Collection Intervention
Common Sense says
- Syfy
- Reality TV
- 2012
Parents say
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A lot or a little?
The parents' guide to what's in this TV show.
What parents need to know
Parents need to know that Collection Intervention features people trying to take control over their extreme collecting habits with the help of a collections expert. The psychological reasons behind their obsession aren't explored, but the show offers some details on how to responsibly build a collection and how to best get rid of one. Popular culture items like Barbie and memorabilia for films and TV shows like Star Wars, Battlestar Galactica, Wonder Woman, and others are prominently featured and might be of interest to younger viewers. The content is pretty mild, but moments of frustration sometimes lead to raised voices and occasional curses ("s--t") that are fully bleeped. Sexy images of actors on posters and in comics are sometimes visible, too.
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What's the story?
COLLECTION INTERVENTION is a reality series that features extreme collectors as they attempt to get their collector compulsion out of control. Former Christie's vice president and auctioneer Elyse Luray meets with people who have collections that have overtaken their homes and their lives. She, along with the help of professional buyers and appraisers, assesses the true value of their collections, and helps them make decisions about how to pare them down. Trivia about the value of various collector's items are also offered. Some collectors find it easier to whittle away their collections than others, but Luray hopes that she can help them get their emotions and their collections under control.
Is it any good?
The series shows the fine line between serious collectors and people who have become so obsessed with collecting that it is leading to hoarding, financial hardship, and the deterioration of relationships with friends and family. It also offers information about the kinds of things serious collectors should be doing when working on their hobby, like staying focused, correctly storing items, and thinking about ways to get the best return on their investments if they choose to sell them later.
While some folks share a few of the reasons why they are attached to their collections, the overall series doesn't really address the underlying issues that are motivating their obsessive tendencies in any sort of depth. As a result, the voyeuristic moments in which folks angrily or tearfully struggle with paring down their collections through selling, auctioning, and donating items are sometimes hard to understand. But in the end, Collection Intervention successfully offers some practical insight into how to be a responsible collector.
Talk to your kids about ...
Families can talk about why people like to collect things. What is the difference between being interested in and collecting something vs. becoming obsessed with something you are interested in? Parents: How can you help kids manage and enjoy their interests in their favorite pop culture subjects without going overboard?
Are you a collector? What kinds of things do you like to collect? Why do you do it? Are there pieces of your collection that you would never part with, even if it was worth a lot of money? Why?
What is the appeal of a show like this? Why do you think people agree to be on this show?
TV details
- Premiere date: August 14, 2012
- Cast: Elyse Luray
- Network: Syfy
- Genre: Reality TV
- TV rating: TV-PG
- Available on: Streaming
- Last updated: November 11, 2020
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