Alongside Paltrow in the movie will be actors Tim Robbins, Joely Richardson and Mark Ruffalo, according to a report from The Guardian. The movie will be part comedy, part drama, focusing on the subject of sex addiction. Director Stuart Blumberg will guide Paltrow’s performance as a career woman who meets the other characters while attending group-based recovery sessions for people with sexual addictions. Paltrow’s co-actors will play the roles of couples who are working through struggles with sex addiction.

Sexual addiction continues to emerge in global headlines surrounding celebrities and infidelity, but the movie is among the first to address sexual addiction as a core theme. Despite stereotypes and misconceptions regarding sex addiction, people with the condition show similar symptoms as people with substance abuse problems. Experts believe the sexual behaviors – including sex with multiple partners – are a manifestation of low self-esteem and a deep-rooted inability to create and maintain intimate relationships.

While the movie may show some comedic moments surrounding sexual addiction, the reality of the addiction is anything but funny for the millions of people who are struggling with the condition.

Symptoms of sexual addiction can include a compulsive preoccupation with porn, cybersex and risky sexual behaviors and obsessive, unwanted thought patterns related to sexual activity. This leads to serious problems within families, in the workplace and in social settings.

As the addiction progresses, the person will be unable to control sexual urges, even when they know the consequences are severe. Rather than seeking sex for pleasure, they use the behavior to escape unwanted emotions or to "numb out." Many also become addicted to sexting, cybersex or online pornography.

The biology and psychology associated with the abuse and addiction is generally the same and both individuals need focused help to overcome their addictions. While the celebrity may have more in terms of financial resources to address their problem, the more important element is that of a commitment to regain normalcy in life that does not require a dependence on a substance to function.

For celebrity Mel Gibson, the challenges – and the spotlight – seem to be ever intrusive and never forgiving. The actor has admitted to reporters that he has battled alcoholism all of his adult life and relapse is just part of his condition. When he makes a mistake, however, it tends to be wrought with illegal activity and violence. In more than one occasion, his actions included driving while intoxicated. In the last incident, it is alleged that he became violent against an ex-girlfriend who also happens to be the mother of his child.

In Gibson’s case, every misstep has the potential to damage his career, his health, his image, and his reputation. While a number of celebrity alcoholics will check into treatment facilities to try and overcome their addictions, Gibson has instead participated in an outpatient program of recovery. Will this approach be enough for a self-admitted alcoholic who has battled this addiction for more than two decades?

In truth, a number of proven treatment methods are available that can be administered both through inpatient or outpatient methods. Not every method is right for every addiction or every individual and programs must be designed according to the challenges faced by the unique individual. In Gibson’s case, only he and his doctors can know the best method of treatment and pursue it in the best of circumstances.

The stakes seem to be higher when the abuse involves a celebrity, one who created much-loved characters in his career. Too often, we believe the individual is more like the characters he creates than a unique individual with his own traits – both good and bad. Gibson appears to be battling his own fierce demons and whether or not he will be able to overcome their hold on him will depend more on his determination to turn a corner than the type of program he selects.

Without this determination, Gibson will be forced to settle into his late-term alcoholism, which could lead to increased instances of violence and other problems. We may assume that a life of celebrity would be exciting enough to keep an individual away from abuse, yet the tabloids suggest the opposite is actually the truth.
 

In Brazil, advertising has been a self-regulated system when it comes to alcohol marketing. Recently, a group of researchers led by Alan Verdrame explored how alcohol advertising may be violating its self-regulation code in Brazil, catering its advertising to teen influence.

The study focused on the perceived violations of the content guidelines of Brazil’s self-regulation code. The five most popular beer advertisements that were shown during the summer of 2005-2006, and again during the FIFA World Cup games were examined for violations to the regulation code.

The researchers chose five beer advertisements that had been identified in an earlier study as advertisements that were popular among a sample of Brazilian teenagers. A group of teen participants evaluated the five advertisements using the rating procedure developed for self-regulation in the alcohol marketing industry in Brazil. The advertisements were evaluated using 16 separate guidelines in the code.

The results show that all five of the advertisements were found to be in violation of the self-regulation under multiple guidelines. One beer advertisement that marketed Antarctica’s “Male Repellent” was found to violate 11 of the 16 guidelines established by the code. Two of the advertisements had nine violations, and one advertisement had eight violations.

