Drink, Drank, Drunk-Conclusion

The last section of this 1975 hour-long PBS special has Morgan Freeman presenting another "Fast Fact," he presents another one a little later after Carol Burnett dispenses advice on getting help with alcoholics. Carol Burnett returns with a little more advice. Then comes E.G. Marshall reading a disturbing poem; "My Papa's Waltz," drawings from children of alcoholics with their voices sharing their stories, final thoughts from Carol Burnett, then the closing credits. Heads-up warning: For those scared by closing logos, this contains the 1971 PBS I.D. at the end.

Here are the lyrics to the theme song:

Despair was my companion,
Fear my constant friend,
And peace and joy and loving I'd never see again.

You can drink your bourbon, your whiskey and your wine. I can't help you with your problem. I can learn to live with mine.

And hope came flowing through my sorrow, like water through a sieve. I'm looking forward to tomorrow.
I'm really proud to live!

Category:

People & Blogs

Tags:

• Alcoholism
• Carol
• Burnett
• Morgan
• Freeman
• E.G.
• Marshall
• Recovery
• Al-Anon
• Alateen

[wmbrown6]

Actually, from what I've read, this special was originally aired on Oct. 21, 1974.

[Aspergian]

@wmbrown6 Where did you see that? The copyright date read on the back of the videocassette box: c1975 WQED Pittsburgh.

[PsYcHoFaB]

The whole program was really deep. My father is a former alcoholic, and my uncle is an alcoholic. So for have been a "victim" as stated before. It really hits home.

I really wish embedding wasn't disabled, I'd be proud to display these videos on my MySpace profile.

[Aspergian]

I've enabled embedding, so feel free to display these videos on your MySpace profile.

[molinmusic]

Thank you, Carol Burnett, this is still a valuable resource today! Attached is part of a musical Ed Townsend wrote encouraging the 12 step program to addicts. Have posted a few of the tracks in his memory and hoping his sister Helen will release the three years of videos he recorded to help his befallen brothers and sisters for their love!

[ladyhardyfan]

I wish my dad had seen this. He was an alcoholic for decades and cirrhosis finally took his life earlier this year.

[wmbrown6]

The other thing: The "From WQED Pittsburgh" logo display shown at the beginning pre-dated the one used later in the decade with the birds-eye views of the Pittsburgh skyline, to the strains of French-horn dominated music. The logo itself was also displayed on the station's 1970's test pattern.

[wmbrown6]

Correction: WNET aired the show at 8 P.M. WMVS' was 7 P.M. Time zone differences.

[wmbrown6]

@Aspergian - Funny you should ask. The Pittsburgh Press had a review of this special in their Oct. 18, 1974 issue; they noted that it would air on WQED and nationally on Oct. 21; and I checked Google News Archive which showed this airing on Oct. 21, 1974 (at 7 P.M. as a "Special of the Week") on WNET Newark/New York, WMVS Milwaukee and elsewhere. I did notice there was no copyright notice at the end credits; probably WQED's copyright post-dated its original air date.

[luvgjb4evr]

I'm in Al-Anon. It works!

[leftiesrox]

my daddy's a recovering alcoholic. has been since i was 8. but i still remember feeling like those little kids, sometimes fearing for me, my mom's, or my sister's lives. it's been 11 years, but it's scary to know that any day he could go back out if he wanted.

[marlis44]

This is the very best of Carol Burnett. Thank you so much!