Hoarders (TV series)

{{Short description|American documentary reality television series}}

{{distinguish|text=Hoarding: Buried Alive, a similar American reality television series on TLC}}

{{Multiple issues|

}}

{{Infobox television

| image = Hoarders titlecard.jpg

| genre = {{ubl|Documentary|Reality show}}

| country = United States

| starring = Vincent Mcdonald

| language = English

| num_seasons = 16

| num_episodes = 164

| list_episodes = List of Hoarders episodes

| executive_producer = {{Plainlist|

Courtney LeMarco
Erik Bernard
Dave Severson
Andrew Berg
David McKillop
Elaine Frontain Bryant
George Butts
Jessica Morgan
Matt Chan
Mike Kelly

}}

| camera = Multiple

| runtime = 42–85 minutes

| company = TLG Motion Pictures

| channel = {{Plainlist|

A&E
{{small|(Seasons 1-6, 8-present)}}
Lifetime
{{small|(Season 7)}}

}}

| first_aired = {{Start date|2009|08|17}}

| last_aired = present

}}

Hoarders is an American documentary reality television series that debuted on A&E on August 17, 2009. The show depicts the real-life struggles and treatment of people who suffer from compulsive hoarding disorder.{{cite web|title=A&E Premieres New Original Nonfiction Series "Hoarders"|url=http://thefutoncritic.com/news/2009/08/11/a-and-e-premieres-new-original-nonfiction-series-hoarders-32342/20090811aande01/|work=The Futon Critic|date=August 11, 2009}}

The series concluded its original run on February 4, 2013, after six seasons.{{cite web|last=Kondolojy|first=Amanda|title='Hoarders' Canceled by A&E after Six Seasons|url=http://tvbythenumbers.zap2it.com/2013/09/25/hoarders-canceled-by-ae-after-six-seasons/204969/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130927212149/http://tvbythenumbers.zap2it.com/2013/09/25/hoarders-canceled-by-ae-after-six-seasons/204969/|url-status=dead|archive-date=September 27, 2013|work=TV by the Numbers|date=September 25, 2013}}

Over a year after the program's original cancellation in 2013, Lifetime began airing a series of weekly "Update" episodes on June 2, 2014.{{cite web|title=Hoarders Update on Lifetime Could Revive Show|url=http://guardianlv.com/2014/05/hoarders-update-on-lifetime-could-revive-show/|date=May 31, 2014}} Each "Update" episode presented an episode from earlier seasons, ending with a present-day visit to a featured hoarder by the therapist or organizer who worked with them. Interviews with the hoarder and their family reveal how their lives have progressed since their first appearance on the show. This led to the production of a seventh season, Hoarders: Family Secrets, which aired on Lifetime from May 28, 2015, to July 30, 2015.{{cite web|title=New Episodes of Hoarders in Production|url=http://www.realityblurred.com/realitytv/2015/03/will-hoarders-return-yes-coming-back-with-new-episodes/|date=Mar 15, 2015}}

The program returned to A&E for subsequent seasons beginning with season eight on January 3, 2016.{{Cite web|last=Andy Dehnart|date=2016-01-04|title=Hoarders quietly moves back to A&E|url=https://www.realityblurred.com/realitytv/2016/01/hoarders-back-to-ae/|access-date=2021-09-07|website=reality blurred|language=en-US}} "Update" episodes continue to run between seasons under the titles Hoarders: Where Are They Now?, Hoarders: Then & Now or Hoarders: Overload. The eleventh season premiered on July 20, 2020.{{Cite web|last=Cohn|first=Paulette|date=2020-07-20|title=Real People, Real Disorders! Everything We Know About Hoarders Season 11|url=https://parade.com/1063413/paulettecohn/hoarders-season-11/|access-date=2021-09-07|website=Parade: Entertainment, Recipes, Health, Life, Holidays|language=en}} A twelfth season premiered on March 22, 2021.{{Cite web|last=Leiber|first=Sarah Jae|title=A&E's INTERVENTION Returns For A New Season In Las Vegas|url=https://www.broadwayworld.com/bwwtv/article/AEs-INTERVENTION-Returns-For-A-New-Season-In-Las-Vegas-20210224|access-date=2021-09-07|website=BroadwayWorld.com|language=en}}