The guidelines that were most often cited for violation were Guideline 1 and Guideline 2. Guideline 1 is designed to protect children and teenagers, while Guideline 2 does not allow advertisements to encourage heavy drinking episodes and irresponsible drinking decisions.

The results of the study suggest that teens in Brazil are not being protected adequately by the alcohol marketing industry. The responsibility that the industry has to market its products with the best interests of teens in mind is not being met.

The five beer advertisements that were most popular among teens were also found to have violated multiple guidelines of the self-regulation codes. It may be necessary for the industry to establish a more formal means of regulation, recruiting teens to evaluate advertisements on a regular basis.

As teens move through their high school years, it is important that alcohol industry marketers are sensitive to the important role they can play in helping teens make healthy decisions about alcohol consumption. A more systematic approach to regulation in advertising may help reduce the number of teens who decide to drink irresponsibly.
 

Inappropriate Dress

Every generation has its provocative icons, those women (and men) who flaunt their bodies in varying degrees of undress. The more titillating, the better, it seems, especially in some circles. Perhaps nowhere is this more evident than in the music world, long an industry filled with flagrant examples of lewdness and indecency. From baggy and torn jeans that expose underwear and private parts of the anatomy to see-through tops and thongs that leave nothing to the imagination, the clothing worn by some of the music world’s biggest stars is nothing less than reprehensible. And it’s been that way for some time. The difference is that today it isn’t an isolated incident with one star – such as a Madonna in her early years – but nudity and inappropriate dress are present in every type of music.

There’s the hip-hop world, where how much you show depends, in part, on how much you have to show. Bling, of course, is big, and the more glitter draped across the body, the bigger (presumably) a star you are. Bling even takes the place of clothing as garments become unnecessary accoutrements in the search for instant attention and notoriety. Who’s going to get photographed more, the half-nude female hip-hop singer with a rhinestone thong and pasties – and not much else – or one who’s fully clothed? No brainer, there, especially when the audience is millions.

But music performers with no taste in clothes (at least, no good taste) extends far beyond hip-hop. The music genres of pop, rock, and soul are perhaps equally as guilty, but it depends on the artist and the venue. You see examples of questionable attire in every major music venue. Think the Grammys, Billboard Music Awards, MTV Video Music Awards, American Music Awards, even Country Music Awards.

Hollywood is another big offender – and always has been, it’s true. Does it seem a bit more blatant lately? It’s almost as if it has become a “can you top this” type of exposure (of flesh that is). The larger the audience, the more examples you’ll find of so-called fashion stretching the bounds of decency. Think of the Academy Awards, both the presenters, the winners, and audience members. Knowing that the worldwide audience is in the billions (considering live, delayed, and countless video clips played in news and entertainment shows and on the Internet), the attendees, nominees, winners and presenters dress accordingly. They may not dress modestly, but they do dress for attention – in one way or another. During the 46th annual Academy Awards, a streaker gained notoriety by running across the stage behind David Niven. The incident was captured and put on YouTube. To-date, the clip has been viewed nearly one million times.

And it’s not just at awards ceremonies where Hollywood stars, starlets, and wannabes strut their stuff. There are endless candid photos taken of these individuals in various stages of undress (accidentally or on purpose) at nightclubs, restaurants, at the beach, in their homes and elsewhere and displayed in the tabloids and magazines at supermarket, drug store and newsstands across the country. Try shielding your children from this kind of over-exposure.

You’d think the sports world would be somehow immune to indecent exposure. Wrong. Remember the famous Super Bowl XXXVIII half-time incident in 2004 when one of Janet Jackson’s breasts was exposed during her performance with Justin Timberlake? Oops, was it really a “wardrobe malfunction” or something else entirely. Regardless, the incident was again replayed on – you guessed it – YouTube, with more than 3.5 million viewings to-date.

Inappropriate Language

It takes more than visual images to impact impressionable minds. Words have a powerful effect as well. Slang, cuss words, and words with suggestive meaning not only become part of the vernacular, but also imply acceptability. The more such words and phrases are heard over the airways and on the street, the more likely they are to become part of the vocabulary of those around us – including our children.

