TVSquad: "10 Saddest Reality Shows" - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

JamesG · 08-24-2010, 07:44 PM

10 Saddest Reality Shows, From "True Life" to "Animal Hoarders"
by Elena Cox
posted Aug 24th 2010

10. "Tough Love"
VH1
2009 - present

Premise: A mother and son matchmaker team tries to help lovelorn contestants find love after a series of troubled relationships.

Saddest moment: In season 2, the already insecure Angel's family doesn't come to see her on visiting day. And then again a couple of episodes later, Taylor tells Angel her family doesn't care about her.

9. "16 & Pregnant" / "Teen Mom"
MTV
2009 - present

Premise: Documentation of teenage girls who become pregnant in high school.

Saddest Moment: Maci's baby daddy chastises her for wanting to put her son in daycare so that she can go to college, but offers her no help in raising their son.

8. "Celebrity Rehab with Dr. Drew"
VH1
2008 - present

Premise: C-list celebrities go to rehab and let VH1 document their progress (or lack thereof)

Saddest moment: Watching Grease star Jeff Conaway talk about the debilitation he suffered from as a result of his addictions and his enabling girlfriend.

7. "True Life"
MTV
1998 - present

Premise: An award-winning MTV documentary series which centers on a different topic each episode -- some controversial, some not.

Saddest moment: "True Life: I Stutter" documented teenagers whose lives were affected by their speech impediment.

When Tim's stutter prevented him from getting a decent job, he faced eviction from his apartment.

6. "Sex Rehab with Dr. Drew"
VH1
2009

Premise: A spin-off of "Celebrity Rehab", "Sex Rehab" specifically focuses on sex addiction and trying to find the root of the patient's compulsive behaviors.

Saddest moment: The girls are taken to a special art therapy program in which they open up about sexual abuse they may have suffered, and Kari-Ann, the most volatile patient, admits to having suffered from serious sexual trauma in her past.

5. "Extreme Makeover: Home Edition"
ABC
2003 - present

Premise: Families who face hardships or who practice acts of kindness are rewarded with a makeover of their homes.

Saddest moment: The Kadzis family, who had adopted five special-needs children from China, discovered that father George had terminal brain cancer.

George, a prison dentist, passed away a week after the episode aired.

4. "Obsessed"
A&E
2009 - present

Premise: Individuals who struggle with obsessive-compulsive disorder are shown attempting to treat their disease.

Saddest moment: AJ, a woman who suffers from OCD, needs the help of a service dog to cope with her extreme anxiety.

However, she is triggered by thoughts of animal abuse because her father had routinely abused her dog as a child.

3. "Hoarding: Buried Alive"
TLC
2010 - present

Premise: Compulsive hoarders cause strain in their personal relationships and every day lives due to their habits.

Therapists and organizers attempt to help these hoarders reassess their lives and get them on the path to recovery.

Saddest moment: Benny's hoarding has caused his children to stop visiting him and prevent his grandchildren from entering his home.

2. "Confessions: Animal Hoarding"
Animal Planet
2010 - present

Premise: People who keep an excessive number of pets despite being unable to care for them.

Saddest moment: Janice, a cancer survivor, lives in a trailer and owns 97 dogs and 20 cats.

When her estranged husband moves out threatens to cut her off financially, her daughter offers to support her mother if she gets rid of the majority of her pets.

1. "Intervention"
A&E
2005 - present

Premise: Friends and family of addicts decide to perform an intervention after their addictions have gotten too out of control.

Saddest moment: Lawrence was featured during season 4 of "Intervention". Despite excelling in school and owning a successful tanning salon business in Las Vegas, the abuse he suffered as a child led him to alcoholism.

Throughout the episode, he is seen drinking 32 oz. mugs of vodka and empty bottles are seen littered throughout his home. After his body was weakened by cancer, his drinking became worse, causing cirrosis of the liver, for which he did not seek treatment.

After 30 days of rehabilitation, Lawrence was asked to leave due to his lack of focus. After three weeks of sobriety, he relapsed and died as a result of his liver damage.

http://www.tvsquad.com/2010/08/24/10...imal-hoarders/

Torgo · 08-30-2010, 10:56 AM

"The Search for the Next Elvira"

Premise: The Search For The Next Elvira.

Saddest moment: Watching Rick Baker make an appearance as a judge.

