Bailing Out YouTube Fighter: When Will Dr. Phil Take a Look in the Mirror?

News that a producer for Dr. Phil McGraw's popular syndicated talk show bailed out one of the Lakeland girls arrested and charged in connection with a videotaped assault on a classmate should come as no surprise.

McGraw's show has shown an increasing appetite for guests connected to hot-button, high-profile issues, most recently displayed in McGraw's ham-handed attempts to get close to troubled pop star Britney Spears while preparing a show on her public meltdown.

Unfortunately, McGraw's organization doesn't seem prepared for the backlash such moves can create.

In this case, local media swarmed the Friday release of Mercades Nichols -- the girl who police said lured another girl to a house where she was pummeled -- while someone, presumably connected to McGraw's show, repeatedly asserts that the program has exclusive rights to Nichols' story. The news literally made worldwide headlines and the show later issued a statement saying the bail posting was against the show's policies and they will no longer go forward with their planned segment on the fight.

But McGraw often gets at the stories of his guests by using his show to provide resources that they  cannot access on their own. The barter is an implied one: bare your deepest problems on the show, and we'll provide the kind of treatment or counseling you could never afford on your own.

In a country where 40-million people don't have health insurance, that's a powerful bargain. So this time, Dr. Phil sealed the deal in a different venue, with a higher profile subject. My question: what policy did the producer break? And how did he get the okay to post a bail set at $30,000 without the approval of a senior executive on the show? (one side question: should media outlets be naming the younger girls involved in this attack, who range in age from 14 to 16?)

TMZ.com is reporting that the guy in the footage below is a production assistant, a job they dismiss as an intern with a checkbook. But they also raise my question about how an intern with an expense account could arrange the financial resources for bail on his own, and Hollywood has a long tradition of expecting low folks on the totem pole to take a PR bullet for the boss.

I'm not really placing much stock in gossipy reports that Dr. Phil benefactor Oprah Winfrey is growing tired of the demanding doctor, although this won't help that dynamic if it's true. But it looks like McGraw's once-winning formula is showing some fraying edges -- perhaps he ought to reconsider the cynical bargain at the heart of many of his shows.   

Comments

[former tampanian]

WOW!!! That video reminded me of paparazzi hounding Paris Hilton. While I don't condone paying for interviews, let's not hold Dr. Phil to the same ethics of journalists. His show is not a news show. He might touch on current topics, but his show is not regarded the same as a newscast. BTW-isn't there a gag order on this case? Why are all of those journalists assaulting that girl and her family? They can't talk about the case anyway...unless I missed something. The reporters should know this and abide by the court's decision. I give credit to the one reporter who kept after the show's producer. She knew where the real story was at. To answer your question about naming the girls--I think it's been a long-standing rule that if minors are charged as adults, they're treated as such. These are not children who don't know any better. They had a plan and followed through with it.

[Mark]

Former Tampanian,
I think we have different definitions for the word "assault," because I don't think asking someone questions, even persistently, qualifies as an attack or a threat of bodily injury.

And just because there's a gag order doesn't mean a reporter can't ask questions. It's incumbant on the person asked to know what they can or can't say, not on a reporter whose job it is to ask questions.

[Dave]

I love that video. It is surreal on so many levels.

[Vivian]

You're Right...Doctor Phil, What Were You Thinking!....Dr. Phil is thinking that he is God and seems to be acting that way too. How dare he glorify the attackers! Dr Phil, you are sickening!
I hope you find it in your heart to apologize to the victim's family and offer some monetary compensation as well.
God knows you have enough money!

Phil thrives simply because he understands what P.T. Barnum discovered so many years ago. There is a sucker born every day. Phil panders to the intellectually challenged (ignorant) people of the world. These people believe this guy is sincere. Baloney. He is a showman, pure and simple. Unlike Springer, who readily admits his show was nothing more than entertainment based on gullible people being stupid, Phil markets his show as "helping" ignorant people, while he is really exploiting them. And whatever you want to say about Oprah, I'm sure she still gets $$$ from this clown, therefore hasn't cut the ties. She should because she doesn't need him.

Side question regarding whether people under age 18 should be named? HECK YES. Things are different in this world than they were years ago. These 'kids' don't act like kids anymore. They know very well what they are doing and that it's wrong. NAME AND THEM AND MAKE IT PUBLIC. AND STOP LETTING THESE PATHETIC EXCUSES OF HUMAN BEINGS HIDE THEIR FACES WHEN THEY ARE COMING IN AND OUT. You sure didn't want to hide when you were acting like a pathetic animal, did you???