Lyrics of popular songs – again, hip-hop, rap and pop are the biggest offenders – have a subliminal and cumulative effect. Accompanied by an hypnotic, mesmerizing beat and/or instantly recognizable music, such words imprint themselves on impressionable brains. Whether or not the listener agrees with the intent of the words, they are bound to have a lasting impression. Murder, robbery, domestic and other violence, drug and sexual abuse, incest and abuse of children are common themes. So, too, is disrespect for women, parents, authority, police, and society in general.

When such language filters down to the family dinner table, around the house, in the classroom or out in public, you know it’s gone too far. Trying to rein in such behavior is difficult after the fact.

Portrayal of Drug and Alcohol Usage

When did it become okay for excruciatingly vivid portrayals of drug and alcohol usage to be broadcast on commercial television? This is a phenomenon that seems to have spread incrementally. From the years ago Archie Bunker having a beer and lambasting Meathead to the kids on Married with Children secreting beers to actors and actresses downing drinks or shooting up drugs on mainstream TV shows, things have really gone too far.

Advertising for beer, wine and spirits doesn’t do anything but add fuel to the fire. The portrayals of everyone having fun, being with friends, having exciting new adventures – on the ski slopes and around the fire afterward, snowboarding, snowmobiling, at the football games and tailgate parties, during holidays, vacations and just relaxing at home – lead viewers to believe that such behavior is somehow the norm, that it is perfectly acceptable.

As parents, it’s next to impossible to monitor everything our children see and hear. Nor would such micromanagement ever be advisable. What, then, can parents do to prevent their children from unhealthy emulation of obvious bad behavior?

Tips to Prevent Unhealthy Emulation

The old adage that good behavior begins at home has more than a little truth. While parents can’t shield their children from every negative image, bad or inappropriate words in the real world, they can impart sound values and respect for others by starting in the home.

Here are some tips to help prevent (or counter) unhealthy emulation:

• Watch TV as a family. – When there’s a special program, say a holiday special or a worthwhile movie, arrange to watch it as a family. Make it an occasion by making some healthy treats, sharing popcorn (air-popped, and not loaded with butter and salt), and sitting around together for the entire broadcast. If some inappropriate commercials air during this viewing time, mention that you want to discuss this later. Chances are that a family broadcast will have fewer of such controversial or inappropriate commercials, but it’s not impossible that some will sneak in there. After all, advertisers buy commercial time in either blocks or spot buys. Blocks of time are when they pay for particular prime-time hours or programming, whereas spot buys mean their commercials can air anytime that isn’t prime time.

• Limit TV viewing. – The average American spends too much time in front of the television screen. This cuts into hours that could be spent in more productive ways, such as exercising, pursuing hobbies, and reading, cooking, in cultural enrichment, volunteering, and enjoying the company of friends. Make it a rule that television viewing is restricted to certain hours, or prohibit viewing of overly violent programs or those whose content you deem inappropriate or unacceptable. Won’t children be able to view such programs elsewhere? Yes, but having the rules and example set at home will at least make an impression about where the family values are.

• Shop for clothing together. – While it’s usually the mother that shops for clothing for the children, occasionally the father either accompanies the family or buys the clothes with the children. Which parent does it doesn’t matter. What does matter is that parents and children shop for clothing together. Be sure to pay compliments to an outfit that is really in good taste and conforms to family values – especially if the child picks it out. This reinforces good behavior and emulation that’s healthy. Absolutely forbid purchase of skimpy bra-type tops, see-through or skin-tight clothing, or anything suggestive. Be prepared for some argument on this issue, however, especially if the kind of clothing your son or daughter wants is particularly popular with friends who are emulating some pop, rap or hip-hop star’s style. In the end, you are the parent. It’s up to you to set the standards and insist they are met.

• Turn off offensive lyrics on the radio. – When driving in the car with your children, if the radio is on and a song with offensive or questionable lyrics plays – either as part of the programming or because your child selects it, turn it off. Then, have a discussion about why you did so. Lyrics that degrade women, espouse violence, drug abuse, drinking and driving, or other unacceptable behavior should be pointed out. Emphasize that these are not the kind of values that the family lives by, and you don’t want your children to believe that such words, and the actions they imply, are in any way acceptable. On the other hand, when there is a popular recording artist whose words and music are acceptable, it’s a good idea to comment on some aspect of the selection – the artist’s talent, the melody, catchy lyrics, or the like. You don’t even have to be a fan of the music. Parents rarely have the same taste in music as their children. But, the fact that you listen and can relate to what your children listen to will go a long way in cementing your credibility.

