that might not last that long, though. Who knows?

I'm beginning to think that maybe it's up to the bank itself in how overdrafts are handled. I know my bank would NEVER allow what she did, and being in the same state, I guess it's not a statewide, or even country wide decision, with regard to this particular thing, that is. And actually, I didn't even really think of it at the time, but simply writing "For Deposit Only", even without the account number being written, would have foiled her plan, though she evidently has overdraft protection, so, like you said you can do there, she could have just pulled it right back under again.

Off topic, I love Canada. Used to go there just about every other weekend when I was a kid, and actually got sick of Niagara Falls and the surrounding area because of being there so much. LOL. I still love it though, and actually wish I lived in Canada rather than in the US. You have a good country there. I only live about 25 miles from the border, but just haven't gone back in almost ten years. No particular reason why, just haven't.

Also, I'm glad your brother has at least kicked the harder drugs. Weed isn't all that bad, except for a recovering addict it possibly could lead back down the bad path again, but I'm preaching to the choir, of course. Addiction is an awful thing. I consider the people who recover lucky. Not just hard working, but in a way, lucky.

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

[–] Dragon000 10 years ago

Her dad was a POS in my opinion. He leaves her high and dry as a kid, enables her until he's tired of doing it, then tells her he wishes she was dead and doesn't love her anymore. What a jerk.

[–] Tracey73 10 years ago

I get that she's infuriating, but you don't wish your kids to kill themselves.

That broke my heart. I realize he said it out of anger, but that was such a hurtful remark.

The beauty is I'm learning how to face my beast ~ Blue October

[–] popeyesucks 9 years ago

Her dad was a weirdo. He had an Italian name (Gino, I think) and her grandfather also had an Italian name (Vincent.) Yet he acted nothing like the Italians on The Jersey Shore or Th Sopranos, and he certainly did not look Italian, unless he dyed his hair and had Michael Jackson-style skin bleaching. Perhaps he is Tirolean?

Benoit killed 2x as many w/o a gun than Belcher did with one/S&W fighting climate change since 1852

[–] BlackDog123 9 years ago

Um, what? You think Italian Americans act like The Jersey Shore kids? Huh.

They're coming to get you, Barbara!

[–] popeyesucks 9 years ago

A good majority of them do. General Zinni is the exception and not the norm.

Benoit killed 2x as many w/o a gun than Belcher did with one/S&W fighting climate change since 1852

[–] GirlwonderReturns 9 years ago

No, they don't. Out of the dozens of people in my huge extended New York Italian family, I have maybe 2 cousins who even come close to fitting that stereotype, and even with them, it's more the accent than anything else.

The further a society drifts from the truth, the more it will hate those that speak it.

[–] MisterZed 10 years ago

How did she manage to get a job in California considering she has a criminal record? What employer would want to hire someone with a drug history?

[–] Gabe1972 10 years ago

It was most likely a company that has a special type of relationship with the facility she went to, or the organization that runs the halfway house (if different from the rehab facility), and agrees to hire the recent "graduate" if they show they are willing to work. It's probably not that great of a job, but it's a start.

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

[–] Dragon000 10 years ago

Because some believe in giving people a second chance. I have a criminal record and I'm now a licensed substance abuse counselor. Yes I had to stay clean for a long time, get a master's degree, and jump through a lot of hoops to get there. But it can be done. Getting a regular job is possible as long as a company is willing to hire felons.

[–] Katiedidd 9 years ago

I've only now just watched this episode. Samantha's father has got to easily be the worst parent on this show as far as what was said in anger and caught on tape. GEEZALOO... wishing she killed herself? And he said it more than once.

Glad she stayed on the other side of country. I haven't finished yet, but I have a feeling her father will go to zero narc-anon meetings. Friggin' douche canoe.

[–] stefanheikel 9 years ago

He's definitely high on the list, but IMO no parents were worse then Megan's. It honestly would've been surprising if she wouldn't have ended up messed up.

[–] Katiedidd 9 years ago

Oh so true. There have been worse parents on the show, namely Megan's. Samantha's father was just the most jarring for me to see on camera with what he said to his daughter.

The parents that didn't believe or blamed their child for being sexual abused though? It is just beyond comprehension and so devastating. I get sick thinking about it.

[–] Gabe1972 9 years ago

I vaguely remember the one with the parents that blamed the child for their sexual abuse. It was the mother that did most of the blaming, wasn't it? That one was definitely shocking. Imagine growing up with those kinds of parents. Sheesh!

If we don't succeed, we run the risk of failure. - George W. Bush

[–] Katiedidd 9 years ago

I'm pretty sure it was Megan's mom, yes. I need to see the episode again because I can't remember the details. Hopefully someone else can answer who remembers it better.

Another one that stood out was a woman with anorexia (Nikkole or Nicole was her name), whose father also was completely uncaring about her past sexual abuse. Also, Allison (who was one of the most well-known from the show because of her huffing electronic cleaners constantly) had a dreadful mother who ignored Allison and her sister's claims of sexual assault at a very young age for both. I'll never forget the mother saying she thought the girls were making it up until they started telling so many family members.

These kinds of parents make me so sick.

[–] Gabe1972 9 years ago

I don't recall a Nicole, though I do remember a couple of people with anorexia, and she may have been one of them. As for Allison, I surely remember her. She was completely WHACKED OUT on that stuff. I also remember her because I thought her sister was cute. Call me weird. LOL.

Two weeks ago I was at Walmart and was looking for a new mouse pad. Down on the bottom shelf I saw the cleaner. It immediately reminded me of Allison. I even picked it up to see if it was the safe kind or the "Allison" kind, and I think it was the bad kind as it had warnings all over it. I don't think anyone who saw that episode could ever forget her.

I did see the follow up on Allison during the new season and saw that she was doing well.

If we don't succeed, we run the risk of failure. - George W. Bush

[–] popeyesucks 9 years ago

Samantha had her problems. But one of her strengths is her ability to speak like a civilized human being, as opposed to Leah Remini who, after years of acting, still talks in that gawd-awful, disgusting New York accent.

Benoit killed 2x as many w/o a gun than Belcher did with one/S&W fighting climate change since 1852

[–] Katiedidd 9 years ago

Leah Remini who, after years of acting, still talks in that gawd-awful, disgusting New York accent.

Heaven forbid someone can't lose their thick accent. "King of Queens" even wrote in a subplot in an episode where Carrie [Remini] was trying to get lessons from Spence to lose her accent. She's very aware of it, but even years in Hollywood doesn't mean someone will lose their original accent. I'd not call it "gawd-awful, disgusting," but that's just me.

[–] Gabe1972 8 years ago

Completely different areas. Four hundred miles apart. Only people in NYC speak like Leah Remini. The rest of the state doesn't speak like that. They speak like they do on just about every TV show. If you find someone anywhere else in the state speaking like LR, they are a NYC transplant.

Time wounds all heels.