Celebrity Rehab - Becoming Human
Since these people are all in the public eye, we knew how a couple of them were doing, but we wanted to know the whole story of all of them, how they were doing six months after completing Celebrity Rehab. Dr. Drew called it. There was something about this show that allowed us to see what an addict really goes through in rehab, and it put a face on not only the disease, but celebrity addicts as well. And we needed to know how they were doing and if they made it or not.
All of the celebrities came together on the stage, save for Jessica Sierra and Daniel Baldwin. We know where Jessica is, but what’s with Baldwin? It was really odd, as Dr. Drew didn’t really address the absence. Well, he did, but not to stay why he wasn’t there. But the really interesting thing is while he was saying they all send their love to him, the other celebrities were countering that saying no. He let them down. And the best was them comparing him to the molesting uncle. Dr. Drew didn’t seem to appreciate it, saying they needed to remember how good Daniel was before he left, and remember he was an addict just like them, but it didn’t matter. He let them down, and that’s all they could see.
As for Jessica, we knew she was arrested for intoxication and assault and that she was pregnant, but we didn’t know what went wrong in between sober living and the arrest for her to end up back in this place. She was called back to Florida for a previous arrest, and Dr. Drew fought for her not to have to go back, knowing how detrimental that would be for her sobriety. His efforts were all for naught, as she was sent back anyway, and while there, became hooked in again by old friends, going out that night. Dr. Drew flew to FL to fight again for her, as she could have been sentenced to ten years in jail, and he felt that would be the end of Jessica. With his urging, she was sentenced to one year back at the Pasadena Recovery Center.
Mary Carey seemed to miss Jessica very much. She is doing well now, and does drink wine when she goes out, yet none of the hard stuff. She is no longer doing adult films, but does still do dancing to help pay the bills, as she struggles to help both herself and her mom who was kicked out of the place she was staying. The third amigo, Jaimee Foxworth, once again has her red plaid blanket and admits she is doing well, but has smoked weed, although not at the pace she used it before. She did not do outpatient treatment as promised, and admits now that she needs it.
Seth did the sober living, yet was out on tour just a few weeks ago. This caused him to relapse, and he struggled to figure out whether he should admit to it on the show or not. It’s good that he did, as it’s just another thing that makes him seem that much more human. His wife was in the audience, supporting him, saying she’s still hanging in there. Ricco Rodriguez’ wife is also sticking with him, and he’s trying everything he can to get back into the fighting ring. China still can’t accept her life as a possible addict; however, she is getting fit and working out again, and she is under the constant care of a therapist, which is probably the best thing for her right now.
The biggest change was in Brigette Nielsen. Not only has she been sober since she entered Celebrity Rehab last July, she quit smoking in September, surely a momentous event for her. She looked amazing, despite the fact that she has gained forty pounds since getting rid of her addictions, prompting Jeff Conway to admit when he first saw her at the start of the show, he thought, “Boy, she must really be hitting the bottle,” yet now he thinks she’s absolutely beautiful, and she was. Radiant.
Brigette is one of the two people on the show that brings out the humanity in us. She was always doling out the best advice to everyone on the show, and even now, she continues to do so, mothering them all. It was her that got into Jessica, getting her to be not so angry with her mother, assuring her that she died because she was a drug addict, not because she didn’t love Jessica. And with each of the celebrities, she now has encouraging words for them, knowing that if she can do it, so can they.
Brigette also had words for Jeff Conaway’s girlfriend, Vicki. But first, Brigette told Jeff that everywhere she went since the show started, everyone wanted to know about him, if he makes it. She wanted him to know everyone loved him, and they do, making him the other celebrity bringing out the humanity in the show. We loved him thirty years ago, and while it was so difficult to see him in such bad shape, we felt for the guy and wanted him to make it. He’s had four surgeries since leaving the show, and is on pain medication, but even Dr. Drew admits it’s needed. He’s preparing for his fifth surgery, so declined an offer to enter rehab right now, or to even name a future date. Vicki admits to her villain role on the show, but Jeff says it’s her that is saving him, along with the people on the show. Brigette spoke boldly and told Vicki that she thinks she needs rehab as well. While Vicki didn’t like the information she was hearing, it was certainly heartfelt and much more gentle than any of the thoughts the rest of us were having.
While the cast wants us to know that Dr. Drew saved their lives, and in essence he did, I think it is them that provided the heart and humanity of the show. They opened up, allowing us to see the worst of what has become of their lives. It was through the love of these other people that Jeff finally found something to like about himself. It was their honesty with each other, such as Jessica telling Ricco on his first day that she didn’t like him, that allowed them to eventually be themselves, the person behind the music or camera.
I can only hope that Dr. Drew will pull this off again, and invite some more of Troubled Hollywood in to become his patients. If we could see the heart behind a troubled addict like Jeff or a porn actress like Mary, we could maybe eventually see the heart behind a Britney or Lindsay.
Photos courtesy of vh1.com.
For more information on Celebrity Rehab With Dr. Drew, see SirLinksalot: Celebrity Rehab With Dr. Drew.
