Inmate To Roommate - General Discussion

[LEILANI2]

A&E is debuting an all new season premiere to be paired with the hit show “60 Days In.” The new documentary series, “Inmate to Roommate” will follow newly released inmates as they re-enter society and move in with everyday people who are welcoming them into their homes. “Inmate to Roommate premiered August 18 at 10 p.m. on A&E.

It is produced by Sharp Entertainment, which is also behind shows like 90 Day Fiancé and Love After Lockup.

Note the series is available to watch directly on AETV.COM

Edited August 27, 2022 by LEILANI2

[lu1535]

Thanks @LEILANI2 for bringing this delightful CF to my attention. OMG, these people are insane.😂

[candall]

I have two episodes to watch and I'm just at the part where the woman (who plans to spend the night in her van, wth?) is rolling along singing, "This Is My Father's World."  Surely the producers prompted her into that.  "Let's hear a tune, Sharna!"  Yikes.

.

The ONLY person with any sense in this whole cluster is the ex-inmate woman who pointed out to Bill and Sharna that Sharna had struck up a correspondence with another man (when the 7th Day Adventist online dating marriage hit a rough patch) and now that man is coming to live with them.  Thank you, Voice of Sanity.

.

Otherwise, I see zero hope of anyone we've met so far pulling this off.  I think that "cantankerous old man" will be murdered before breakfast on the first day.  I think Sharna's van will soon be heading west with new plates and no passengers.  I think that 53(??) year old neat freak woman will have a heart attack when she sees what happens to her bathroom.  

Maybe Darquavion had a shot if the psychiatrist hadn't been such a mess himself.  At least those two had some kind of pre-existing mentor relationship.

.

I have visited a cousin, whom I didn't know well, in prison because no one else in the family bothered to.  It is possible to visit inmates.  WHY hasn't anyone done that?

I mean, these people wouldn't have seen through the snowjob any faster in person, but at least they could feel a little less stupid later on that they'd done some research.

[lu1535]

All of the scenarios are outrageous (my kind of show ❤️) but the one that blew my mind is the lady who is taking hard core pain killers letting a convicted drug trafficker into her home! You can't make this stuff up! 😵

[My Girls]

I CANNOT wait to see how the religious couple's rules go down with Bill.  I agree that it's their home, their rules, but I can't imagine Bill will be able to follow them for too long.  What was in the preview - he's not allowed to use the fridge??  I wonder what that's all about!  

People can make the claim all day long that they're the most decent people alive, just want to help, but I question the real motive behind a married woman corresponding with and bringing a single ex-con into her home to live.  Maybe she's legit, but maybe she's missing something in her marriage.  Especially since she's not sleeping with hubby...

[Mahamid Frauded Me]

This is if 60 days in and love after lockup had an illegitimate baby. Holy heck, we got a hoarder, we got someone who obsessives over her bathroom but looks like ciggie burns on the countertop, we got cigar toting gramps and some religious whacks. As mentioned above with they won't let bill put his food in their fridge? 

[sainte-chapelle]

Thanks @LEILANI2 for mentioning this hot mess. I am here for it. This is going to end badly for everyone. 
Correct me if I am wrong but did PePaw have a giant Confederate Flag tattooed on his inner wrist area?

Edited August 26, 2022 by sainte-chapelle

[OFDgal]

I don't know how they found these crazies but I'm loving it so far.  Religious couple is weird.  I kinda feel sorry for the Brooklyn guy.  Sorry, I don't know names yet.  The little girl's bedroom was bizarre.  They renovated they whole house but the room that they gave to him.  It seems that they want to punish him further with their rules he has to follow.  Agree with the above poster who posted about the disabled woman taking hard core meds and having a drug trafficker as her roommate.  Nuts.  The hoarder guy has good intentions but he's book smart not street smart so I'm not sure how this will work out.  Thanks Leilani2 for starting this thread.  I'm here for this. 

[Mahamid Frauded Me]

@LEILANI2 A thank you as well for not only starting this thread, but mentioning this show on the LAL forum (I believe) I would have missed this craptastic shit fest if it weren't for you. I only watched Ep1, so can't wait to check back in

[Keywestclubkid]

You are moving someone who did a home invasion to live with you? And someone who has been to prison 6 times for drug trafficking/ related offenses and you are on pain medication? What the ever loving what? 

