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.
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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.
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.
There hasn’t been any news of plans to revive the show.
I really enjoyed the acting on “The Cleaner”
This show inspired me to fight my addiction and get clean. Please bring it back! I know so many people that would also be inspired watching this!!! This show saves lives unlike the garbage that had replaced it
Just watched the last episode of The cleaner, I can’t believe you cancelled this show!!! This was the only show A&E has aired that was worth watching, they really blew it when they cancelled this one!!!
Please bring back the show the Cleaner!!! It was such a great show!
Why is this show off and now there is nothing butt crap on .. Duck Dynasty , Rodeo Girls I am ready to stop watching A & E altogether… you better get you s*** together or I am gone…
Please get rid of duck dynasty or another one of your dumb butt reality shows and bring back the cleaner it was a great show and an eye opener for society to show recovery does happen!!
PLEASE ……..bring back The Cleaner!!!!!!!! Hands down best realistic show EVER……
Another great show.
Make way for reality series about parking violations.
Idiots.
Just writing in to say that I still miss the Cleaner, a couple of years later. It was one of the best, most intense shows on tv. William reminded me so much of my uncle, before he was murdered by his father-in-law. It felt like I lost him all over again. Man…did you miss the mark in my book.
To Whom It May Concern, Please know how much the cleaner helped many suffering addicts. Also it educated youngsters and myself NOT to play around with hard drugs. Also, it showed society that ANYONE could suffer from the vast effects of addiction. I really have missed this show and I can’t believed you canceled this yet they continue to have “JUNK” tv shows like the NJ Shore. I can’t believe some of the crap that continues to stay on the air? Regardless please re-consider another episode of “The Cleaner”! I sure miss my weekly show 🙁 Please reconsider airing new… Read more »
I am like the rest of the people on here, I never watch A&E excepted when I saw an advertisement for the Cleaner I loved it from the first time I saw it, I am so sad it is cancelled. It had some very heart wrenching and heart warming stories, and even better it included a touch of God in it. I miss this show I cannot believe it was cancelled, shame on you A&E. By the way I had not watched your station before the cleaner and I don’t watch it now, too much filth.