Celebrity Rehab - Rodney King

[bmbsqd]

I've been watching this season's Celebrity Rehab. I'm a fan of Dr. Drew and have found the show to be very interesting...understanding it is Hollywood and has a high degree of BS. That being said, I have seen every episode so far and frankly have found Rodney King to be a very likable, interesting man. The RK we all remember from the riots is gone, and the addict/alcoholic on the show now I find to be, frankly, the most sensible one on the show.

Gary Busy is a sad character. The guy from Taxi is sad, as well. And DAMN....Tawny Kitaen is NOT hot at all!

But the other chick....the model...unreal.

Finally....the band Alter Bridge is amazing. They play the background music and the song "Watch Over You" is one of the best songs I have heard in a long time.

What is your opinion?

[Spinner]

And DAMN....Tawny Kitaen is NOT hot at all!


Just like the camera adds 10-15 pounds to your weight, crack adds 10-15 years to your appearance.

[MSG Dman]

Alter Bridge is one of the best bands around now, they are great live, it is Creed with a new singer, the guitarist Mark Tremonti is one of my favorites. Check out Rise Today, and Metalingus, great tunes.

[Five-O]

That being said, I have seen every episode so far and frankly have found Rodney King to be a very likable, interesting man. The RK we all remember from the riots is gone, and the addict/alcoholic on the show now I find to be, frankly, the most sensible one on the show.



What is your opinion?

Agree with RK appearing to be the most sensible on the show although that is obviously a relative term in this shows context.

One thing that bothered me was Dr Drew calling King a "victim." His beating, in my opinion was excessive, but was a direct result of his behavior. That being said, in my experience; when alcoholics, drug addicts etc. are off their substance of choice many are very nice and "normal" people that have the potential to be productive members of society. Unfortunately the acts they commit while under the influence alter their lives and the lives of the victims..many times forever.

[tri4fun]

This is a pretty good show. I can't believe the shit these people get themselves into though.
I agree that RK, when he's on the wagon, seems like "got it together" guy. Busey is an ass, Grease guy is a total mess. The guy that I want to see come out strong is Steven Adler from GnR. Homeboy was slamming at 11 y.o. Hell at 11 I was masturbating and playing with GI Joes...

[Dark Helmet]

Tawny Kitaen....

Not the Tawny? David Coverdill's ex? The same?

Jesus, she was hot as phosphorus in the eighties.

I'll have to watch that show now.

EDIT: Just checked Wikipedia, and it's the same chick. Never graduated from high school and was passed around glam-metal bands Ratt and Whitesnake. My heart is broken. She's a ho.

[Shadow]

Alter Bridge is one of the best bands around now, they are great live, it is Creed with a new singer, the guitarist Mark Tremonti is one of my favorites. Check out Rise Today, and Metalingus, great tunes.

Their latest CD, "Blackbird", is fantastic; in my opinion, Tremonti is one of today's premiere rock guitarists.

[Psi Brr]

EDIT: Just checked Wikipedia, and it's the same chick. Never graduated from high school and was passed around glam-metal bands Ratt and Whitesnake. My heart is broken. She's a ho.So's Pamela Anderson...

[bmbsqd]

Not the Tawny? David Coverdill's ex? The same?

Jesus, she was hot as phosphorus in the eighties.

I'll have to watch that show now.

EDIT: Just checked Wikipedia, and it's the same chick. Never graduated from high school and was passed around glam-metal bands Ratt and Whitesnake. My heart is broken. She's a ho.

Then and Now

[Hopeless Civilian]

I've got to agree with yall. King comes off as being a pretty decent regular guy.I certainly hope he comes out of this with a new healthy direction in life. As for Busey, take one look in his eyes, when he'a not the focus of the camera. He truly is crazy. I know its the brain damage from the accident, but he really is NUTS.

[bmbsqd]

I guess a part of the RK appeal is that he seems to be the only normal one, and so very different from what most people would believe him to be if they did not watch the show. Here is this African-American "icon" thrust in to a rehab center with all of these once-wealthy white people who all pretty much gave it up for drugds and a-hol. That must be an eye-opener. But the opening episode showing him hanging out the side of the dump truck puking was very entertaining to say the least.

Agree about Busey. But since he hasn't "abused" for 14 years it seems to me they put him in the show for its entertainment value, and really allowed him to play up the "I'm on the staff" stuff. But I laughed my ass off when he checked in and he had the suitcase full of coins! :eek:

I also agree with another post about Adler. His is the most sad story and to have had a stroke and have all chances of returning to his greatness must be pure torture.

[sfbbm1]

I haven't seen this seasons episodes but Rodney King had nothing to do with the riots (not to mention his quote is misqouted every time). At the time he was a regular shit-bag but didn't deserve to get beat like that. Also if LAPD knew how to use a baton they would have put Rodney down much quicker regardless of the PCP.
Also, people forget, Gary Busey had a MAJOR head injury in a motorcycle accident. That's why his behavior is so erratic. It has nothing to do with drugs.

[bmbsqd]

No one said RK caused the riots. I referenced the riots because most people who know his name relate it to the riots, rightfully or not. And Busey's accident was referenced as a cause of his erratic behavior above in a posting.

Maybe you should watch the show.

[JumpCut]

Also, people forget, Gary Busey had a MAJOR head injury in a motorcycle accident. That's why his behavior is so erratic. It has nothing to do with drugs.

Bingo! A lifetime of booze and cocaine use, and a current regimen of painkillers and other anti-kookoo pills has nothing to do with his behavior. Yup, that's it.

Keith Richards looks at Busey and says, "That's one bat-shit crazy bloke, but at least he's well preserved."

Heh.

