A&E delves into the world of extreme hoarding, a mental disorder marked by an obsessive need to collect things, even if the items are worthless, hazardous or unsanitary in the new original nonfiction series "Hoarders." The seven episode one-hour series premieres Monday, August 17 at 10:00PM ET/PT.
Hoarders find it impossible to throw things away, even when the items threaten to impair their daily life. Each episode of "Hoarders" takes a fascinating look at the lives of two different people whose inability to part with their belongings is so out of control that they are on the verge of a personal crisis. Whether they're facing eviction, the loss of their children, jail time, or divorce, they are all desperately in need of help. The series captures the drama as experts work to put each hoarder on the road to recovery. But cleaning is just the first step, and healing is not guaranteed. For some, throwing away even the tiniest thing - a sponge, a button, an empty box - is so overwhelming that they will not be able to allow the cleaning to be completed... no matter the consequences. For others, professional help and an organizer's guidance give them the strength to recover. At the end of each episode we'll find out who has been able to keep their hoarding behavior at bay. And who, despite help, is still lost inside this painful disease.
In the series premiere, Jennifer is a young stay-at-home mom. Both she and her husband Ron suffer from hoarding and their three kids are living in piles of junk, food, and clothing. They have been cited by the city on numerous occasions and Jennifer lives with the fear that child protective services will take her kids away at any moment. Now she must try to get the house in order before it's too late. Meanwhile, Jill's home is a nightmare. Food, in various stages of decay, sits in piles all over her house, and fills a refrigerator so full that it needs to be held shut by duct tape and a box of dented canned goods. In addition to the threats to her health, Jill recently lost her job and knows that if her landlord were to pay a visit she would be evicted immediately.
"Hoarders" is produced for A&E by Screaming Flea Productions. Executive Producers are Jodi Flynn, Matt Chan and Dave Severson. A&E Executive Producers are Robert Sharenow and Andy Berg.
