Breaking Bonaduce
| Breaking Bonaduce | |
|---|---|
 |
|
| Also known as | ''My Reality TV Breakdown |
| Created by | Kim Rozenfeld |
| Directed by | Mark Jacobs |
| Starring |
Danny Bonaduce Gretchen Bonaduce |
| Country of origin | United States |
| Original language(s) | English |
| No. of seasons | 2 |
| No. of episodes | 19 |
| Production | |
| Executive producer(s) |
Danny Bonaduce Gretchen Bonaduce Michael Hirschorn Jeff Krask Brandon Riegg Troy Searer |
| Producer(s) | Steve Pilot Steve Youel |
| Running time | 22–24 minutes |
| Production company(s) |
3Ball Productions VH1 |
| Release | |
| Original network | VH1 |
| Original release | September 11, 2005 – December 17, 2006 |
| Website | |
Breaking Bonaduce is an American reality television series that aired on VH1, focusing on former child-actor Danny Bonaduce, and how his (then-) increasingly unstable lifestyle impacted his then-wife, Gretchen, and their two children. The series premiered in September 2005 and ended in December 2006.
The series focused on the problems and events that had led Bonaduce, speaking retrospectively, to consider his life a "car crash". Over the course of filming, Bonaduce's previously publicized abuse of drugs resumes; an initially successful effort to replace that unhealthy behavior with overzealous exercise/bodybuilding backfires (as he falls into experimenting with performance-enhancing drugs, in order to "chase" the endorphin "rush" that overexercising gives him); and, later attempts suicide. He also makes periodic attempts to save his crumbling marriage by attending couple's counseling with his wife, Gretchen (who, over the course of the series, evolves from being Danny's constant enabler/excuse-maker, to filing for divorce after Bonaduce's dangerous antics finally push her too far).
In the United Kingdom, the series is known as My Reality TV Breakdown. Throughout Latin America, it is known as Destrozando a Bonaduce which translates as Destroying Bonaduce.
This show was produced by 3Ball Productions, and directed by Mark Jacobs.
The series was both celebrated and criticized for making voyeuristic entertainment of a seemingly "no limits"-style documentation of Bonaduce's mounting—and generally self-inflicted—misfortunes. A review in Variety magazine said, "...It's hard to imagine a shower long enough to wash away the experience of simply viewing the show, much less having produced, programmed or participated in it."
On the verge of moving out of his home and possibly leaving his wife, Danny realizes that he has a great life that is worth keeping; but, the small thing that's missing is just so important. Dr. Garry tries to impress upon Danny—one last time—that Gretchen is just simply not the woman Danny wants her to be. Still unconvinced, Danny has high hopes for his Father's Day present from her. But true to form, Gretchen botches the romantic element of it, again. After a bout of anger, Danny finally realizes that Gretchen can't speak his romantic/emotional 'language' -- and, that it's unfair for him to keep asking her to. Will they now live happily—but separately—ever after?
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Wikipedia