• Watch out for unhealthy eating habits. – Sometimes the behavior that children witness has nothing to do with clothing (or lack of), music or drug or alcohol use. They may decide that they are too fat after seeing images of rail-thin, emaciated celebrities. If the celebrity is one of their age-set, the problem is magnified. Watch out for any signs that your child is refusing to eat, shoving their food around the plate instead of eating it, only eating very small or selective portions of food, bingeing and vomiting or using laxatives and water pills. These are signs of very unhealthy eating habits that may lead to potentially life-threatening eating disorders. Excessive weight loss, extreme exercise to the point of exhaustion, constantly counting calories and an obsessively critical self- or body-image are other signs to be on the lookout for. If you see any of these signs, don’t panic, but do seek help. Either talk with the family physician or enlist the aid of a dietician or nutritionist and/or counseling for the child. There may be physical and/or psychological root causes, coupled with familial and/or social influences. If a parent or sibling has an eating disorder, this caution is even more necessary, as eating disorders tend to run in families.

• Don’t drink at home. – While most Americans are able to drink responsibly, access to alcohol can be a huge problem to adolescents and teens. Again, lead by example. Is it really necessary to have a large supply of beer, wine and spirits in the house? Is it even necessary to have liquor in the house at all? Of course, if one of the parents is an alcoholic, this is again a no-brainer. There can’t be any alcohol in the home at all. But as a matter of good sense, limiting alcohol consumption at home – or not drinking at home at all – just helps prevent emulation of bad behavior.

• Be responsible about medications. – Another seeming coincidence is the plethora of television advertising for pharmaceuticals. Whether it’s for depression, headache, sexual stamina, allergies, colds, flu or minor aches and pains, there’s a drug company touting its product. Prescription and over-the-counter (OTC) medications alike get more than ample air time. Yes, they are required to mention contra-indications and side effects, but these are hurriedly glossed over in the voice-over at the end of the commercials. The over-riding message is: buy this because it will cure you. Too much reliance on pills for everything is a behavior parents must really try to stop. Again, lead by example. Keep an inventory of all prescription and OTC medicines in the house, who takes them and for what condition, what strength and dosage, number remaining, any refills and when, and expiration dates. Keep medications locked up and inaccessible to your children. If they do need a medication, give it to them yourself. Make sure they know the rules about medications, that medicine is very powerful and can be very dangerous. Never take medicine with alcohol, and watch mixing medications.

Perhaps the most effective way to counter unhealthy emulation is to be loving and caring parents. A family unit that is close and responsive to each other’s wants and needs is the best possible defense against unhealthy influences – whether they come from outside the home or over the airwaves.

The celebrity’s agent, manager, and PR person jump into gear to “fix” the situation.

“She knows he has a problem so she’s going to rehab.”

“He’s under a lot of stress, but is now dealing with the problem.”

The spin begins innocently enough, but if that celebrity is not ready for treatment, if she has not truly hit bottom, they will be back in the spotlight again a few months later, usually far worse off than they were.

Addiction is a progressive disease that requires intervention and intensive treatment as well as a long-term plan of recovery to be successfully overcome. Unfortunately, only not all addicts and alcoholics come to terms with their addiction and do what is necessary to get clean and sober.

As part of this circus of media fascination with celebrities in trouble come stories of celebrity rehab, places where the rich and famous go to dry out or get clean. Often, the stories about these rehabs are full of distortions and misinformation. They are described as spas or mere temporary safe havens from the media spotlight. In truth, most of these rehabs have high quality, intensive clinical programs and they have successfully treated thousands of people. The media does not cover that story. They cover the story of the few celebrities who are still enmeshed in their addiction.

The truth is, there is no such thing as a celebrity rehab. There simply aren’t enough celebrities in treatment to justify the existence of such a place. There are top-notch rehabs that happen to, on occasion, treat celebrities.

The shame in this misrepresentation of these rehabs is that many people who would receive exceptional treatment start to believe the media hype: that’s not really a treatment center. They read a few fly-by-night bloggers or gossip mongers whose evidence is based on a handful of celebrity cases. Although these rehabs have scores of positive stories of success, HIPPA and related federal regulations prevent them from telling those stories. Anyone reading stories by the misinformed would be surprised to discover that the positive stories far outweigh the negative. The media are not interested in success stories of celebrity addicts. What’s the fun in that?

