Today's Special - Phil's Visit

Respectfully uploaded in dedication to the memory of the late Nerene Virgin.
A widely-remembered episode covering the difficult topic of alcoholism written by the legendary Jed McKay.
Today's Special is a production of TVOntario and the copyright to this show is owned by the Ontario Educational Communications Authority.
No copyright infringement intended.

[@tyrannosaurusburke]

I grew up watching this show on my local PBS affiliate. I never saw this episode in its entirety until now. I only knew it by reputation. Thank you for posting it.

[@franko6677]

Nerene Virgin had such a warm, kind presence. Nobody could have played Jodie as well as she did.

[@RobertHesterEntertainment]

We'll miss you, Jody. 😢

[@DaveFisher-cq2dr]

yes, we'll miss her

[@mcaducker]

I remember watching this show all the time as a kid in the late 1980’s and early ‘90’s. This was one of the first episodes I saw. Great to watch it again on here!

[@kenrutherford1109]

I was shocked to find the full episode here

[@Anonymous-qg9xx]

Phil reminds me of a non-alcohalic Gus from the episode Friends!!! Gus and Sam re-met after several yrs after sailing.....same with Phil and Sam who re-met after so many yrs....

[@Anonymous-qg9xx]

If this was not a show...Sam would have told Phil to hand over his flask and Phil would have gotten it back when hes ready leave!!! Phil having the flask in his pocket made it so easy for him to sneak drinks!!!! Sam was only saying what was on the script......if it was not scripted sam would have said "we don't allow drinking in the store...its a store policy..... so I'd appreciate it if you'd hand over your flask and you'll get it back when you leave......."

[@kenrutherford1109]

I think Phil blew off a _lot_ of steam

[@SephiRockLiveAndRebooted]

10:57 I just discovered this show through drxhenry, and this timestamp? This is the moment I said "oh no".

[@Griswold32]

Doc from Fraggle Rock!

[@AutisticJoker88]

I applaud Canada (and other foreign countries) for tackling topics like alcohol abuse in an unapologetically blunt manner. Here in America, they would sweep thar under the rug. Barney the Dinosaur for instance. You would never see him tackle alcoholism. It would go something like "Barney, my mom's an alcoholic" with Barney replying with "Oh boy, that's baaaaaad, but let's sing a happy song about it! Hoo-hoo" or something insulting to that extent. Point is, other countries 7 out of 10 times do Kid's Shows better than we do. And this is one of those examples

[@zt1053]

Interesting how this episode addressed personal responsibility when it comes to alcoholism when many times on TV all you heard was alcoholism was a disease to make it sound like the person drinking didn’t have any responsibility

[@Anonymous-qg9xx]

Phil / Gerry uses his "drunk/alcohal" voice at 4:24 when he says "No thanks I can manage!".........more forshadowing!!!

[@rushbroussard5399]

This EPISODE Of Today's Special Phil Visit Nerene Virgin Talks To Kids About Alcohol & This EPISODE Help Gownups Get Help.

[@ijustgottahotdog]

I think the man who portrayed Phil also portrayed Doc on Fraggle Rock.

[@matthewweatherford6566]

You're correct. His name is Gerry Parkes. He also played Barton Winslow on Shining Time Station. He's not the only cast member from Fraggle Rock who was in this show. Cheryl Wagner, the facial puppeteer and voice of Ma Gorg, performed Mrs. Pennypacker. Here are some more connections. Cheryl Wagner created The Big Comfy Couch and Bob Stutt, who puppeteered Mort from Today's Special, did Molly, Snickelfritz and one of the dust bunnies while Rob Mills was the suit performer for Junior Gorg in Fraggle Rock. Rob Mills also did Bleep the robot from the Jim Henson special The Christmas Toy and in that same special Nikki Tilroe (the mime from Today's Special) was Ding a Ling the telephone. Cheryl Wagner and Bob Stutt also worked on Sesame Street's first feature film Follow that Bird. Alyson Court (Loonette) played a girl named Ruthie that Big Bird meets on a farm. She voiced a character in Care Bears feature films while Bob Dermer (Sam from Today's Special) voiced Grumpy Bear. Fred Stinson played Major Bedhead in The Big Comfy Couch and he, Trish Leeper, Gord Robertson (who also worked on Fraggle Rock and Follow that Bird) and Nina Keogh (Muffy the mouse) worked on Groundling Marsh and Trish Leeper, Rob Mills, Bob Stutt, and Nina Keogh worked on the Canadian version of Sesame Street. Tim Gosley, the original puppeteer and voice of Basil the bear from the Canadian Sesame Street had previously puppeteered the green honker in Follow that Bird. Speaking of which, in one episode of Today's Special, you can spot a honker doll next to Muffy. Not only that, but you can see Sesame Street and Muppet Babies dolls on the shelves.