"Scream Queens"

Premise: Looking for the next airhead...I mean actress to make an appearance in the next SAW sequel.

Saddest moment: Watching them try to act...oh wait, those are the most hilarious moments.

Coolest Moment: Debbie Rochon making an appearance.

catlover79 · 08-30-2010, 12:27 PM

Personally, I think ALL reality shows are sad!!!!

MickeyMac · 08-30-2010, 02:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by catlover79

Personally, I think ALL reality shows are sad!!!!

Totally

browneyes106 · 09-07-2010, 05:34 PM

Some of the ones mentioned on the list actually tend to be the types of reality shows that show grittiness of life in a manner that makes viewers think deeply about different problems that go on in society. The first season of Scream Queens was bit inspiring to watch because one participant Tanedra who eventually won really grew as an actress despite not having a lot of formal training.

True Life does cover a lot of upbeat topics. In the episode about stuttering one of the subjects was attending a support group and therapy system to deal with her stuttering and the other subject was a beauty pageant contestant trying to work her way around her stuttering in order to get by. The guy mentioned in the article was in a bad situation but it seemed that he lacked other social skills and he didn't plan certain things out.

MrCleveland · 09-23-2010, 04:04 PM

I nominate "Kitchen Nightmares"...especially the Sushi Ko episode.

catlover79 · 05-27-2011, 07:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JamesG

10 Saddest Reality Shows, From "True Life" to "Animal Hoarders"
by Elena Cox
posted Aug 24th 2010
8. "Celebrity Rehab with Dr. Drew"
VH1
2008 - present

Premise: C-list celebrities go to rehab and let VH1 document their progress (or lack thereof)

Saddest moment: Watching Grease star Jeff Conaway talk about the debilitation he suffered from as a result of his addictions and his enabling girlfriend.

Marvo301 · 05-27-2011, 07:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by catlover79

Personally, I think ALL reality shows are sad!!!!

I agree!!

08-24-2010, 07:44 PM	#1
JamesG Freakshow Moderator Forum Icon Join Date: Feb 01, 2008 Location: Brooklyn, NY Posts: 57,136	TVSquad: "10 Saddest Reality Shows" *10 Saddest Reality Shows, From "True Life" to "Animal Hoarders"* by Elena Cox posted Aug 24th 2010 10. "Tough Love" VH1 2009 - present Premise: A mother and son matchmaker team tries to help lovelorn contestants find love after a series of troubled relationships. Saddest moment: In season 2, the already insecure Angel's family doesn't come to see her on visiting day. And then again a couple of episodes later, Taylor tells Angel her family doesn't care about her. 9. "16 & Pregnant" / "Teen Mom" MTV 2009 - present Premise: Documentation of teenage girls who become pregnant in high school. Saddest Moment: Maci's baby daddy chastises her for wanting to put her son in daycare so that she can go to college, but offers her no help in raising their son. 8. "Celebrity Rehab with Dr. Drew" VH1 2008 - present Premise: C-list celebrities go to rehab and let VH1 document their progress (or lack thereof) Saddest moment: Watching Grease star Jeff Conaway talk about the debilitation he suffered from as a result of his addictions and his enabling girlfriend. 7. "True Life" MTV 1998 - present Premise: An award-winning MTV documentary series which centers on a different topic each episode -- some controversial, some not. Saddest moment: "True Life: I Stutter" documented teenagers whose lives were affected by their speech impediment. When Tim's stutter prevented him from getting a decent job, he faced eviction from his apartment. 6. "Sex Rehab with Dr. Drew" VH1 2009 Premise: A spin-off of "Celebrity Rehab", "Sex Rehab" specifically focuses on sex addiction and trying to find the root of the patient's compulsive behaviors. Saddest moment: The girls are taken to a special art therapy program in which they open up about sexual abuse they may have suffered, and Kari-Ann, the most volatile patient, admits to having suffered from serious sexual trauma in her past. 5. "Extreme Makeover: Home Edition" ABC 2003 - present Premise: Families who face hardships or who practice acts of kindness are rewarded with a makeover of their homes. Saddest moment: The Kadzis family, who had adopted five special-needs children from China, discovered that father George had terminal brain cancer. George, a prison dentist, passed away a week after the episode aired. 4. "Obsessed" A&E 2009 - present Premise: Individuals who struggle with obsessive-compulsive disorder are shown attempting to treat their disease. Saddest moment: AJ, a woman who suffers from OCD, needs the help of a service dog to cope with her extreme anxiety. However, she is triggered by thoughts of animal abuse because her father had routinely abused her dog as a child. 3. "Hoarding: Buried Alive" TLC 2010 - present Premise: Compulsive hoarders cause strain in their personal relationships and every day lives due to their habits. Therapists and organizers attempt to help these hoarders reassess their lives and get them on the path to recovery. Saddest moment: Benny's hoarding has caused his children to stop visiting him and prevent his grandchildren from entering his home. 2. "Confessions: Animal Hoarding" Animal Planet 2010 - present Premise: People who keep an excessive number of pets despite being unable to care for them. Saddest moment: Janice, a cancer survivor, lives in a trailer and owns 97 dogs and 20 cats. When her estranged husband moves out threatens to cut her off financially, her daughter offers to support her mother if she gets rid of the majority of her pets. 1. "Intervention" A&E 2005 - present Premise: Friends and family of addicts decide to perform an intervention after their addictions have gotten too out of control. Saddest moment: Lawrence was featured during season 4 of "Intervention". Despite excelling in school and owning a successful tanning salon business in Las Vegas, the abuse he suffered as a child led him to alcoholism. Throughout the episode, he is seen drinking 32 oz. mugs of vodka and empty bottles are seen littered throughout his home. After his body was weakened by cancer, his drinking became worse, causing cirrosis of the liver, for which he did not seek treatment. After 30 days of rehabilitation, Lawrence was asked to leave due to his lack of focus. After three weeks of sobriety, he relapsed and died as a result of his liver damage. http://www.tvsquad.com/2010/08/24/10...imal-hoarders/