[Mothra]

3 hours ago, Keywestclubkid said:

You are moving someone who did a home invasion to live with you? And someone who has been to prison 6 times for drug trafficking/ related offenses and you are on pain medication? What the ever loving what? 

That was my first thought--the kinds of illnesses Artie is suffering from can't be treated with much more than pain medication.  And when she has her second hip replacement surgery, there'll be even more oxy in the house.

She is a sweet woman, and I hope she won't let that guy (I'm unsure of names at this point) back in her house.

The one I'm looking forward to watching unfold is Sharna and her husband vs. old Bill.  Bill is accustomed to the finer things in life--he says he was a very successful jewel thief.  Will it be the Rules or the Unicorns that cause the first explosion?  Does Bill really have no other option?  He's going to be big trouble for this couple, and I can't wait.

[Auntie Anxiety]

Bill reminds me of David (David and Annie on 90 Day Fiancé). I need to rewatch Ep. 2 and hit pause when the House Rules are shown, as it will be handy when I adopt an inmate. By the way, what’s with calling inmates “returning citizens(?).” Did I get that right? Why the euphemism? /rhetorical question.

[My Girls]

40 minutes ago, Auntie Anxiety said:

Bill reminds me of David (David and Annie on 90 Day Fiancé). I need to rewatch Ep. 2 and hit pause when the House Rules are shown, as it will be handy when I adopt an inmate. By the way, what’s with calling inmates “returning citizens(?).” Did I get that right? Why the euphemism? /rhetorical question.

For whatever reason, I've been chatting a fair amount with Bill on Facebook.  Nice enough guy and really reminds me of David as well.  Turns out he's slept with Ghislaine Maxwell and was friends with Robert Durst.  Ackkkk!!   Glad to see a familiar face watching this train wreck!

[Keywestclubkid]

2 hours ago, Chloe Dog said:

For whatever reason, I've been chatting a fair amount with Bill on Facebook.  Nice enough guy and really reminds me of David as well.  Turns out he's slept with Ghislaine Maxwell and was friends with Robert Durst.  Ackkkk!!   Glad to see a familiar face watching this train wreck!

He did what now? 

[My Girls]

1 hour ago, Keywestclubkid said:

He did what now? 

Yeah, he's written a couple of books, one of them about Ghislaine Maxwell.  He says he had a sexual relationship with her.   He sure travelled in some upper circles.   I'm curious about the jewel thief thing.

[LEILANI2]

13 hours ago, Chloe Dog said:

For whatever reason, I've been chatting a fair amount with Bill on Facebook.  Nice enough guy and really reminds me of David as well.  Turns out he's slept with Ghislaine Maxwell and was friends with Robert Durst.  Ackkkk!!   Glad to see a familiar face watching this train wreck!

Bill hung out with Ghislaine? If he was in that crowd I guess him expecting $2k a week job wasn't as much of a reach as it came across in the car.

Ask him if Sharda wanted to smash or what was the deal. I cant' wait to find out  what sin there is in him using their fridge.

Edited August 28, 2022 by LEILANI2

[My Girls]

1 hour ago, LEILANI2 said:

Bill hung out with Ghislaine? If he was in that crowd I guess him expecting $2k a week job wasn't as much of a reach as it came across in the car.

Ask him if Sharda wanted to smash or what was the deal. I cant' wait to find out  what sin there is in him using their fridge.

I'll ask him something easier to start - I was thinking along the lines of what movies he wanted to watch that were on the no-watch list.  The messages so far have been pretty generic but I'll try!

[OFDgal]

On 8/27/2022 at 5:50 PM, Auntie Anxiety said:

Bill reminds me of David (David and Annie on 90 Day Fiancé). I need to rewatch Ep. 2 and hit pause when the House Rules are shown, as it will be handy when I adopt an inmate. By the way, what’s with calling inmates “returning citizens(?).” Did I get that right? Why the euphemism? /rhetorical question.

The name of the show is Inmates to Roommates.  So why are they all calling them returning citizens?  I guess no one (including me) ever heard that term before and wouldn't have watched.  To me, Returning Citizens to Roommates would've meant folks returning from foreign countries and became roommates with other Americans. 

[LEILANI2]

I just found WILLIAM/Bill on Reddit. He's posting in the sub lol. Gonna go read it alL in case it gets deleted.