[@DaveFisher-cq2dr]

there's Gerry Parkes, best known as Doc on "Fraggle Rock"

[@tenderpawsm473]

What is Fraggle Rock?

[@DaveFisher-cq2dr]

SERIOUSLY? YOU'VE NEVER HEARD OF FRAGGLE ROCK? it's a show with Muppets, I trust you've heard of the Muppets @@tenderpawsm473

[@DaveFisher-cq2dr]

@@tenderpawsm473SERIOUSLY? YOU'VE NEVER HEARD OF FRAGGLE ROCK? it's one of Jim Henson's Muppet series

[@VaultMasterDBT]

Gerry Parkes later played general store owner Barton Winslow on PBS' Shining Time Station. (I believe he was credited as Gerard Parkes on that series.)

[@Neville60001]

@@tenderpawsm473, this is it: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fraggle_Rock

[@tenderpawsm473]

At 17 minutes, couldn't Jeff and Jody smell the alcohol? He was pretty wasted by then.

[@Anonymous-qg9xx]

Unless Phil sprayed his breath to hide the smell........

[@tenderpawsm473]

Not all breath sprays work that well.

[@angelicareal7381]

And even if they couldn’t smell the alcohol,his behavior did show a few red flags. Jeff could definitely tell that something was up.

[@matthewweatherford6566]

Muffy could smell it at around 13 minutes into the episode. I don't know what alcohol smells like but I used to work at a Cafe for Microsoft employees and we used to serve Russian food and drinks every Wednesday. One time, I tried a drink made with some kind of bread (kind of like pumpernickel) and some kind of dried fruit but I can't remember exactly what else. It wasn't until after I tasted it that one customer told me it tasted like beer. Then I learned that it indeed had alcohol. It's a miracle I didn't get drunk. Our religion was taught not to do alcohol no matter how old we are (not counting cooked foods with an alcoholic drink in the sauce because the alcohol is gone when the drink is cooked). I have no intention of doing alcoholic beverages whatsoever.

[@kenrutherford1109]

Phil flat out lied to Muffy when he called his alcohol "breath spray"

[@Anonymous-qg9xx]

Wait a sec.....when and how did Jeff and Jodie know Phil was an alcohalic!! They never saw him with his flask......and they were never told by Sam......and how did Muffy know Phil was an alcohalic when Sam didn't actually tell her!!!

[@JenniferEnnett]

I think she did that to muffy because it was cute my aunt did that to me sometimes

[@tenderpawsm473]

The nose poking?

[@tenderpawsm473]

My aunt drinks. 😕

[@rushbroussard5399]

If You Go To Toronto Go To The Museum Of Children Tv At The TODAY'S SPECIAL Display You Can See Muffy & Sam You Can Go To The Department Store Formally Simpsons Limited.

[@amycollins2429]

This is the one episode where I've seen Sam get so upset.

[@kenrutherford1109]

Muffy was more upset than Sam was

[@tenderpawsm473]

The whole evening was wasted? The only one wasted was Phil. 😂

[@essentialeugene]

Do you have the episodes ``Storms'' ``The Blue Cow'' ?

[@RhiannaBarr]

Would you happen to have "The Sea:?

[@Anonymous-qg9xx]

They should have gotten Coop Scoop from the Newspaper episode to take Jodie's pictures!!! Coop was not an alcohalic and Coop had a camera--he took the gang's picture at the end.....all Sam had to say to Phil when he first met Phil "I need you to hand over your flask Phil because alcohal is not allowed in the store" and if Phil did not comply he could kick Phil out.......

[@JenniferEnnett]

My aunt uses to smoke but not anymore

[@tenderpawsm473]

Why did Nerene/ Jody poke Muffy's nose when she says, "Phil, himself?" 😂

[@RhiannaBarr]

You wouldnt happen to have "Wishes" would you???

[@supercatalyst333]

ddfgj