Network: A&E
Episodes: 26 (hour)
Seasons: Two
TV show dates: July 15, 2008 – September 15, 2009
Series status: Cancelled/ended
Performers include: Benjamin Bratt, Grace Park, Amy Price-Francis, Esteban Powell, Liliana Mumy, Brett DelBuono, Kevin Michael Richardson, Dion Basco, and Whoopi Goldberg.
TV show description:
William Banks is recovering drug addict who lives in Los Angles. When his daughter was born, he made a deal with God that he would give up drugs and devote his life to help other people to beat their own harmful additions.
Helping William in his quest are Akani Cuesta (Grace Park), a confident beauty with a hardened street edge, and Arnie Swenton (Esteban Powell), a procrastinator who has a habit of getting into trouble.
While William must often resort to unethical and sometimes illegal methods to help his clients come clean, his success has earned the respect of the LAPD and other officials. William frequently asks for guidance from God in his mission and to help maintain his own path.
With every success and failure, William wrestles with his commitment to his work and his love for his wife Melissa (Amy Price-Francis) and their children, Lula (Liliana Mumy) and Ben (Brett DelBuono). She’s left him twice before and the children haven’t forgotten his multiple stints behind bars.
The series is based on the life of co-executive producer Warren Boyd, a real-life “extreme interventionist” who has helped many famous people beat their addictions over the years.
Series Finale
Episode 26 — Trick Candles
On the 10th anniversary of his becoming sober, William spends the day helping an old friend get clean — Henry (Richard Lewis) has been strung out on heroin and speed for years and it’s costing him his wife (Annabelle Gurwitch) and two children.
At the same time, William is trying to convince a mortgage company to lend him enough money to buy a house. He also needs his soon-to-be ex-wife to cosign the loan.
Though William doesn’t have any interest in celebrating his sobriety anniversary, Swenton, Akani, and Paulina Kmec (Whoopi Goldberg), his former sponsor, gather some of the addicts that he’s helped for a surprise party. Most are doing well but some have relapsed and some have even died.
Those seen from past episodes include anchorman Davis Durham (Gary Cole), music teacher Harrison (Paul Schulze), Amber Geiler (Jeanette Brox), Bernie Zellman (Steve Landesberg), and Lonnie Simon (Michael Beach).
First aired: September 15, 2009.
What happened next?
There hasn’t been any news of plans to revive the show.
More about:
The Cleaner
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I hope that A&E changes their mind and keeps The Cleaner. They don’t realize how many people’s lives they have touched with this show. I know this show has changed peoples lives for the better. This is a terrible decision. Bring back The Cleaner.
OMG R U SERIOUS??!! THATS THE DUMBEST THING A&E EVER DONE!!! I FREAKING LOVE THE CLEANER!! AND NOW THEY GOING TO JUST DROP IT??!! JUST LIKE THAT??!! LIKE NOTHING!!!! OMG IM NOT WATCHING A&E ANYMORE THEY GANNA LOSE OUT ON ALOT OF CUSTOMERS ME BEING ONE FOR SURE!!!!!!!!!!! GOOD BYE A&E THIS IS SO HURTFUL AND SO SO SAD
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