UPDATE: I don't know what to think..here's his website. Judge for yourself.

https://williamsteelauthor.com/index.html

Edited August 29, 2022 by LEILANI2

[candall]

Okay, I'm posting now, to shoot it up to the top of "Other Candid Reality" pile.

I can't believe we're only one degree of Kevin Bacon away from Bill, one of the more interesting "Returning Citizens"!! 

I love it when they use that phrase--it always sounds so natural.  (/s)

[candall]

OH NO!  Bill started on his breakfast strawberry before grace.  No bacon for you, sinnerman.

Edited September 2, 2022 by candall

[candall]

I would not be all that enthusiastic about helping Bill get his porn on in the new age of internet streaming, but damn, it's a shame he got stuck with Mr. and Mrs. Uptight.  He seems like a fairly reasonable guy.

Two of the Returning Citizens, so far, have dumped off their stuff and hit the streets.  Seeya!

[judylo]

Ooh, Sharna is jealous!

[Kiss my mutt]

I have to think she’s counting on him to be companionship for her. I wouldn’t be surprised if he led her to think there might be “more” there.  

[LEILANI2]

11 minutes ago, Kiss my mutt said:

I have to think she’s counting on him to be companionship for her. I wouldn’t be surprised if he led her to think there might be “more” there.  

Yea she's acting like a scorned lover. You'd think she'd be happy to have people not around and dirtying up her house since she's a neat freak.

Edited September 2, 2022 by LEILANI2

[suso]

I see the resemblance between Bill and David of 90DF, but he also reminds me of Ron Jeremy - something about his posture and the way he speaks. And Mark reminds me of Beaker from the Muppets. 

Is it really the end of the storyline for the older gentleman who didn't hear from the inmate or the inmate's mother and so decided he didn't want to go through with hosting him? It was sad seeing the former inmate boarding a bus in the hopes that a former employer would be willing to take him in. He was given money for bus fare but does he have anything more than that?  A phone? 

[Welshman in Ca]

The only way to watch this after the fact is to have the whole Hulu live tv package, fuck you Disney.

[TeapotWakeen]

I bet the sandwich on the register thing is because it contains meat. He knew going in that they were vegetarians and devout 7 Day Adventists, a little bit of asking about their faith could have been a good thing! I still wonder what producer shenanigans led to the wife picking him up by herself, hubby should have at the very least gone along!

I totally agreed with Artie that her "roommate" should have stuck around for awhile when he got there, and should not have been no-contact for 2 days. That's not controlling or jealous -- that is basic respect and appreciation! Something that he has probably not been required to show before, but Go Artie Go!

[Jeanne222]

On 8/28/2022 at 7:18 AM, LEILANI2 said:

Bill hung out with Ghislaine? If he was in that crowd I guess him expecting $2k a week job wasn't as much of a reach as it came across in the car.

Ask him if Sharda wanted to smash or what was the deal. I cant' wait to find out  what sin there is in him using their fridge.

And I’m curious why the two sleep in separate rooms and she keeps looking at Bill!

Their silly side came out with the girly, unicorn room. Not necessary. It should have been made up clean and neat but what the heck am I saying I’m not housing ex prisoners!

Fried Chicken lady might woo him over with food!  Her son seems to be interesting. I wonder why he doesn’t live at home and help mom?

 I thought newly released D would surely pitch in and get the doctors home orderly and clean for the both of them!

Just when you think you’ve seen it all along comes this mess!  ⚡️⚡️⚡️

14 hours ago, candall said:

OH NO!  Bill started on his breakfast strawberry before grace.  No bacon for you, sinnerman.

What was on his plate?  Did I hear NO bacon but they served sausage?

[Mothra]

14 hours ago, candall said:

I would not be all that enthusiastic about helping Bill get his porn on in the new age of internet streaming, but damn, it's a shame he got stuck with Mr. and Mrs. Uptight.  He seems like a fairly reasonable guy.

Two of the Returning Citizens, so far, have dumped off their stuff and hit the streets.  Seeya!

Bill is the stupidest ex-con I've seen yet.  He has a sweet situation, and all he has to do is play along.  Why in the *hell* would he take off speeding and doughnutting in Mark's car?  Why would he brag to Mark about high-speed chases?  What a dumbass.  Now he has guaranteed that Mark isn't going to let him use the family car.  So easy to have driven cautiously, courteously listening to Mark's baby-driver instruction.

