I remember first seeing "The Drug Knot" in September 1986 when CBS first ran it as a prime-time special (I had graduated from college in New Jersey three months before) and again when it was repeated as a "CBS Schoolbreak Special" the following spring; when the rerun aired, my family had bought their first VCR and I had the good fortune to have taped it.
I recently dug up the tape when I was cleaning up my room a few months ago, and watched it again. I have to admit, the first time I saw the scene where Toma chases Doug out of the auditorium after he interrupts Toma with a smart crack ("Somebody out to put this guy out of his misery!") I was laughing my brains out, but it certainly isn't funny when someone you know has a drug problem of some kind and someone like Toma offers to help you. (I have recently struggled with alcohol, and sought help through A.A.; it certainly feels better not to have the chains of addiction binding me and worrying others.)
When I lived in New Jersey, I remember Superstation WWOR in New York had a weekly talk show with David Toma; I never had an opportunity to watch it and when I finally got a satellite dish WWOR canceled Toma's show (I heard that was the decision of WWOR's new owner at that time, Vivendi/Universal, Inc.). Apparently the station's new owner thought Toma's positive messages didn't appeal to a wide audience - very sad!
I do agree with the other writer's comment - this should be required viewing for anyone who has had, or knows of someone struggling with, a drug addiction. And now that CBS and Paramount are both Viacom companies (CBS Productions produced "The Drug Knot"), if Paramount's home video division were smart they could - and SHOULD - unearth "The Drug Knot" from CBS' vaults and put it on DVD (the original VHS tape I found is beginning to deteriorate after 17 years)!
So, Paramount, are you listening?
I recently dug up the tape when I was cleaning up my room a few months ago, and watched it again. I have to admit, the first time I saw the scene where Toma chases Doug out of the auditorium after he interrupts Toma with a smart crack ("Somebody out to put this guy out of his misery!") I was laughing my brains out, but it certainly isn't funny when someone you know has a drug problem of some kind and someone like Toma offers to help you. (I have recently struggled with alcohol, and sought help through A.A.; it certainly feels better not to have the chains of addiction binding me and worrying others.)
When I lived in New Jersey, I remember Superstation WWOR in New York had a weekly talk show with David Toma; I never had an opportunity to watch it and when I finally got a satellite dish WWOR canceled Toma's show (I heard that was the decision of WWOR's new owner at that time, Vivendi/Universal, Inc.). Apparently the station's new owner thought Toma's positive messages didn't appeal to a wide audience - very sad!
I do agree with the other writer's comment - this should be required viewing for anyone who has had, or knows of someone struggling with, a drug addiction. And now that CBS and Paramount are both Viacom companies (CBS Productions produced "The Drug Knot"), if Paramount's home video division were smart they could - and SHOULD - unearth "The Drug Knot" from CBS' vaults and put it on DVD (the original VHS tape I found is beginning to deteriorate after 17 years)!
So, Paramount, are you listening?