Are TV Doctors Helping or Riding the In-Crisis Celebrity Gravy Train?

I heard from folks at Tampa lawyer John Fitzgibbons' office that his client Jessica Sierra will have some high-profile help when they face a judge this morning on the former American Idol contender's string of drug-fueled arrests: Dr. Drew Pinsky.

The host and organizing physician behind VH1's Celebrity Rehab series is expected to speak on Sierra's behalf after spending months working with the Tampa native last year as part of the show's treatment. After completing twentysomething days in treatment, Sierra spent months living in transitional housing. But all that help couldn't keep her from getting arrested Dec. 1 for public intoxication and disorderly behavior; her second such arrest in 2007.

As I wrote in reviewing the first two episodes of Celebrity Rehab, which debuts at 10 p.m. Thursday, it's tough to tell whether high-profile celebrity addiction interventionists such as Pinsky are bursting the bubble of celebrity addiction or exploiting it for their own gain.

Dr. Phil McGraw has entered into similar ground, reportedly visiting celebrity basket case Britney Spears in her hospital ward at Cedars-Sinai, despite the fact that he has no previous therapeutic relationship with the singer, no privileges at the hospital, she apparently didn't want to see him and he may have been angling to get her on his TV show later this week (her parents, who reportedly asked McGraw to visit their daughter, had already agreed). Celebrity gossip Web site TMZ.com is filled with catty carping from unnamed mental health professionals criticizing the visit, which they say lasted 15 minutes and McGraw says -- via a press release given to Entertainment Tonight -- that it lasted an hour.

McGraw seems a far sight from Pinsky -- at least, Pinsky's professional specialty is addiction, and he's   not making any public statements about Sierra yet. But when you have people who seem to be drowning in a toxic stew of celebrity, addiction and questionable choices, does it really make sense to pull them into TV shows which will only further publicize their problems?

And if Celebrity Rehab fizzles in the ratings, will Pinsky still be around to help Sierra? Now that Spears seems unwilling to go on his show, will McGraw stay interested in helping her? And if these professionals' help only comes with media appearances attached, how honest can it be, really?

(See Kathy Griffin turn the idea on its head here).   

Comments

[frank]

what do the therapists call it when you consistently come to the aid of someone with an addicition to help them out of their consequences? an enabler. what do you call it when you say one thing and do another? a hypocrite.

[Loveline Addict (miss Adam and Drew)]

Dr. Drew is helping because she is/was part of his upcoming celebrity rehab show. He is likely participating as part of the follow-up goings-on that happen with those celebs he worked with on the show. Like on A&E's Intervention and how there are follow-up segments.

[hoshi]

For the sake of her baby, I am glad that she won't be in jail - but don't kid yourself, if she was just another joe schmoo off the streets, Dr. Drew wouldn't have been there. So she is getting special treatment, and the judge is right to tell her not to use this as a stepping stone to a career, even though that is too late because she is already being featured on the show. I wish it wasn't only celeb's getting help this way because they aren't the only one's suffering with addictions. Good luck Sierra, enjoy the country club...

[LS]

Dr. Drew rocks!

[Ray]

While I think she is getting what she deserves, she honestly needs help and just putting her in jail is not the answer. If the root cause is alcohol or drugs, then jail is not the answer, you have to figure out what the person is trying to hide from, what pain they are trying to cover up. People are kidding themselves if they think she won't have access to alcohol or drugs. My bet is that if she really got the help she needs, we won't be seeing her getting in trouble anymore. But it will never work unless she truly wants its.

[melissa]

Of course I do... Now if it was a brutal crime against another then keep the person locked up. I just feel that when it's cases like this where drugs and alcohol addictions are the true issue. When a person is truly only hurting themselves then they need counsling lifetime therapy maybe...Jail won't help and will only breed more losers for our lovely state! We have enough trash here! Oh and BTW I don't think she has that much money! Especially after all the legal fees!

[Christina]

Jessica Sierra a celebrity? Right.

Melissa, I hope you would feel the same for someone who has no money and has not appeared on t.v?

[melissa]

She needs more professional help! Not more jail time that place only breeds more problems! Your surronded by more loser's and persons that don't care about their lives! I hope she get's out and get's the help she needs!