Overview

=Concept=

Each 60-minute episode profiles one or two interventions. During most of the first season, the hoarder worked with either a psychiatrist/psychologist, a professional organizer, or an "extreme cleaning specialist," each of whom specialized in some aspect involving the treatment of obsessive compulsive disorders, anxiety disorders, and/or hoarding. A crew of professional cleaners (usually a local franchise of the series' major corporate sponsor) performed the actual cleanups. Two episodes in the first season featured a cleanup with both a psychologist and an organizer: Jill (episode "Jennifer and Ron/Jill") and Patty (episode "Patty/Bill"). From season 2 onward, all hoarders were given a psychologist and an organizer. The final episode of the first season, "Paul/Missy and Alex", featured professional organizer Geralin Thomas, CPO-CD, working with Missy, while a child psychologist, Dr. David Dia, worked with Missy's seven-year-old son Alex. Beginning in the second season, each hoarder had a psychologist-plus-organizer/cleaning specialist team assisting them. This specialist combination leads a group of cleaning professionals, family, friends, and relatives of the hoarder in conducting a two- to three-day decluttering session. In most instances, a crisis prompted the intervention, such as a threat of eviction or the removal of minor children from the home.{{citation needed|date=December 2021}}

At the end of each episode, on-screen text indicates the short-term outcome of the cleanup effort, including the subjects' decisions on whether to seek further assistance from organizers and/or therapists. The show provides six months of aftercare funds to pay these professionals and, occasionally, to carry out vital repairs to the home.{{cite web|title=Aftercare — Home cleaning|url=http://community.aetv.com/service/displayDiscussionThreads.kickAction?w=265899&as=119137&d=598224|quote=This is Cory Chalmers from Hoarders and as part of my business, we offer regularly scheduled cleaning for every hoarding case we help with.|work=A&E Community|access-date=27 February 2012|archive-date=19 March 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120319230146/http://community.aetv.com/service/displayDiscussionThreads.kickAction?w=265899&as=119137&d=598224|url-status=dead}}

Beginning with the season nine finale, episodes were expanded to two hours and focused on a single hoarder.{{Cite web|last=Goronja|first=Ariel|date=2020-07-20|title=Hoarders Season 11 Premiere Schedule: What Time & Date Does it Air?|url=https://heavy.com/entertainment/2020/07/hoarders-season-11-premiere-time-date/|access-date=2021-09-07|website=Heavy.com|language=en-US}}

Each of the "Update" episodes revisits hoarders from previous episodes, showing clips from their original appearances followed by newer footage detailing the progress they have made.{{citation needed|date=December 2021}}

=Hoarding disorder=

With the release of the DSM-5 in 2013, hoarding was classified as a separate disorder. During the show's original run, hoarding behaviors were considered symptoms of obsessive–compulsive disorder (OCD). Hoarding does show links to obsessive and compulsive behaviors; however, it also shows connections to major depressive disorder as well as attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).{{cite journal|last1=Hall|first1=Brian|last2=Tolin|first2=David|last3=Frost|first3=Randy|last4=Steketee|first4=Gail|title=An exploration of comorbid symptoms and clinical correlates of clinically significant hoarding symptoms|journal=Depression and Anxiety|date=2013|volume=30|issue=1|pages=67–76|doi=10.1002/da.22015|pmc=4887088|pmid=23213052}}

The role of documentary shows like Hoarders in this change of classification is unclear. However, some believe the rise in awareness caused by such shows was a significant contributing factor.{{cite journal|last1=Marchland|first1=Shoshana|last2=Phillips McEnany|first2=Geoffry|date=September 2012|title=Hoarding's place in the DSM-5: Another symptom, or a newly listed disorder?|journal=Issues in Mental Health Nursing|volume=33|pages=593–597}} When hoarding became a buzzword, it "commanded a significant amount of professional…attention".

