While MTV is not the typical venue for quality television programming, I have to admit, it always has something to say about the state of American culture. In a new series, Gone Too Far, Adam Goldstein, better know as DJ AM, arranges interventions for young drug addicts and offers them in-patient rehab, while MTV foots the bill.
I first decided to watch the show because I was simply curious to see DJ AM in action. The celebrity died earlier this fall of drug overdose after a lifelong battle with addiction. A major aspect of the show is that AM is able to understand the station of the young addicts from personal experience. I was skeptical when I first tuned in because I expected the show might be gimmicky, exploiting these diseased young adults for profit's sake. On the contrary, AM brings a genuine quality to the program. At times, he is unable to hide his emotions. He gets teary-eyed with the family and friends of the addicts and his face is visibly pained as he sees and holds various drug paraphernalia. If the addicts relapses after treatment, he takes it personally.
The show provides real footage of the addicts using. Hollywood glamor aside, Gone Too Far shows real scars, real pain, and real addiction. My toes curled as I watched some scenes. Others I couldn't watch at all. There is ugly tragedy in how young the addicts are and in how powerless they are over their addictions.
In light of AM's death at age 36, I can only wonder what demons confronted him as he filmed this show. Was he using during filming? Did touching a crack pipe again awaken old muscle memory and persuade him to use? MTV recorded 9 episodes, so AM got 9 chances to save others from his fate. Unlike other reality shows with celebrity hosts, I could tell AM didn't care about money or exposure from Gone Too Far. For him, this show hit painfully close to home.
You can watch episodes of Gone Too Far on Mondays on MTV or for free on the MTV website.
