Sexual addiction is a serious, and growing, problem in America today. Many people’s lives are characterized by aggressive, sometimes out-of-control, sexual behavior and a lack of genuine emotional intimacy. Others see their relationships with spouses or others harmed or even destroyed by an obsession with pornography or promiscuous sexual behavior. Though there are many factors in our culture which contribute to this problem, television’s fixation on sex certainly does nothing to ameliorate the situation. From the nonstop barrage of sex jokes on sitcoms like CBS’s Two and a Half Men, to the twisted sexual assualts presented on crime dramas like NBC’s Law & Order: SVU, to the emphasis on sex (now including threesomes) on teen-targeted shows like CW’s Gossip Girl, to the wildly extreme, even perverse, sexual behavior on FX’s Nip/Tuck, sex, sex, and more sex is the focus of a large, and increasing, amount of television programming.

In such circumstances, it might be thought commendable that a television program would address the problems which can arise from sexual obsessions and compulsive behavior. Indeed, a show that soberly and forthrightly documented the harm that such behavior can do to individuals could potentially be a valuable aid to those who may be struggling with these problems. Given the entertainment industry’s constant use of sex as a punch line or the focus of stories, a useful, helpful and even welcome counterweight could be provided by such a program.

VH1’s Sex Rehab with Dr. Drew is not that program.

Premiering on November 1^st at 10:00 p.m. ET, Sex Rehab comes decked out with all the trappings of a serious exploration of issues, including the presence of Dr. Drew Pinsky who, through his appearances on other VH1 shows like Sober House and Celebrity Rehab with Dr. Drew, has more or less become addiction expert to the stars.

But in fact, Sex Rehab is just another trashy reality show, with extreme individuals forced to cohabit while they perform various “challenges,” ones in this case allegedly designed to heal them of their past traumas. Dominatrix and Internet pornography videographer Jennifer  confesses, “I have a lot of sex on camera. I’m pretty much incapable of caring about anybody I have sex with…At the end of the night I’m going to ask you to leave. And if you stick around and try to spoon me, I’ll [bleeped ‘f******’] knee you in the balls.” Professional surfer James states, “I’ve lost my friends due to sleeping with their wives…I can’t really think about anything” other than sex. James also admits that he has masturbated to the point of injury and has an STD in his throat.

And so it goes with the rest of the cast: Playboy Playmate Nicole admits to having masturbated 18 times in one day; former porn star/stripper Kendra fears losing her marriage due to her promiscuity; professional ” reality TV star” (and Celebrity Rehab 2 and Sober House alumna) Amber admits to cruising for men daily; while the show’s two middle-aged male rehabbers, promiscuous rock musician Phil and Internet pornography addict Duncan, both worry that their obsessions will never allow them to form a real relationship.  Most tragic of all, former Miss Teen USA Kari Ann tells Dr. Drew that she was sexually molested from age 5 to 7, raped when she was 14, and raped again at 17.

Clearly, many of those on Sex Rehab are genuinely faced with deep emotional pain; yet VH1’s program treats these real-life human tragedies as mere tabloid fodder, herding the individuals together into one house as if the show were Big Brother, deliberately placing them in provocative positions which encourage them to act badly. As Entertainment Weekly notes, “Why NOT make a bunch of sex addicts live together?...All these beautiful people are expected to live together while fighting their urge to sleep with other beautiful people, and these people who for the most part perform for a living are supposed to ignore the cameras while doing this.” The difficulties inherent in this situation are manifested when James remarks on his fellow rehabbers, saying, "I’d have those girls naked, bent over my bed, I’d be swan diving onto each one, side to side, licking every part of them…What are they thinking, putting us here with these hot chicks?"

Crossed with the real temptations and obstacles to recovery presented by the situation VH1 has established is the show’s eagerness to titillate as much or more than it informs. Across the opening credits and throughout the hour, viewers are barraged by signs reading “girls girls girls” and “totally nude,” clips showing strippers swinging on poles, prostitutes, and other “celebrities” proclaiming themselves “sex addicts.” 

Even the patients themselves are not spared. A simple statement of her past difficulties and activities is necessary; but need viewers see Jennifer, in full chrome and leather dominatrix gear, flogging a naked man who wears a leather pig mask? Do we have to watch her wave about a gigantic sex toy while stating it is named after porn movie star Ron Jeremy?

Added to this are other reality-show staples, such as a “coming this season” montage showing the patients hitting each other, pulling hair, swearing and screaming things like, “I’m losing my [bleeped ‘f ******’] mind! I’m gonna cut your b**** off, b****!”

In such circumstances, it was difficult to avoid noticing two of the program’s sponsors. In the midst of a show supposedly devoted to helping individuals overcome sexual temptation, there blared out commercials for both Trojan condoms and “Flirty Girl Fit,” an exercise program in which women are encouraged to dance provocatively. The ad featured women shaking their rears and twirling about on stripper poles (“Have a pole in your own bedroom!”) as an announcer drooled over their “lean, tight, beautiful” bodies. If VH1 had any taste, they would not run such commercials during a show devoted to overcoming sexual obsession. But then, if VH1 had any taste, it would not be airing Sex Rehab with Dr. Drew to begin with.

VH1 has built its “brand” around minor celebrities suffering train wrecks of human interaction. From Flavor of Love, to the endless series featuring Tiffany “New York” Pollard, to Rock of Love, to too many more to recall, VH1 has devoted itself to a “celebreality” format which capitalizes on the embarrassment and misery of others. After the alleged murder/suicide involving Megan Wants a Millionaire contestant Ryan Jenkins, VH1 pledged to avoid celebrities and pursue programming with a more “redemptive” theme. "We really wanted to go with very real people because we didn't want the celebrity issue to be a detraction," claimed VH1 vice-president Jeff Olde. The reader may judge from Sex Rehab’s mix of Playboy playmates, Sports Illustrated swimsuit models, and pornographic movie actresses how faithfully VH1 is upholding its promise.

By choosing such semi-celebrities as the show’s subjects, VH1 is not merely failing in its stated goal of featuring “real people;” it is once again indulging in its penchant for fourth-rate “celebreality.” And naturally, like all of VH1’s crass programming, the program is rerun at all hours of the day and night (including noon on Sundays), where children and teens can easily see it.

Healing from something as intimately devastating as sexual trauma is a process which requires comfort, respect, security, and above all privacy – all elements utterly lacking in a program that puts people’s shame and personal pain on camera for all to see. Sex Rehab claims to be helpful and “redemptive,” but actually offers viewers the chance to salve their social conscience while simultaneously indulging their darker temptations.

For during its back on the network’s pledge of more “redemptive” programming, for its stomach-turning mixture of teasing sexual titillation and crass exploitation of troubled individuals, and for showing this program in hours where children have easy access to it, VH1’s Sex Rehab with Dr. Drew is undeniably the Worst Cable TV Show of the Week.

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