MONDAY
December 29, 2008
“Save My Mommy!”
Dr. Phil takes an intense look at the life of Star, a stay-at-home mom who fears that her dangerous habit may take a turn for the worst. Star’s 11-year-old daughter, Autumn, sends Dr. Phil a poignant plea for help before tragedy strikes. From the outside, Star had it all -- a nice home, a loving husband and four beautiful children. But inside, she hid a dark secret. What started out as a prescription for postpartum depression turned into an addiction, with Star downing 30 to 50 pills a day. Autumn was even left at home to baby-sit her younger siblings while Star drove around town for her next fix. Star's husband, Isaac, worries for her future, but threatens to call the police if she continues to abuse drugs. Dr. Phil camera crews are on the scene when Isaac discovers the depth of his wife’s addiction. See what happens when he takes matters into his own hands. Plus, Star receives a phone call that shakes her and her family to the core. Find out what nearly causes her to breakdown. And, the addicted homemaker says she had an affair three weeks ago while high on Oxycotin. Will Isaac ever be able to trust his wife again, or will this latest revelation cause him to call it quits? Can Star get her life back on track before it’s too late?

TUESDAY
December 30, 2008
“Extreme Discipline?”
Grounding for two months, withholding dinner, making a child stand at attention for hours or collect rocks in the hot sun … is this basic discipline or is it too extreme? Trisha fears her husband, Rafael, is destroying their 13-year-old daughter with punishments that are too severe. Rafael says his wife forces him to be “the hammer” because she’s too lenient. Their opposing views on child discipline are putting a strain on their marriage, but what is it doing to their daughter? Hear her heartbreaking diary entries. Plus, what happened in this household that’s been swept under the carpet for far too long? Dr. Phil has a heart-to-heart chat with the teen. Have you ever wondered if your discipline tactics will have a lifelong affect on your child? Are you inadvertently crossing the line into abuse? Grade your own parenting skills with today’s show. Plus, learn discipline guidelines that will keep your children healthy and thriving.

WEDNESDAY
December 31, 2008
“Who Am I?”
Imagine waking up one day and having no recollection of anything or anyone. What would you do? Four years ago, that was the fate of a man who now calls himself Benjamin. He was found beaten, naked and unconscious behind a Burger King in Georgia. He was shuffled from hospitals to homeless shelters and didn't even recognize himself in the mirror. Although he seems to have lost his memory, what does Benjamin say he knows to be true about his life? Katharine, a nurse working at a health facility where Benjamin was a patient, took him in and is working tirelessly to help this man discover his identity. The Dr. Phil show put private investigator Harold Copus on the case. Was he able to determine Benjamin's true identity? Is Benjamin suffering from a severe case of amnesia? Dr. Barbara Knowlton, professor of psychology at UCLA and Dr. Frank Lawlis shed light on this disorder. Then, meet Holly. Not only does she suffer from amnesia, she is also fighting another condition that has hindered her life dramatically. Find out how she has been able to move forward with her life. Will the advice she offers Benjamin inspire him to keep putting one foot in front of the other? Tune in to see if you can recognize this stranger.

THURSDAY
January 1, 2009
“You Got Served”
Are you fighting to maintain a happy marriage and family, but find that the facade is crumbling down around you? Maybe you’ll relate to Dr. Phil’s guests. Angelo was served with divorce papers two weeks ago, but can't bring himself to read them. His wife of 12 years, Kathy, moved out four months ago. Angelo says the divorce papers were a wake-up call, and now he’s ready to do whatever it takes to save his marriage. Kathy says she's fed up with her husband's infidelity. The couple has three children, and Kathy is eight months pregnant with baby number four. Dr. Phil sits down with Angelo and Kathy to see if there’s a sliver of hope for turning this marriage around.

FRIDAY
January 2, 2009
“Money Rescue: Extreme $pending”
Has reckless spending left you in the red, or do you have money saved to survive a financial crisis? With consumer debt in America now exceeding $880 billion, are you contributing to that statistic? Tawntanee describes herself as a big-time shopper and has accrued $25,000 in credit card debt. When Dr. Phil reveals how much a $100 pair of shoes actually costs after credit card interest is tacked on, will she -- and you -- think twice about making another purchase with plastic? Then, Heidi admits to getting a high from shopping and has even skipped paying her bills to buy name-brand items. Her husband, Steve, loves to spend money on gadgets and tools. He recently lost his job, and you won't believe what he did with his severance money! Dr. Phil gives the couple a money-spending quiz. Take it yourself to find out if you're headed for disaster. Financial expert Loral Langemeier makes a visit to Heidi and Steve to get to the bottom of their financial mess. What makes Heidi reach her breaking point and end up in tears? Will the couple agree to follow Loral's financial plan? Then, follow up with Brandy and Greg who were close to one million dollars in debt when they came to see Dr. Phil. Have they made changes? Plus, find out how to determine your financial I.Q.