James Argent after failing a drugs test. He attended rehab over Christmas 2014. He returned to "The Only Way Is Essex" in 2015, he has lost weight and is a reformed character of his former self. Since 2010, Argent has been a cast member of the ITV2 reality series "The Only Way Is Essex". He had appeared in series 1 with his girlfriend Lydia Bright, who also appeared in series 2 and is also best friends with fellow "TOWIE" cast member Mark Wright. Finally, Argent opened his own theatre during at the studios in Essex on "TOWIE" Live in December 2012. In
Criticism of reality television success of reality television is due to its ability to provide "schadenfreude", by satisfying the desire of viewers to see others humiliated. American magazine "Entertainment Weekly" wrote, "Do we watch reality television for precious insight into the human condition? Please. We watch for those awkward scenes that make us feel a smidge better about our own little unfilmed lives." Media analyst Tom Alderman wrote, "There is a sub-set of Reality TV that can only be described as Shame TV because it uses humiliation as its core appeal." Television critic James Poniewozik has disagreed with this assessment, writing, "for all the