[cutter]

Is that guy an idiot or what?? All he looks for is notoriety. If he thinks he can see the good in a potential convict, he should have been a priest or minister. He and Kathy Lee belong together.

[Kelly]

She was a cheerleader? They have obviously lowered the standard!

[Brooke]

Dr Phil is an A** Clown

[Doris]

Dr. Phil is just becoming another Jerry Springer. Someone who capitalizes on someone elses grief or problems. Way to go Dr. Phil. I didn't have a whole lot of respect for him to begin with and I certainly have none for him now. It still amazes me just how far people will go for money.

[former tampanian]

Mark-
I agree reporters have a duty to ask tough questions, but do it in a dignified manner. The girl and her family weren't talking, so they should have backed off. I saw numerous reporters and photogs get in that family's way (with at least one reporter touching). I get the competitiveness between stations to get the best video/sound but that was too much knowing the circumstances. Think about being on the losing end of this scenario (the accused/her family)-- being berated with questions while numerous people are hovering like flies could certainly make one feel threatened--hence assault. Instead of focusing their energies on the girl and her family, keep after the guy who was talking...that's the real story right now (the other's working itself out in the courts).

[Carrie]

Great. Dr. Phil. The girl will act all crying and touchy feely. Faking remorse on the outside but laughing on how she is getting away with this on the inside. I have no sympathy for her. My sympathies are with the crime victim.

[TERRI]

Okay, so another story, another picture. These girls and the boys are gaining notariety for their "crime". Look at the pictures of them after the arrest, smug, smiling, purely sickening to see their smug faces. And as such, I am sure that they will be pled out and get a hand slapping and go on with their day. And for that, it is truely unjustice for the girl that got assualted and thats exactly what it was. What kind of parenting skills do these parents have? Apparently the skills are lacking.

[Rodger]

Dr. Phil and the people running his show are idiots. why would he want a terrorist on his show? now that we know he backs this kind of torture of humans he should be taken off T.V. I hope the girls involved get life in prison or an I.V drip to death.

[Dr_Dug]

What about the victim? Obviously she won't help his ratings so forget her....right Phil? He should of spent the money on the victim so she can heal faster but then again...Dr. Phil is an aas clown!! I hope his show slot ends quick!!

[D stewart]

Hi Vivian

Indeed, Dr. Phil...What were you thinking. I think perhaps it is time to boycott the Dr. Phil Show. I think I will. I would think he would concole the victim, not benefit the prepetrator

[JYL]

Dr. Phil is evolving from a mental health worker to an egomaniac mental case. Heal yourself, you need help more than lot of people.
Shame on you! I think Oprah regrets to popularize you.

[Chalsie]

What those girl did was wrong. They deserve to sit in jail. Dr. Phil was wrong to help that girl.

[Chalsie]

What those girl did was wrong. They deserve to sit in jail. Dr. Phil was wrong to help that girl.

[Ashleigh]

In order to boycott his show, I'd have to have watched it in the first place which I never did. I take greeat pride in my intelligence and my better judgment! Shows like Dr. Phil and Oprah interest only people who are brain numbed or who have dumbed down.

[Lisa]

Dr.Phil are you insane? Posting her bond. I guess you got all the attention you wanted out of this stunt. She does not deserve to be out, none of those teens do. As for the girl who was beaten, you should pitch in for her medical bills since you are such a giving person. I watch your show and I just can't believe that you can justify or even have considered posting bond for any of these teens. This is one viewer that just cant grasp any logical reason other than greed,ratings and publicity for you to have posted her bond. It was just unethical and I feel a very bad choice. That show will not be one that I watch. I am not into teen violence, I see it every day, I work in a middle school, and it saddens me. To these teens, you just made her and them stars and celebraties. They won!

[Simon]

This hack will try to ooze his way into anything he can. There was Britney a few months ago, this girl now...

[Lee]

Dr Phil messed up. Forgive him.
He just a narcissist haunted by Onan.

[Paula]

Terrible call, Dr. Phil. Bad choice. Very disappointing.

They were thinking that the Dr. Phil show is ENTERTAINMENT like the Jerry Springer Show.

[Paolo]

The only people who watch Dr. Phil are less educated and the weak willed. His program is all about HIM. At least, Springer and Povich are entertaining!

[The Carl]

Huge props to Melanie Brooks from Channel 10 for getting onto that dope who kept claiming exclusivity. And if he was really taking such good care of his subject, why didn't he park closer to the door? He might also want to read Dr. Shill's diet book. He can have my copy.

[Eric Deggans]

Ouch! C'mon Carl. Would you have handle that mess any better when you were 25 years old? I want to know where the middle-aged producer who OK-ed that sideshow was hiding...