Behind every person’s silence is a long, sad and often troubling story. That’s one idea behind Oprah Winfrey Network’s "Trouble Next Door."
The new reality series confronts parents and neighbors who have trouble resolving their real life family dilemmas. Real life family dilemmas, such as children with mental health disorders, often send families into hiding.
OWN’s TV show seeks to resolve conflicts within a family, perhaps in the same manner that America’s Super Nanny intervenes with families of troubled children. “Trouble Next Door” premieres tonight and neighbors come together to help families with serious troubles inside their homes.
“Trouble Next Door” requires families in crisis to reach out to neighbors. In turn, the neighbors agree to help families with issues, be the issues emotional or financial. The idea OWN says, is that it really does take a village to raise children in communities, often parents are not enough.
So far, there are several stories lined up for the season. A same sex couple comes out to their community. Tonight, a family with a teenager and a six-year-old appeal to neighbors for help. Before the intervention, the mother and father are exasperated and unable to appease their children.
In the age of reality television, where networks are tempted to make stars out of television personalities, “Trouble Next Door” is another reality series where main characters are not part of the show’s appeal.
Like ABC’s “Extreme Makeover” or “Wife Swap” the families in crisis are chosen by producers. The families are real, everyday, normal people and many of them have already expressed their appreciation for the show on OWN message boards.
Not every community is filled with neighbors who are tolerant and receptive of differences in children and parents. The show intends to give hope to families and parents who are facing daily stressors and deserve to know that good neighbors are out there and able to help lighten the load.
Because “Trouble Next Door” airs relatively late (10 pm) central, the subject matter may be a bit intense for younger viewers. A screaming and out of control 6-year-old and his bullying older brother who screams "I hate you" may not be appropriate images for children.
The OWN network premiered several videos of its new show. Take a peek here:
photo credit: OWN (Oprah Winfrey Network)
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