[bmbsqd]

Green Warrior, I don't totally disagree with you. IMO addiction in general may be a disease. However, not all addictives have the same life-time grip on the addict. Alcohol is in a different category in my opinion than say pain pill addiction. After one of my injuries I took Vicodin for almost 2 years. Coming off of them without help was impossible. At the time I was ashamed of myself for it because hey, "EOD guys dont get hooked on drugs!". But I went ahead and checked myself in to a clinic, paid cash out of pocket for it, and never looked back. To this day I have zero desire for a pain pill (or opiate) and usually will suffer through most pain vice taking even OTC drugs.

That being said, the life-long misery that alcoholics go through is different. Even after not drinking for 10 years most still have the desire. But then again, alcohol consumption is legal, there are signs promoting everywhere, and it is encouraged in all aspects of our life. So maybe that is why it is harder to lose the desire to drink even long term.

Disease? I don't know for sure, like I said, but I am inclined to look at alcoholism a little differently.

But if choosing to do it or not, and if having the choice to say no to it is the threshold for it to be a disease....what about HIV? Is it not a disease because someone chose to sleep with that drug addicted hooker?

I do NOT believe taxpayer money should in ANY way go to treatment of addictions. Just thought I would add that. I agree with you it is a personal choice that should not be resolved by my taxes. Whether you are a drunk or a drug addict it typically does not affect me or my community. I also dpo not believe it should be covered on insurance as a "disease". HIV, on the other hand, spreads to others by that choice, and unfortunately my taxes has to be used to attempt to protect the health of the community.

[Oldpogue]

Not to get off track here, but I refuse to read or watch anything with "celebrity" in the title.

[Whitebean54]

EDIT: Just checked Wikipedia, and it's the same chick. Never graduated from high school and was passed around glam-metal bands Ratt and Whitesnake. My heart is broken. She's a ho.

Cocaine a helluva drug:D

[billdawg]

. Hell at 11 I was masturbating and playing with GI Joes...

Dude, those 2 statements should never be in the same sentence,lol.

[Psi Brr]

Quote:
<TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=6 width="100%" border=0><TBODY><TR><TD class=alt2 style="BORDER-RIGHT: 1px inset; BORDER-TOP: 1px inset; BORDER-LEFT: 1px inset; BORDER-BOTTOM: 1px inset">Originally Posted by tri4fun http://www.socnet.com/images/buttons/viewpost.gif (http://www.socnet.com/showthread.php?p=1069987#post1069987)
. Hell at 11 I was masturbating and playing with GI Joes...
</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>Dude, those 2 statements should never be in the same sentence,lol.No shit, huh?

[spectr17]

"Racecar Rodney" I call him. I wondered where Rodney has been lately, he's usually sucking 40s of malt in the park in Pomona or down at the courthouse for ANOTHER arraignment.

His last arrest was for crashing a car into a house in Rialto, maybe 2 years ago. 90+ mph I think it was. Can't remember why Racecar was fleeing that night. His g/f I think it was.

Got a bone to pick with Rodney. 2 Days after the King riots subsided I had tickets to go see Garth Brooks at the Forum. G/f was pitching a fit, she wanted to go bad but she had no idea the gauntlet Manchester Ave. would be. We never stopped at a stopped sign and everyone had pistols out, ready to go Korean Store owner on their azzzes. Many of the stores were still smoking and being looted.

Not one of my brightest moves.

[grahamcracker977]

The Grease guy is on this season as well???
Jeff Conway was on the first Celebrity Rehab. Guy showed up rollin out of his vehicle with champagne in hand and forehead resting against dashboard. G/F at the time was huge enabler. He popped oxycontin like it was Skittles!
Said he injured his back filming the "grease lightening" number. Got hooked on pain meds after that. If anyone was going to die if they did not go through, my money was on him. He looks/moves (in a wheelchair most of the time) like an 80 year old! :eek:

[bmbsqd]

The Grease guy is on this season as well???
Jeff Conway was on the first Celebrity Rehab. Guy showed up rollin out of his vehicle with champagne in hand and forehead resting against dashboard. G/F at the time was huge enabler. He popped oxycontin like it was Skittles!
Said he injured his back filming the "grease lightening" number. Got hooked on pain meds after that. If anyone was going to die if they did not go through, my money was on him. He looks/moves (in a wheelchair most of the time) like an 80 year old! :eek:


His enabling g/f is now on the show as well. She is on the other side of the facility but makes appearances in every episode.

[bmbsqd]

He walked out on the first season when the withdrawals started.

[Shadow]

...He ROLLED out on the first season when the withdrawals started.

Fixed it for ya... :D

[bmbsqd]

Now that's some funny shit! :)

[bmbsqd]

Anyone catch the final episode? I still say Rodney King is the most interesting one and the most articulate one. Of course the model is f-----g hot! Mmmm....NOT Tawny.

[kms61]

I caught an episode or two after reading this thread, and most of them aren't terribly sympathetic characters. They seem to have a lot of other problems besides just the substance abuse, but I guess that's par for the course with this kind of thing. It's also in the back of my mind that everybody except King is an entertainer of one sort or another, and it makes me wonder how much of this is real and how much is show business.

Then there's the ethical issue of even having a show like this. I assume the guy running this thing is an MD, so how does this program square with the Hippocratic Oath? For instance, the kid smoking crack on the roof with the camera looking over his shoulder. Yeah, it's kind of disturbingly compelling, but if they're really trying to get this guy off drugs, shouldn't they have put down the camera and tackled him at that point?

[heavyguns1/1]

Celebrity anything and 99% of reality shows are gay.

[sawbones]

2 of the folks from the first season were pts of mine. There support networks were less then supportive.