And why keep asking about movies he knows S&M disapprove of?  He's so fucking stupid.

If he was a successful thief, he must have been of the smash-and-grab variety; a con man he is not.

Why is he telling Sharna about his girlfriend?  Why does he keep pestering them about easing the house rules?  If he had access to the car, he could get a job and then go buy a hamburger any time he wanted, without rubbing Sharna's nose in it.

Christ almighty, he's stupid.

[js9548]

Am I missing something? The psychologist did not have facetime on his phone or did not know how to use it when his inmate needed to facetime the probation officer. Yet in this week's episode the doctor pulled up facetime quite easily when he tried to find his inmate. The doctor is a very fast technology learner. Yea right, 

[GrammyPammy]

On 8/27/2022 at 5:35 PM, Chloe Dog said:

Turns out he's slept with Ghislaine Maxwell and was friends with Robert Durst.  Ackkkk!! 

Well, if those aren’t two great character recommendations, I don’t who would be!

One look at his website (https://williamsteelauthor.com/index.html) is all it takes to see that he is a user, abuser, famewhore. 
But I think the religious couple he is moving in with are far weirder than he is!

Edited September 5, 2022 by GrammyPammy
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[Auntie Anxiety]

I don’t believe half of what Bill says. He’s a con, through and through. He’s giving Big Ed a run for his money when it comes to height and girth.

If we’re supposed to be referring to these inmates as “returning citizens” (George Orwell sends his regards), why is the title of the show Inmates to Roommates?

Do the homeowners get paid by the state for taking in a “returning citizen” (aka criminal who did his/her time and hasn’t committed another crime....yet)? Is Sharp paying the homeowners and/or the inmates? The black screen introduction says that it’s a documentary. Generally, people who appear in a documentary don’t get paid. Or did the rules change when I wasn’t paying attention?

Calling Dr. Tonya Hoarding. Please pick up. We need you to deal with the good doctor’s hoarding issues, since he is in Level 5 denial about his problem. “What mess? What stuff? Oh, that’s just because I’m moving things around (from one pile to another)!”

I know that poor woman with the back problem is in a lot of pain, but man, she is so loaded on Oxys that she can barely keep her eyes open. Her son don’t want nothing bad to happen to his momma!

Still don’t understand what exactly is going on with Mark’s face. It’s like his features are an archipelago in a very big sea. How does that happen? I’m going with inbreeding until a better explanation comes along.

[greekmom]

I've been watching some of it and more invested in the whole Bill and the religious couple. I think the wife, really wants him in some weird triad of a relationship.  Who knows if she wants to take it to a sexual level but they are really strict and the fact he can't use a fridge? Why not get him a mini fridge for his room?? 

I agree with the poster above that Bill is stupid. He didn't have to tell the wife about his gf and ask them to ease the rules. He could go out and get a burger on the sly when he is craving meat. 

I wonder how long he is required to stay with them until he can actually be on his own. 

[LEILANI2]

On 9/4/2022 at 10:54 PM, Auntie Anxiety said:

I don’t believe half of what Bill says. He’s a con, through and through. He’s giving Big Ed a run for his money when it comes to height and girth.

Do the homeowners get paid by the state for taking in a “returning citizen” (aka criminal who did his/her time and hasn’t committed another crime....yet)? Is Sharp paying the homeowners and/or the inmates? The black screen introduction says that it’s a documentary. Generally, people who appear in a documentary don’t get paid. Or did the rules change when I wasn’t paying attention?

On his website he has a photo of the National Enquirer and in the far bottom corner there's a photo of him, it looks photoshopped to me but I'm not going to go dig up an actual NATIONAL ENQUIRER to confirm, maybe someone will do the detective work.

When the show premeired a couple of weeks ago, one of the articles I read about it, the writer talked some about a program that gives money to people to allow 'returning citizens' to move in with them.

It would be more transparent if we knew who was getting paid from this program because it would reveal alot of the motive.

[auntjess]

https://soapdirt.com/inmate-to-roommate-bill-steel-certain-ae-series-will-make-him-famous-but-who-is-he-really/

I've got to catch up on this one.  

