Why I Am Going To Make My Kids Watch "Intervention"

OK, first of all - right now my kids are 10 and 8 and there is NO FREAKING WAY I will have them watch this show anytime soon.

That said...

Intervention has got to be one of the most delicious train wrecks on TV. Intervention marathons are the best, because every episode somehow manages to be even more appalling than the one before it. If you haven't seen it, here's the Cliffs Notes version. Intervention is a reality show that profiles one or two people with addictive behavior (generally alcoholics and drug addicts). About half-way through the episode, a professional interventionist comes in and tells the person to hit rehab or suffer the consequences. When I say the show profiles people with addictive behavior, I mean it profiles them in a no-holds-barred manner. Addicts are shown shooting up/snorting on screen, heading out to prostitute themselves to get more money to fund their addictions, dealing drugs out of their parents' homes, conducting Jerry Springer-esque arguments with family members while under the influence of whatever, and so on and so forth. Often viewers will witness one of the show's "stars" (for lack of a better term) falling asleep in mid-sentence, falling over, sitting there with his/her tongue hanging out and eyes rolled back, and other unpleasant, embarrassing behavior. More often than not, the addict does not recognize that he or she has a problem.

Why in the world would I make my kids watch this show? Someday when I think they are old enough, I will sit down with them and have them watch a few episodes with me to show them that this is what alcohol and drugs can do to a person. THIS is why adults tell you to not even come near these substances. We aren't just talking out of our ass and making shit up. We don't want to see our kids end up like these people, because we love our kids. None of the parents featured on this program wanted their offspring to be one of the main characters on an episode of Intervention, guaranteed. I was a goody two-shoes who didn't drink, smoke or try drugs - why would my kids want to listen to my out-of-touch, nerdy ramblings? Cue the TV. My hope is that these addicts can actually teach people a thing or two, starting with my kids. Do they want to end up like the people on this show? I'm guessing they probably don't. And all they have to do is say NO.