The Cleaner

I found this show on a fluke. When i read the storyline I was shocked to see that television was actually going to touch on a very real subject. I was extremely disappointed to see that it only lasted 2 seasons. If we had more shows like this one maybe the reality of addiction might sink in. But it makes people uncomfortable and society would rather turn a blind eye that face reality. I am a sometimes recovering addict. I have great clean time and then i dont, and for no particular reason other than I am a addict. For me this show keeps things in perspective. I've read some of the other reviews and its a shame to see what people complained about and how they really couldn't see the real picture. Addiction is real. The struggle and despair are real. The denial, the hurt, the fears, the solidarity is real. And the battle is daily, every single day for the rest of an addicts life, everyday for the ones who are close to a addicts life. Addiction doesn't only affect the addict but their loveds ones to. It is a never ending war. We win some battles and we lose some battles. But we keep fighting the good fight. For those who found this show offensive and too graphic, good!! I hope you kept watching cause this is only partially what addiction can look like. If you ask me, this is a PG rated show compared to what the reality of it really looks like. This is what reality TV should be, who cares about what celebrities had sex scandals or who can out last who on popularity votes. Wake up America, this is reality. Benjamin Bratt at his finest... I give the show a 20!!!

I found the program surfing through Prime. Found myself addicted to the addiction show. Disappointed it was only two seasons, easily developed interest in the characters. Relevance to addiction, recovery, family dynamics.

William Banks is an ex-addict who turned his life around by making a covenant with God to help addicts if he can live a life free of addiction. William and his crew engage in interventions with primarily drug and alcohol addicts. I found the show to be absolutely riveting. It is refreshing to see CBS doing a show that showcases a man talking to God throughout each episode. William Banks offers a black and white crystal clear point of reference on the rights and wrongs of substance abuse. The pilot episode was a little hard to get through, but, after that I couldn't stop watching until I had seen every episode. The Cleaner is a truly unique drama. In the present stench of a drug legalizing culture, The Cleaner is a well deserved breath of clean fresh air.

I began watching this show with the very first episode. I maybe would have not given it much thought, however, my husband has been in recovery from addiction for about 14 months now. He loves the show and can relate to so many of the addicts Mr. Banks helps. It is real for him. I like the show and can relate with the families of the addict. My husband and I have been married 25 years and addiction has been a major struggle in both our families for most of our lives. This show is a wonderful look at both sides of the addiction. Not only the addict but also the affects it has on the family member dealing with the addict... I will look forward to many more episodes of The Cleaner. God bless William Banks for saying, I'm not gonna take it anymore... My husband would love to meet the man behind the show. Is there a way???

Recovering addict William Banks (Benjamin Bratt) made a deal with God to save people from their addictions. He is trying to fix his marriage to Melissa (Amy Price-Francis) with their two kids after his imprisonments, his afflictions, and his fling with Akani Cuesta (Grace Park). With Akani, Darnell McDowell, and Arnie Swenton (Esteban Powell), he finds and saves addicts from their dire situations.

This show differs from one episode to another. Some of them are excellent. Others are pretty bland. The trouble is that recovery by itself is not much in terms of drama. It requires interesting characters and sometimes a connection to the cast. When the patient-of-the-week is bland, the episode fails. I still remember the twins and the ballerina. The ballerina's connection to the daughter is what makes that episode great. In the end, this back and forth in quality makes it a difficult show to continue. A&E is not necessarily the most stable network for written shows anyways. It had two seasons which is probably one more than can be expected.