Breakthrough with Tony Robbins
on NBC
By Ally Matteodo
Self-help guru Tony Robbins
lends his expertise and guidance in Breakthrough with Tony Robbins, a
reality television series that chronicles the watershed moments for distressed
and discouraged individuals. Through Tony’s encouragement and coaching, these
people take back control of their lives. Airing on Monday, July 27 at 8:00 p.m.
ET, the premiere episode of this new NBC program is the Best TV Show of
the Week.
The first episode deals with
the tragic love story of Kristen and Frank Alioto. On their wedding day in
Puerto Vallarta, Mexico, Frank jumped into the swimming pool during the
reception and broke his neck in two places. After rushing to the hospital the
couple learned that Frank would now live his life as a quadriplegic in a
wheelchair. Devastated, Kristen never knew the life of a wife, instead serving
as Frank’s full-time caregiver. Their dreams of children and travel evaporated
as Frank expressed reticence in even leaving the house. Tony Robbins rushes to
the rescue to save this crushed couple using his patented process of empowering
people and jolting them out of their daily routines and thought processes.
Frank and Kristen journey to Fiji to visit Tony at his home, where he tells them
their first task will be skydiving. After the parachute jump, Tony separates
the couple, sending Kristen for some alone time at a spa in California where she
golfs and practices yoga. In the meantime, Frank is sent to murderball camp in
Oceanside, California. He rooms with murderball Olympic champion Andy Cohn, who
teaches him the ropes of the game, which is essentially rugby in wheelchairs.
Frank plays in a game after ten days of training; but unbeknownst to him Kristen
arrives in time for the game, and afterwards the couple reunites. Next, Tony
instructs Frank to fix his desert truck with the help of his friends, because
he’s going to take Tony for a wild ride in the desert, and it better be safe by
the time they get out there! Ecstatic, Frank fixes his truck and drives through
the desert with Tony in the passenger seat, shouting in delight at the speed and
agility of the vehicle. Finally, Tony invites Kristen and Frank to a playhouse
filled with their friends and family. The preacher from their original wedding
renews their vows on stage, a sign of a brand new beginning for the couple.
In life, people suffer
setbacks, some more major than others, and resiliency in the face of adversity
can prove difficult. Hope and optimism can appear unrealistic in the face of
distressing events and an unrelenting reality. However, Tony Robbins shows us
why it is always better to take a leap of faith. Those who break out of their
comfort zone hold the ability to gain much more then those who live their lives
in autopilot. Tony empowers the Aliotos, and sets an example for others
experiencing trying times. Sometimes, those who love us most can unwittingly be
our largest handicaps since they don’t like to watch us struggle. Yet if you
allow someone to struggle and beat the problem themselves, they become more
independent and more confident in their own abilities. There is nothing gained
if someone is handed everything. Tony Robbins speaks many words of wisdom
during this program, but one of his most insightful aphorisms is this: “The
quality of our lives is the quality of where we live emotionally.” The mind can
imprison you or release you, and by his encouragement Tony Robbins helps
individuals find happiness.
Best TV Show
of the Week
The Parents
Television Council -
www.parentstv.org
