‘48 Hours’ Report Focuses On Anguish Of Schizophrenia
A penetrating “video diary” by a young man with schizophrenia highlights CBS’ “48 Hours” at 10.
Erin Moriarty reports on Linda Cochran who has put her life on hold to search for her son Michael. He disappeared from their home in Hawaii, and she believes he’s somewhere in the Southwestern states. Her travels take her from Laredo, Texas, to Tuscon, Ariz.
As this mother’s search continues, viewers get an intimate glimpse of her son’s mental illness in a video in which Michael talks about his life, refusing to acknowledge that he needs help. “I’m tired of hearing the doctors’ orders, OK? I’m trying to just live … a normal life and quit being called crazy,” he says.
Michael also refuses to take his medication, something his mother knows is certain to get him into trouble. She’s most worried about what may happen when she finds him. She faces a bureaucracy - one she says cares more about civil rights than people’s well being - that may stand in her way of getting him the help he needs.
Moriarty talks with medical experts as well as former schizophrenia patients on the issue of whether someone with the disorder should be treated against his will.
This report helps educate people who misunderstand schizophrenia. It also examines an important publichealth policy issue: What hope is there for schizophrenics who can’t help themselves?
Highlights
“Baseball,” FOX at 5 The Yankees and Braves meet in Game 5 of the World Series.
“Friends,” NBC at 8: NBC begins a night of repeats with one of last season’s funniest “Friends.” Carol (Jane Sibbett) has her baby, but not before Ross (David Schwimmer) and Carol’s partner Susan (Jessica Hecht) have it out. Jonathan Silverman (“The Single Guy”) guest stars as the doctor.
The network shakes up the Thursday lineup with “Mad About You,” “Frasier” and “Men Behaving Badly” leading up to “ER ” at 10.
“Moloney,” CBS at 9: Moloney (Peter Strauss) attempts to help a young murder witness (Shawna Waldron) regain her memory. But when he recommends hypnosis, her parents refuse.
“Murder One,” ABC at 9: The plot thickens. A jailhouse witness (Patrice Pitman Quinn) ties Sharon (Missy Crider) to the murder weapon, but the defendant’s ex-husband (Neal McDonough) is looking more and more like a suspect. Also, Wyler’s (Anthony LaPaglia) obsession with the case begins to wear on his relationship with Laura (Jessica Tuck).
“Turning Point,” ABC at 10: The newsmagazine returns to the story of Joe and Melanie Kelly, the Connecticut couple who helped conceal their son Alex’s whereabouts when he jumped bail in 1986 after being charged with two counts of rape.
Cable Calls
“Mysteries of the Bible,” A&E at 7 and 11 p.m.: The earliest recorded murder - Cain’s killing of his brother Abel - is one of the most mysterious. The Bible offers little motive and the 17-verse account in Genesis leaves many obvious questions unanswered.
“Running Scared” (1986), TBS at 7:35: Billy Crystal and Gregory Hines are the Chicago cops out to catch bad-guy Jimmy Smits. Crystal signaled the world that he was ready for the big screen. But what I remember most is the MTV video Crystal and Hines created with former Doobie Brother, Michael Murphy.
Talk Time
“Tonight,” NBC at 11:35 : Julianna Margulies (“ER”) and singer Mary Chapin Carpenter.
“Late Show With David Letterman,” CBS at 11:35 : Ted Danson (“Ink”), White House Correspondent Sarah McClendon and singer Phil Collins.
xxxx The world of witches Think witches are always the bad guys? Check out “Ancient Mysteries with Leonard Nimoy,” on A&E at 6 and 10. You may be surprised to learn that witches originally were better known as healers than for their evil spells. The hour looks at reasons why, by the Middle Ages, witches were marked for death.