Daily Loaf

When Celebrity Rehab with Dr. Drew aired, I wondered why Dr. Drew was venturing into the realm of substance abuse instead of sticking with what made him famous: dispensing sex and love advice on his call-in show, Love Lines. This month, Dr. Drew reclaims his throne as the Oprah of American sex with the new reality show, Sex Rehab with Dr. Drew. And by reality, I mean the show features celebrities — though I use the term “celebrity” very loosely.

Undoubtedly this show will earn high ratings, and considering no one is eligible to be voted off each week, maybe a few people will actually get better. However, I can’t help but see this show as simply a vehicle for reviving these waning stars’ careers, and in so doing, feeding their addiction to fame, fortune and sex.

I believe that a few of the celebrities on Celebrity Rehab were genuinely interested in getting better. I can’t imagine how admitting to some of their humiliating drug habits and addictions could have helped their careers. I would be more inclined to believe that Sex Rehab was genuinely dedicated to helping sex addicts, as well as getting good ratings, if it featured the likes of Gary Busey ranting about his Kung Fu masturbation techniques, or Cloris Leachman describing epic sex with Gene Hackman.

However, the cast of Sex Rehab is composed largely of C and D list celebrities who became famous for being sex objects. The show features the likes of Kari Ann Peniche, whose Miss United States Teen title was stripped after she appeared in Playboy, and who recently appeared naked in a celebrity skin tape alongside Eric Dane and Rebecca Grayheart. The cast also includes Playboy Playmate Nicole Narain, former supermodel and Playboy cover model Amber Smith, and former adult actresses Kendra Jade Rossi and Penny Flame. Notice a trend?

In his extensive interview with Playboy, Dr. Drew recounted a time when he was counseling Robert Downey Jr. about how fame facilitates addiction, and how stepping out of the spotlight is often the only way for stars to stay sober. However, Sex Rehab seems to contradict Pinsky’s logic. After listening to these beautiful people describe their former sex-capades, the internet will be flooded with people searching for sexy photos or clips of these former models. This will create a renewed demand for more photos and videos of these celebrities, thus luring these actresses and models back into their former roles as sex objects.

I’m not saying that the entertainment industry is filled with sex addicts. I just don’t think the best way to fight sex addiction is to put a bunch of attractive addicts in a house together and to create a renewed fan base of people wanting to have sex with them.

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