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The Cleaner
SERIES: A&E, Tuesday 10:00p (60 minutes)


6.0

based on 15 reviews
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based on 21 votes
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Get more information on this show at TV.com.

Official Show Site

Starring Benjamin Bratt, Amy Price-Francis, Grace Park, Kevin Michael Richardson, Esteban Powell, Brett Delbuono, Liliana Mumy, and Gil Bellows

William Banks (Benjamin Bratt) is a former drug addict out to help those addicted in this drama based in part on the life of William Boyd.

GENRE(S):	Drama, True Story
CREATED BY:	Jonathan Prince Robert Munic
FIRST AIR DATE:	July 15, 2008

All critic scores are converted to a 100-point scale. If a critic does not indicate a score, we assign a score based on the general impression given by the text of the review. Learn more...

Chicago Sun-Times Misha Davenport

Some may take issue with the cynical tone of both series [Saving grace and The Cleaner] or the fact that there is very little divine intervention in either.

Newark Star-Ledger Alan Sepinwall

It's not a bad show, but the mechanics of how they're going to abduct their latest target are far less engaging than how the team interacts with each other and how each member fights his or her compulsions.

Pittsburgh Post-Gazette Rob Owen

The Cleaner is the latest in a string of unremarkable basic cable dramas with a brand-name star playing the tough but damaged lead.

New York Post Linda Stasi

This brings up the writing, which is strictly discount--and so are the plots, which don't tell us enough in the victims he saves.

Newsday Verne Gay

The thing looks stylish, has a nice cast, is well written, and Bratt--scruffy, unkempt, a little more than off-center here--has the requisite intensity for the role. But it also is jarringly slick and borderline seamy; maybe that's just part of the fast world Banks and his cohorts find themselves in, but the tone ultimately robs the show--or at least the pilot--of heart and passion.

The New York Times Ginia Bellafante

You see Mr. Bratt with his goatee and expressions of martyrdom, but you hear the voice of Nancy Reagan.

San Francisco Chronicle Tim Goodman

It's solid for what it is, despite the worrisome gimmick and sometimes obvious story.

Boston Globe Matthew Gilbert

The show is an extremely mixed bag, but he's an extremely likable extreme interventionist.

USA Today Robert Bianco

It's all meant to be exciting, but like everything else about The Cleaner, it comes across as almost profoundly silly.

Entertainment Weekly Gillian Flynn

I'd describe it as ludicrous, but that might give the impression that it's remotely entertaining.

Hollywood Reporter Barry Garron

Without more skillful dialogue and lively stories, this won't help A&E kick the reality habit.

Salon Heather Havrilesky

If these dorky team-on-the-move scenes look like something out of "Charlie's Angels," the shiftless-druggie scenes in the show's premiere look like they were pulled straight from an "Afterschool Special" about the dangers of snorting heroin.

Washington Post Tom Shales

It's the end of the hour, and we're still waiting for the real show to begin, too.

Variety Brian Lowry

A&E bet heavily on "The Sopranos" reruns to brand the channel, but its grit and blue language notwithstanding, The Cleaner doesn't represent the kind of hour destined to build on that foundation.

Orlando Sentinel Hal Boedeker

Despite a fine cast and a harrowing topic, The Cleaner rarely gets beyond the surfaces.

The average user rating for this tv show is 6.0 (out of 10) based on 21 User Votes
Note: User votes are NOT included in the Metascore calculation.

Dave W gave it a2:
Veers between stupid sentimentality and grotesque heroic posturing. Waste of time.

Elin J. gave it a10:
I love the show and find Will's trying to balance work and family a really dynamic thing to watch.

lsh gave it a9:
Surprised by all the negative reviews, I happen to love this show - Bratt's performance is edgy and the show gives a realistic view of the struggles families of drug addicts go through after recovery begins - it's not pretentious nor ridiculous that Bratt's character talks to God; it's reassuring that the writers actually understand that recovering addicts believe in a higher power and need to communicate with that higher power continually to maintain. Critics may not like it, but those of us who've been affected by the abuse of drugs by loved ones appreciate this true to life account of someone who is trying to make a difference.

Kate S. gave it a10:
I love this show. It's gritty and intense.

Brandon S. gave it a0:
Bratt is such a bad actor. How could anyone watch this?

Terry gave it a9:
Enjoyed this show and Bratt will have another hit on his hands!!! Hey, and he is still great to look at!

N RT gave it a9:
Bratt is a class act.

The Cleaner SERIES: A&E, Tuesday 10:00p (60 minutes)

The Cleaner
SERIES: A&E, Tuesday 10:00p (60 minutes)