Apr 14 2008Dr. Phil screws the pooch again
Dr. Phil tried to score himself some "exclusivity" this weekend after shooting himself in the foot with the Britney Spears fiasco. But life must hate the Phil because this attempt fired yet another bullet into his hoofer. You see, Satan's doctor wanted an exclusive interview with one of the eight teens that lured a 16-year-old girl into a house where she was beaten on camera (CBS4 report here.) The motive: Make a killer You-Tube video that their friends would OMGZ! over. (One vasectomy, please!) Anyway, here's how Dr. Phil's producer botched their "exclusivity," according to TMZ:
Here's the way it all went down: The good Doc's executive staff sent a seasoned producer down to Florida, along with a P.A. to chase the story of 8 teens who allegedly beat a classmate on tape. We're told the folks back home were horrified when they saw Mr. Large-and-In-Charge putting the smack down on local reporters after springing 17-year-old Mercades Nichols from the pokey. We're told execs on the show were pissed that the experienced producer allowed the P.A. to be in a position to embarrass the show in front of the cameras.
The bigger question -- who hatched the plan to pay the bail for the woman accused of kidnapping and videotaping the brutal beating? The show issued a statement saying certain staff members "went beyond their guidelines," but the buzz on the Paramount lot is that it would be impossible for the producer to pay the $3,300 for the bail and put up $33,000 in collateral without the full knowledge and approval of higher-ups on the show.
The best part is, after all these shenanigans, there's a gag order on the case so none of the kids could've talked anyway. HA! Now Dr. Phil just looks like an opportunistic butthole. Well, more so than usual. In the meantime, someone told me that children are the future. Super. Does anyone have a shotgun I can borrow? I just want to fire it into my ear canal for a second. You can have it right back.
Video of the P.A. squawking about "exclusivity" after the jump.
Jan 31 2008Dr. Phil chimes in on Britney - Huzzah!
Dr. Phil showed up on The View this morning to stick his mug once again into the latest Britney Spears fiasco. Ok! Magazine reports:
“I don’t think [Spears’ current hospitalization] surprises anybody. All I’ve ever try to do is help. By that I don’t mean doing therapy, because I don’t do that anymore, but I’ve always felt like let's get her to the right kinds of professionals--ones that could provide psychological and psychiatric support. I don’t know the circumstances of how she wound up in the hospital today, but if it’s moving in that direction, that could be a good thing."
Dr. Phil was also pimping his Britney story on Good Morning America and The Today Show earlier in the week. Dr. Phil likes feeling relevant. Otherwise he turns into the Incredible Hulk and eats children. No, really, I read it on Wikipedia. Or was it the bathroom stall I wrote on last week? I get the two confused.
Jan 18 2008Dr. Phil regrets making statement about Britney
Dr. Phil commented on his show yesterday about his meeting with Britney Spears while she was hospitalized after a custody standoff with the police. Dr. Phil still feels the visit was appropriate, but regrets making a public statement, according to USA Today:
"Was it helpful to the situation? Regrettably, no. It was not, and I have to acknowledge that and I do," the talk show host told his audience Thursday during taping of a Dr. Phil episode that will run Monday.
"I definitely think if I had it to do over again, I probably wouldn't make any statement at all. Period."
Dr. Phil says he made the statement to Entertainment Tonight because the media would come to him asking why he was there:
He disputes those who say he inappropriately discussed her condition in the statement, which referred to Spears being "in dire need of both medical and psychological intervention."
"I said that before I ever met her," he says.
After the interview, Dr. Phil said a polite “thank you” and reiterated he was just looking out for poor Britney. Then he excused himself to prepare a special episode of his show. It’s titled “Hey, remember when I visited Britney Spears in the hospital? I'll never let you forget! WA HA HA HA!"
Continue Reading "Dr. Phil regrets making statement about Britney"
Jan 16 2008Dr. Phil investigated by psychology board
Dr. Phil is the target of a complaint filed with the California Board of Psychology. When Dr. Phil attempted to counsel Britney he was technically practicing without a license which is a felony, according to TMZ:
We've learned the person who filed the complaint is a psychologist. Dr. Phil has never been licensed to practice in California, and he retired his Texas license in 2006.