Drug abuse devastates families. The ultimate outcome for the addict can be death. Heath Ledger and Michael Jackson are the most obvious recent examples of this. It does not serve the public to mislead them about the efficacy of treatment by painting a false picture of some of the most respected drug rehabs in the country.

Rehabs don’t stay in business because they have celebrity clients. The vast majority of clients are ordinary people who are referred by clinical professionals, doctors, and hospitals. Those professionals do not refer their clients lightly.

The most shameful aspect of this media attention is that they seem to revel in mocking and humiliating celebrities with addiction. This speaks to a larger issue in our society: a lack of understanding of the seriousness of addiction.

“If you’ve ever struggled with addiction, you’re always struggling with addiction,” she told NPR. “It’s a personality trait, really. It’s a mindset I understand deeply, and I’m sure that went into my portrayal of Jackie,” Falco said.

In the opening of the first episode, Jackie lies on her back in a white-tiled bathroom, seemingly experiencing a dream-like state. As the credits begin, a life-sized pill is popped open and tiny red granules come cascading out, raining down on her. Then we see Jackie’s worn hands chopping up the granules into a fine powder, which is then inhaled for a quick fix.

We see several sides of Jackie in the debut episode—on the one hand, Jackie is a devoted nurse and mother of two who will risk her own career to save more lives. She’ll also flush away the severed ear of a rapist instead of reattaching it, and will steal money from said rapist to give to a struggling pregnant woman who just lost her boyfriend. On the other, she is having an affair with the pharmacist who keeps her in pain killers, snorts the highly addictive painkiller Oxycontin, and is consistently rude to an over-eager nurse in training.

“Very few things in life are absolutely black and white,” Falco said in an interview. “The struggles [Jackie] has are the things that are faced by a lot of people; it’s the stuff that goes on in the real world.” When describing Jackie’s double life—as a sinner and a saint—Falco said, “I think there are a lot of things that [Jackie] loves, a lot of things that she wants, and I think a lot of them cannot exist in the same place. One of the ways that she makes that OK is by this addiction issue that she has.”

When speaking about her character’s life, Falco said, “There are many aspects of it that are mutually exclusive…I’ve discovered people who have lots of things in their lives that don’t really fit together have to find some way to kind of deny that it’s happening.” And that’s where the addiction comes in.

About her role, Falco said, “I just love it. I just really have never felt so intrinsically connected to the action — it suits me.”

Source: NPR,  As “Nurse Jackie,” Falco Bristles, Snarls, Conceals, June 7, 2009

40 million adults age 18 and over in the United States are affected by anxiety disorders, making it the most common mental illness in the U.S. “Obsessed” explores the stories of people suffering from anxiety disorders, as well as the effects on their friends and family. Each one-hour episode showcases two individual cases where the subjects are debilitated by anxiety disorders. Each participant will undergo a highly successful form of Cognitive Behavior Therapy that exposes them to the sources of their greatest anxiety to manage their fears.

Through Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), described as the most effective treatment for conditions like obsessive compulsive disorder, subjects are taught how to change their behaviors and thought patterns. Whether it’s dealing with obsessive-compulsive disorder, panic disorder, social anxiety disorder, general anxiety disorder, or hoarding, the unscripted series allows viewers to see how obsession can negatively affect a person’s life and those around them. The series then revisits each subject after several weeks of treatment to see the results.

Robert Sharenow, Senior Vice President of A&E’s Nonfiction and Alternative Programming, said, “The series sheds a light on the vast world of anxiety disorders, while offering those who suffer from these debilitation afflictions a path to recovery…Like ‘Intervention,’ ‘Obsessed’ takes an honest and unflinching look at a difficult subject, programming that has come to resonate with our viewers and that underscores the essence of our brand.”

In the series premiere, obsessive-compulsive disorder is making life a nightmare for Helen, a single mother. Her father died in a car accident, which led to Helen’s extreme panic attacks while driving and the compulsion to wear her father’s bloody clothes from the night he was killed. Therapists will use Cognitive Behavior Therapy to allow Helen to face her fears and overcome them. Also featured is Scott, a lonely germaphobe who doesn’t have a trashcan in his house, washes his hands 50 times a day, and sleeps on the couch because it takes him too long to make his bed in the morning. He hopes that CBT will help him overcome his phobias and be able to enjoy successful relationships.