Episodes

Contributors

A number of board-licensed therapists, psychologists, and professional organizers have contributed to the show as on-air personalities. Recurring cast members are as follows:

=Therapists=

Professional ! Credential(s) ! Associated institution(s)
class="wikitable sortable"
Dr. Suzanne Chabaud	Ph.D.	OCD Institute of Greater New Orleans
Dr. Melva Green	M.D., M.B.A., M.P.H.
Dr. Scott Hannan	Ph.D.	The Institute of Living
Dr. Mark Pfeffer	M.S., L.M.F.T.	Panic/Anxiety Recovery Center of Chicago
Dr. Renae Reinardy{{cite web\|url=http://www.dl-online.com/news/557962-hoarders-just-cant-let-go-their-stuff\|work=Detroit Lakes Online\|title=Hoarders just can't let go of their stuff\|author=Gerdes, Vicky\|date=November 19, 2010\|location=Great Lakes, Minnesota\|access-date=March 5, 2018}}	Psy.D.	Lakeside Center for Behavioral Change (Fargo, North Dakota)
Dr. David F. Tolin	Ph.D., A.B.P.P.	The Institute of Living
Dr. Michael Tompkins	Ph.D.	San Francisco Bay Area Center for Cognitive Therapy
Dr. Robin Zasio{{cite web\|url=http://www.tvweeklynow.com/news-blogs/news-blogs-RicksPicks/emmy-nominated-hoarders-premieres-an-all-new-season.htm\|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160825073029/http://www.tvweeklynow.com/news-blogs/news-blogs-RicksPicks/emmy-nominated-hoarders-premieres-an-all-new-season.htm\|url-status=usurped\|archive-date=August 25, 2016\|work=TV Weekly Now\|title=Emmy-nominated "Hoarders" Premieres an All-new Season\|date=May 25, 2015\|access-date=February 23, 2018}}	Psy.D. L.C.S.W.	The Anxiety Treatment Center (Sacramento, California)

=Organizers=

Professional ! Title
class="wikitable sortable"
Dorothy Breininger	Certified professional organizer
Cory Chalmers	Extreme cleaning specialist
Matt Paxton	Extreme cleaning specialist
Dr. Darnita L. Payden	Life management specialist
Standolyn Robertson	Certified professional organizer
Erica DiMiele	Extreme cleaning specialist
Geralin Thomas{{cite web\|work=TV Guide\|url=https://www.tvguide.com/news/hoarders-geralin-thomas-1034363/\|title=Geralin Thomas on Helping Through Hoarders\|author=Juzwiak, Rich\|date=June 19, 2011\|access-date=March 5, 2018}}	Certified professional organizer

Reception

At the time of its premiere, Hoarders was the most-watched series premiere in A&E network history among adults aged 18–49 and tied for the most ever in the adults aged 25–54 demographic.{{cite press release|last=Seidman|first=Robert|title=Hoarders has best premiere ever for A&E with adults 18–49|url=http://tvbythenumbers.zap2it.com/2009/08/18/hoarders-has-best-a-premiere-ever-for-ae-with-adults-18-49/25002/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131007120307/http://tvbythenumbers.zap2it.com/2009/08/18/hoarders-has-best-a-premiere-ever-for-ae-with-adults-18-49/25002/|url-status=dead|archive-date=October 7, 2013|work=TV by the Numbers|date=August 18, 2009}} The premiere was watched by 2.5 million viewers: 1.8 million adults aged 18–49.

In 2011, Hoarders won a Critics' Choice Award, in a tie with The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills, for best reality series.{{cite web|last1=Mets|first1=Lauren|title=RHOBH Grabs Critics' Choice Award; Lisa Vanderpump 'Bloody Can't Believe It'|url=http://www.bravotv.com/the-daily-dish/rhobh-grabs-critics-choice-award-lisa-vanderpump-bloody-cant-believe-it|website=Bravo|date=21 June 2011 |publisher=The Daily Dish|access-date=September 5, 2016}}{{cite web|title='Mad Men' & 'Modern Family' Among Winners At First Critics' Choice TV Awards|url=https://deadline.com/2011/06/mad-men-modern-family-among-winners-at-first-critics-choice-tv-awards-141677/|website=Deadline|date=20 June 2011 |access-date=September 5, 2016}}