The psychologist who filed the complaint also alleges Dr. Phil violated HIPAA laws by "discussing or divulging a patient's medical condition ... with the media," in reference to a press release issued by Dr. Phil.
The psychologist is also passing around a petition to others in the field to have Dr. Phil removed from the air. So some good actually came of this whole debacle. At this point, I pretty much expected Satan to rise up from the earth and play guitar in front of Britney’s house. Dammit. Now I have to wait until she gets pregnant.
Continue Reading "Dr. Phil investigated by psychology board"
Jan 9 2008Dr. Phil 'betrayed' Britney's parents
Britney Spears’ parents Lynne and Jamie Spears are furious with Dr. Phil. Apparently Dr. Phil first contacted them about doing a show with Britney. When they said “no,” he initiated contact with her anyway then rode the press wave causing the Spears to feel “betrayed.” TMZ reports:
Spears family rep Lou Taylor told Meredith Vieira on the "Today" show that Dr. Phil actually broached the subject of doing a show about Britney, but that they nixed the idea, only to have Phil try to set up the show anyway. Taylor scorched Phil, saying it was even "inappropriate" for Phil to bring up doing a show, and that the family thought it would be detrimental to Britney.
The real reason Britney’s parents are pissed is because they thought Oprah was coming. Instead they got Dr. Phil. That’s incredibly weak. Nobody wants to be on Dr. Phil instead of Oprah – including Dr. Phil. He shows up for work in the morning and goes, “Dammit! I’m on my show again. I bet Oprah’s handing out pirate ships today too. Man…”
Jan 7 2008Dr. Phil injects himself into Britney Spears' trainwreck (Medical humor: Hilarious!)
Britney Spears was released from Cedars-Sinai hospital on Saturday. The hospital no longer viewed her to be a danger to herself after her Thursday night meltdown and took Britney off 5150 hold. In the midst of all this, Dr. Phil somehow gained access to her room and supposedly counseled Britney. Here’s the statement he issued to Entertainment Tonight:
"My meeting with Britney and some of her family members this morning in her room at Cedars leaves me convinced more than ever that she is in dire need of both medical and psychological intervention. She was released moments before my arrival and was packing when I entered the room. We visited for about an hour before I walked with her to her car. I am very concerned for her."
However, Britney’s meeting with Dr. Phil was all her parents’ idea and she was blindsided by the visit, according to TMZ:
Sources say Phil tried speaking with Spears for about 15 minutes -- not an hour as Dr. Phil's press release states -- but she wanted none of it. We're told Phil was doing almost all the talking. As for walking with her to the car on her way out -- again, as his release states -- we're told if he was walking behind her, that's news to her. She absolutely was not accompanied by him.
Several psychiatrists are shocked that Cedars-Sinai would allow Dr. Phil to have access to a patient that is not under his care. Dr. Phil is also angling to have a TV intervention with Britney which prompted many psychiatrists to air their grievances with TMZ:
One psychiatrist called it "intrusive and inappropriate." Another shrink told us the hospital "is supposed to be a safe place. If the patient doesn't want to see someone, that person doesn't get in -- period."
One doc surmised bluntly the hospital was "star struck" and let the TV doctor's profile override its judgment.
One shrink said splashing a private medical matter on TV and saying it's an intervention -- especially without the proper medical diagnosis -- is no way to run a railroad.
You gotta admire the cojones on Dr. Phil. He seriously believes he can just walk into a gigantic ball of crazy and make everything all better: “Hey, everybody, I’m going to cure Britney Spears with a good ol’ fashioned talking to. Some might say I’m drunk with power, but, really, I’ve got this covered. She can’t be that craz- - Fuck my moustache! She bit my foot! I have rabies now don’t I? Fantastic…”
UPDATE: Dr. Phil is no longer airing a special on Britney Spears, according to TMZ.
