Definitely a pilot TV movie with a bit of an exploitation feel, bashing the druggie counter culture by pretending to be in it. The series didn't last long, and it's easy to see why. Regardless of the number of issues that "The Psychiatrist" tried to cover, it obviously would become stale very fast.
Roy Thinnes, who's done everything from daytime to primetime soaps, science fiction and even trying to recreate a Paul Newman movie role for a weekly series, plays the lead, working with drug addicted Pete Duell, to get other junkies into rehab. That leads to many memorable conversations of the different types of addicts, from the closet upscale "nice" user to the street user who will use everything they can to score a hit.
This is pretty gritty, and includes one shocking moment of someone who is sure he can fly. Veteran black actress Lynn Hamilton really lets loose as a woman who's seen the street user in complete desperation, and gives a speech that is truthful although a bit much, like something out of "Synanon". It's an overly long therapy session which attempts to inform and entertain, but after a while is like a finger wagging lecture.
Roy Thinnes, who's done everything from daytime to primetime soaps, science fiction and even trying to recreate a Paul Newman movie role for a weekly series, plays the lead, working with drug addicted Pete Duell, to get other junkies into rehab. That leads to many memorable conversations of the different types of addicts, from the closet upscale "nice" user to the street user who will use everything they can to score a hit.
This is pretty gritty, and includes one shocking moment of someone who is sure he can fly. Veteran black actress Lynn Hamilton really lets loose as a woman who's seen the street user in complete desperation, and gives a speech that is truthful although a bit much, like something out of "Synanon". It's an overly long therapy session which attempts to inform and entertain, but after a while is like a finger wagging lecture.