08-30-2010, 10:56 AM	#2
Torgo Omaha & Fritz Forum Star Join Date: Mar 06, 2004 Location: Oregon Posts: 19,036	"The Search for the Next Elvira" Premise: The Search For The Next Elvira. Saddest moment: Watching Rick Baker make an appearance as a judge. "Scream Queens" Premise: Looking for the next airhead...I mean actress to make an appearance in the next SAW sequel. Saddest moment: Watching them try to act...oh wait, those are the most hilarious moments. Coolest Moment: Debbie Rochon making an appearance.
	__________________ "I'm going to go do something productive. I'm gonna go watch television." - Ray Peterson, The 'burbs "I am the literary equivalent of a Big Mac and Fries." - Stephen King "There's nothing wrong with G-rated movies, as long as there's lots of sex and violence." - Elvira Last edited by Torgo; 08-30-2010 at 11:12 AM.

08-30-2010, 12:27 PM	#3
catlover79 God Bless Val Forum Addict Join Date: May 29, 2006 Location: Bewitched in Ohio Posts: 70,382	Personally, I think ALL reality shows are sad!!!!
	__________________ "Jesus loves you and He approves this message." "I'm alive. I'm feeling good. I'm trying to live every moment as much as I can." - Valerie Harper, March 2013

09-23-2010, 04:04 PM	#6
MrCleveland Drew Carey from Hell Forum Star Join Date: Nov 10, 2007 Location: The City of Cleveland, in The State of Cleveland, in The United States of Cleveland Posts: 14,228	I nominate "Kitchen Nightmares"...especially the Sushi Ko episode.
	__________________ Thank God for kids that love Obscure Things. Lee Hazlewood (1929-2007) You ARE Special to God! Rev. Ernest Angely (August 1921-May 2021)

09-07-2010, 05:34 PM	#5
browneyes106 Member Forum Veteran Join Date: Apr 01, 2008 Posts: 6,094	Some of the ones mentioned on the list actually tend to be the types of reality shows that show grittiness of life in a manner that makes viewers think deeply about different problems that go on in society. The first season of Scream Queens was bit inspiring to watch because one participant Tanedra who eventually won really grew as an actress despite not having a lot of formal training. True Life does cover a lot of upbeat topics. In the episode about stuttering one of the subjects was attending a support group and therapy system to deal with her stuttering and the other subject was a beauty pageant contestant trying to work her way around her stuttering in order to get by. The guy mentioned in the article was in a bad situation but it seemed that he lacked other social skills and he didn't plan certain things out.