a film so unique, intoxicating and bizarre that it not only demands another viewing, but is also forgivable as a satirical comedy where the jokes eventually take the back seat.

The film's masterful storytelling did its job. The message was clear. No need to overdo.

One of the film's great tricks is that, for a time, you think it will go down a rabbit hole of unrealistic glorification.

A clunky actioner with a handful of cool moments.

A gripping, poignant and heartbreaking portrayal of one man's descent into the grips of addiction. All the footage is real. The editing is effective. Kirkham's raw home-video footage underscores the loneliness and desperation brought on by his drug use. His display of self-hatred and humiliation during his crack binges is both fascinating and terrifying. Nonetheless, nothing is quite as devastating as watching his wife and children suffer the consequences of his behavior. As such, the heart of this film is the love story between Rick and his wife, Tammy. One witnesses the wrenching toll it takes on her enduring commitment and almost limitless compassion for her husband. It must be stated that while this movie is thoroughly captivating (I couldn't take my eyes away for a second) it should be watched with discretion, as some of the scenes contain graphic, potentially disturbing content.

I too was channel surfing and saw the title 'TV Junkie' on HBO. I stopped and watched this man's life unveil itself as a train wreck right before your eyes in photos and pictures he kept as a diary. Here's the thing: I didn't recognize the name of Rick Kirkham, but I saw almost all of his stories on 'Inside Edition' as I was growing up.Rick Kirkham is one of those guys you sit back and think, "I wonder what happened to...". He was the first set of reporters and commentators on "Inside Edition" when it first came on and eventually turned into the tabloid-mess it is today. (FYI - Bill O'Reilly also was a correspondent during Rick Kirkham's time before even he became what he is today. You'll see him quickly here.) Now, I know what happened to the man, and watching this was bittersweet, depressing, sad, relieved and...hopeful.Make no mistake, Rick had it all. He worked his way through the journalism world from the very bottom up - and landed a plumb role on Inside Edition in it's infancy. But as you watch this tale unfold via his own words and real video and photos, you'll see his downward spiral and decent into drugs and alcohol. Hard core. But did I say decent 'around the time' of Inside Edition? No, it isn't. Watch closely from the beginning and you'll get the point of this film.Again, Rick had EVERYTHING. He scored interviews and hung out with folks we only dreamed of. He was also a dare-devil extrodinaire, racing at the Celebrity Toyota Grand Prix in Long Beach (drugged out), scaling mountains of the world (drugged out), confronting devastation of hurricanes (drugged out), etc. He had a lovely home in Texas and a Los Angeles and New York apartments. He had a wife whom I think should get the 'tenacity award of the year'. I would have been long gone.He was grounded with his stories ...and he was a hard core narcissistic drug addict, alcoholic, wife abuser and verbal abuser to his sons. This man had the world, and it wasn't enough to stop the behavior, losing his wife, his sons, his home, his JOB! He was even handed a golden-ticket for another chance with all of this and blew it. This will be the most eye-opening, depressing, sad...and hopeful film of a life you may watch this year.The only problem I have with this is the six year gap that went from total destruction to "clean and sober". This is a man that filmed everything and I would venture to guess that he has those six years of film but for some reason the producers weren't allowed access to it (could be part of the divorce settlement, or he felt these were even worse than what we've seen and he's already 'let out' enough for his sons, et al to be concerned about, or maybe Rick was okay in 2004 but what about ...now?) but there should have been more there to fill that six year gap. There is no way in hell this video junkie left 6 years out of his life, unfilmed or photographed.HBO is running a series on Drug and Alcohol abuse and how it effects families, marriages, schools, teens, children, jobs, etc. There are films, doctors, documentaries, etc. to give you the viewer perspectives. I saw this 'TV Junkie' documentary within that project and it is a must see, whether with the HBO project or on its own. Scared the heck outa me, and I never was a substance abuser. But it showed me how even you or I could have been affected by this man's actions (For example, the 1993 Celebrity Grand Prix footage and his Jeep Ride will have you cringing) and that's pretty moving.

I have read a review that said he was doing drugs and ruining his family and career for film. Ha. I don't think so buddy. Nobody would go through that kind of hell just for future profit. I think what makes it "look" that way, is his ease in front of the camera. Someone said it was like he was documenting it, but not really living it. Sort of like a disconnection between reality and reporting.But I will say, Kirkham came off in the film as a totally self-centered addict. People who don't have experience with addiction issues (either themselves or with loved ones) will not understand this kind of behavior. That's what addicts are when they are in active addiction. He didn't like the consequences his drug use brought, and when he felt them, he lashed out at his wife, his father, and whoever else was available to blame. It is a hard movie to watch. At some points, I could not believe he was actually filming what was going on. (The cops coming to arrest him, fights with his wife, and his drunken driving and subsequent car wreck.) There are scenes where his young son Ricky was crying and upset over his father's actions. Rick used the camera at one point to document to his son what his "mommy was doing to his daddy." There are times when you just want to grab the camera out of his hands and say "GET SOME HELP!" I can see why some people would not like this film. I myself, was incensed at his self pitying and blaming. As the consequences build, he becomes depressed and suicidal. And then we once again witness him smoking crack and giving up.(Warning spoilers ahead)While watching it, I had this eery feeling that he was going to commit suicide while on camera and that would be the ending. Fortunately, he does not!What is the ending is a bit anti-climactic. We see a scene of him once again getting high, cut to some explanations of what happened in the next 6 years. (His divorce and his recovery.) Bam. Just like that he is clean. This was a bit disappointing, though I'm sure his downward spiral was much more "interesting" then his fight back, so we don't see that part.All in all, I rate it a 5. It's not excellent film making and it's not horrible. Is it narcissistic? Oh yeah. So just be prepared to watch a very self absorbed account of one man's battle with his demons.

3000 hours of unwatched and unedited video diaries wrangles together a downward spiral of a typically unexamined functioning cocaine --- then crack --- addict & how he remains loyal to his drugs as apposed to his beautiful home, supportive wife and two young boys. you want to route for him, you start to get angry at him for throwing away his good life including his family. then when you see has dedicated a period of time for drugs and a period of time for "the white picket fence", the audience begins to experience the real life contradiction and internal struggle of this ex inside edition adventure anchor man. we stumble alongside him as he tuns to the violent, 'evil" crazy drug dad. screaming kids are being seen as the police pull him way while he tells his crying son "mom's going to say bad things about daddy but don't you believe her. Remember I aways love you. Now the cops are coming to take dad away...." *more screams from the boys* without give away to conclusion of this doc, it is worth watching every moment with hope, disgust, optimism, and hatred. Worth watch or to give as a gift to someone you know that could be helped by seeing this done man's too common yet oft not seen struggle to beat addiction in an previously unaccessed personal style. Would make any teenager (or ANY audience member) no want to try or do drugs for any reason...EVER. Be happy for what you have....