[For Cereals]

OMG.  These people are nuts.  Some of them have to be getting paid, especially the girl in the preview next week who seems clueless.

Mark and Sharna seem like zero fun.  I was really surprised to see siracha on their dining table.  You’d think they’d see it and any seasonings that make things taste good as the devil’s work.  I hope they get more into their relationship.  Mark seems to really want to continue to punish Bill although Bill thinks he’s slick.

Hoarding doc definitely has issues especially if he’s a second generation hoarder.  D seems really smart but also slick. It was his doing but sad to see him in the system.

I know the one guy feels a sense of obligation but he’s about to lose his girlfriend. 

I love LALU but I like this more “realistic” style without too many producer shenanigans.

[LEILANI2]

I'm eagerly awaiting the shit show tonight.  I learned from Bill directly, that Sharna and her husband billed him for rent, the audacity. 

On 9/7/2022 at 6:16 AM, For Cereals said:

OMG.  These people are nuts.  Some of them have to be getting paid, especially the girl in the preview next week who seems clueless.

Mark and Sharna seem like zero fun.  I was really surprised to see siracha on their dining table.  You’d think they’d see it and any seasonings that make things taste good as the devil’s work.  I hope they get more into their relationship.  Mark seems to really want to continue to punish Bill although Bill thinks he’s slick.

Yea the sriracha, that seems too ethnic and spicy for them doesn't it. They seem like mustard, salt, pepper, maybe some tabasco types.

[candall]

My only experience with . . . "returning citizens" is when my young Cousin Blacksheep came out of prison after three years.  Our family hadn't visited or paid any attention to him while he was in prison, but his father rented a little house for him to go to when he paroled out and apparently that was HUGE.  The parole officer made a pre-release visit to the rental property and was satisfied that he had a verifiable address, contact information, etc.

For reasons he wasn't able to make me understand, Cousin Blacksheep said going into the halfway house after prison was to be avoided at all costs.  He said it was worse than prison.

Anyway, I don't know why these guys aren't kissing the feet of these people who took them in.  I thought that huge list of rules from Mark and Sharna was petty and ridiculous, but if I volunteered to open my home to help out a stranger, I guess I'd expect a certain amount of feet kissing.  Okay, how about just a pinch of common courtesy and respect?

Edited September 9, 2022 by candall

[candall]

Watching now. . . .

So, this woman who lives in a one-bedroom apartment and has a friend sleeping on the couch, is going to rent a two-bedroom for herself and the returning citizen inmate, leaving couch surfer to fulfill her tenant obligations back at the old place?  And she only knows the inmate from "partying" with her a little bit before she went to prison?

This story has some holes.  🥴

[candall]

Update!!

Two bedroom fell through, I'ma need that couch, friend.  LOL

.

Three healthy adult women, with one sketchy little job among them--a home-based clothing outlet?  You'd think this story would be how they yard sale some bunk beds and help each other all get on their feet together.  (Those three Matt Sharp Production checks should be a big help getting them started.)

.

When I saw this movie the first time, Lauren Bacall was a spunky chorus girl living at the Y.

I can't wait to meet Arielle.  : )

[Nuccganggang]

i’m just curious, has anyone nicknamed mark “panface” yet? from webster’s dictionary:

panface noun

1. A person who has a face that resembles a frying pan being dropped on their face as a child.

“Look at ol panface over there. Muthafucka looks like he was dropped on his face 12 times a day as a child.”

Edited September 9, 2022 by Nuccganggang

[Nuccganggang]

i’m hoping that the ungratefulness is being exaggerated for the cameras - including, and especially from, mr bill (oh nooooooo! ) yes, he is stuck with two total fucking creepy weirdos and they are forcing him to obey some very strange rules, but they are letting him live in their house! A FELON, FRESH OUT OF PRISON, AND THEY AREN’T EVEN RELATED TO HIM!!! the fact that all of our returning citizens are completely willing to fuck up their free rides HAS to be producer shenanigans, right?

kyle and sandra totally took in nick bc they wanted someone to boss around and feel superior to. their rules are by far the most reasonable, but they are positively gleeful that they get to tell this guy what to do. also, they couldn’t scrounge up a box spring and a pair of sheets? that bare mattress leaning against the bedroom wall sure looked inviting 🙄

[LEILANI2]

Well there's a reentry programs that pays people to take in these prisoners so they are being compensated. I don't know why they would leave this fact out of the show and would explain alot of the motivation.