The creators of “Obsessed” hope the series will raise awareness for people who may be suffering from these and similar disorders, showing them that there is hope for recovery.

Source: A&E News, A & E Premieres New Original Nonfiction Series “Obsessed,” May 4, 2009

Whatever the subject matter, reality shows are almost always instantly popular. The newest string of voyeur shows center around individuals and their troubles with drug and alcohol abuse. VH1′s “Celebrity Rehab” hails itself as “the first television series to chronicle the real-life experiences of a group of celebrities as they make the life-changing decision to enter themselves into a drug, alcohol, and addiction treatment program.” Leading the group is Dr. Drew Pinsky, Medical Director of the Department of Chemical Dependency Services at Las Encinas Hospital in southern California, and a celebrity himself due to his involvement in “Love Line” on the L.A. radio station KROQ and other radio programs.

The first season of “Celebrity Rehab” premiered in January 2008 and included the following patients: Daniel Baldwin (actor who departed after four episodes), Mary Carey (adult film star and former candidate for California Governor), Jeff Conaway (actor who played Kenickie in the movie “Grease”), Chyna Doll (former professional wrestler), Brigitte Nielsen (actress and former model), Jaimee Foxworth (former child actress on “Family Matters”), Ricco Rodriguez (Mixed Martial Arts fighter), Seth Binzer (lead singer of “Crazy Town”), and Jessica Sierra (singer and former “American Idol” contestant).

Sierra, Binzer, Foxworth, and Carey relapsed and re-entered treatment, and Conaway (who returned on Season 2) maintained sobriety from alcohol and cocaine but continued to abuse pain medications for his back. Chyna Doll was hospitalized for mixing pills and alcohol and is said to have returned to rehab, and the status of Baldwin is unknown. Brigitte Nielsen has been successful with her recovery, and often appears on Dr. Pinsky’s radio shows to talk about her sobriety. Rodriguez is also said to have had success with rehab.

A&E has a similar show, though it features everyday people rather than celebrities. Each episode of “Intervention” profiles an addict whose habits have estranged them from friends and loved ones, and ends with a surprise intervention where friends and family, in addition to an Intervention Specialist, confront the addict and share their feelings about the situation. According to A&E, “‘Intervention’ raises awareness about the alternatives and treatment options available to those who suffer from an alcohol or drug addiction, and gives hope to families who have nowhere left to turn.”

Many people have criticized these shows for exploiting the tribulations of famous people for entertainment value, but others believe public interventions can be helpful. On “Good Morning America” in January 2008, Michael Welner, an associate professor at New York University School of Medicine, said, “I think it has enormous promise. We have a problem of widespread abuse and addiction. One of the biggest problems is that the people who are abusing and who are addicted have no idea how pathetic they look, how ruinous their abuse is on their lives and people around them.” He continued, “It may be a spark to get them into treatment because that’s so much of a problem to get someone to cross that threshold and actually get help.”

Welner also said it’s imperative that the doctors on these programs are concerned about the patient, not the recognition. “The qualities that really give a therapist a therapeutic presence is that you’re always thinking about your patient or needs of their loved ones,” he said. The physician should act like a physician, “and not like someone who is possibly celebrity-seeking or possibly fluffy because with your most serious and most crucial, most sensitive life issues…you want to put your fate in the hands of someone who is serious, professional, and who you can trust.”

But are these usually very private moments too public? Boston Herald television reviewer Mark A. Perigard said, “Given the nature of recovery, an addict needs to be in a safe place to thrash out the issues underlying their disease…There’s no sugarcoating this pill. ‘Celebrity Rehab’ is heartless, exploitive, and downright toxic.”

It seems time will only tell whether these types of shows are helpful or harmful. But one thing’s for sure: these shows certainly don’t glamorize addiction, at least not in the case of actor Jeff Conaway. His deteriorating condition, complete with uncontrollable shaking and moaning, is too much to watch for some. Addicted to drugs since he was a teenager, most recently including cocaine, alcohol, and pain medications, he now relies on a wheelchair. Though he now no longer uses cocaine and alcohol, he continues to rely on pain killers and was removed from “Celebrity Rehab” after kicking his girlfriend in the ribs during an argument.

Unlike watching “Top Chef,” no one will turn off an episode of “Celebrity Rehab” thinking, “I wish I were that guy.”