 Here's one: https://impactjustice.org/innovation/homecoming-project/

A Bay Area-based program called the Homecoming Project offers an alternative to the usual listings on Craigslist: It links former prisoners with homeowners who have spare rooms, and it covers the first six month’s rent.

Edited September 9, 2022 by LEILANI2

[lu1535]

Oh man! Please don't tell me this show isn't "real"! 😉 When they introduced Tiffane, I was so excited! She's in Indianapolis, my old hometown, but then, on her drive to the train station (uh, the train station is downtown) I saw mountains out her back window!! Trust me, there are no mountains in central Indiana! Also, I caught that she was on interstate 68 which is no were near Indy! This is like when "Close Encounters" put mountains in Muncie, IN. I feel so betrayed...☹️

Still mesmerized by the show tho. 😁

[Mothra]

Bill continues to demonstrate his total lack of conmanship.  You don't quit your job until you have a new job lined up.  That's basic good sense, not even requiring criminal intent.  And to further dumb it up, he sort of threatens that he'll move out; I guess he's counting on Sharna's crush to cause her to loosen things up in order to keep him there.

Edited to add:  Mark and Sharna *are* married, right?  They are introduced with the words "partners."

I'm glad the poster above guided us to the Soap Dirt article, which confirmed something I had begun to suspect:  this guy's name isn't "William Steel," which might explain why people have had a hard time finding out just what he was in prison for.  One source says possession of cocaine; he says he was a glamorous jewel/art thief--which I now absolutely do not believe.

I do believe that his story is heavily production-driven.  I think the little-girl bedroom decor was production's demand, and maybe some of the stupider rules, like he can't use the refrigerator, too.

I do not believe he has friends who can help him out with an alternative housing arrangement; I think he was approached with this scenario and offered money to take part.

I think Tiffane's friend is absolutely beautiful.  Her story makes little sense, too, and smells of Matt Sharp's aftershave.

Edited September 9, 2022 by Mothra

[jennylauren123]

On 9/2/2022 at 9:52 AM, Welshman in Ca said:

The only way to watch this after the fact is to have the whole Hulu live tv package, fuck you Disney.

I have Sling, just $30. That's where I watch this show live or after the fact. 

[TeapotWakeen]

5 hours ago, Mothra said:

I think the little-girl bedroom decor was production's demand, and maybe some of the stupider rules, like he can't use the refrigerator, too.

Yeah, the child's decor was OTT, but I see nothing wrong with a household of vegetarians in accordance with their religion saying that someone can't put meat in their fridge! They aren't telling him not to eat meat, just not in their home. That's fair.

[sainte-chapelle]

Ok so which one of us is going to take one for the team and buy Bill’s book. I don’t believe that he knew Durst or Maxwell. Interesting that he can’t produce any photos of himself with these people, or the audio recoding he claims to have….sure Jan.  If he was the sophisticated well connected criminal he pretends to be then he would not be staying with the holy rollers.

Edited September 10, 2022 by sainte-chapelle

[sainte-chapelle]

5 hours ago, TeapotWakeen said:

Yeah, the child's decor was OTT, but I see nothing wrong with a household of vegetarians in accordance with their religion saying that someone can't put meat in their fridge! They aren't telling him not to eat meat, just not in their home. That's fair.

Agree with this, I had an acquaintance in highschool who was a strict Orthodox Jew. He had a pizza party once and the pepperoni pizza could not touch any surface. We had to put it on the deck and use disposable plates that were thrown directly outside. Not sure if it was the time of year or kosher concerns etc….I think there is a rule about not mixing dairy and meat…maybe someone of that faith can correct me here.

The inmate that is mad at the hoarder can fuck all the way off. He set you up for success and you completely disrespected him. Of course he is angry. « If you poke a bear he is going to bite you… » no you petulant child this is the behaviour that landed you in prison in the first place. Hey asshole, if you landed that job you would have been out of Dr. Hoarders place in no time but no…you need to play victim.  
 

I can’t help but think the couch sleeping friend is more upset about losing her free ride. Was she paying rent or contributing in any way?

Edited September 10, 2022 by sainte-chapelle