Dr. Phil Butts In ... Again

Posted Apr 12th 2008 6:20PM by TMZ Staff

Apparently Dr. Phil didn't learn much from his interference with Britney Spears. Paging Dr. Fame whore.

The talk show host has allegedly posted bond, which was set at $33,000, for one of the eight teens who was arrested for severely beating another teenager in Florida. The highly publicized case has been in the news for over a week now, and Dr. Phil must want some of that action.

A bail bondsman told several local media outlets that Mercades Nichols, who has been widely reported as the alleged "ringleader," had her bond paid by the show's producers. When Nichols left the jail, a man who claimed to be a producer for the Dr. Phil show helped escort Nichols and her mom.

Mercades's grandmother recently told local reporters that she didn't have the money to bail her granddaughter out.

According to reports, the producer then told reporters to leave the jail because the Dr. Phil show had exclusive rights to the delinquent's story. He did not comment on if Dr. Phil had helped pay for her bond.

Recently the judge presiding over the case imposed a strict gag order -- how this move will affect Nichols and her case is unknown for now.

Reps for the Dr. Phil show could not be reached.

Filed under: Celebrity Justice

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(Page 5 of 7)Previous 15 Comments | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | Most Recent | Next 15 Comments

61. Why is it when there is a bizzare situation such as this, people like Dr. Phil just have to get into the act. To tell reporters to leave I feel is in violation of the right to know act. The only thing on his mind and those of the producers are $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$ signs. So glad I don't have any interest in his show. Cannot stand do-gooders getting in the way of justice. Mind your own business Dr. Phil.

Posted at 12:51AM on Apr 13th 2008 by ynot12007

62. I do hope these girls have learned something from all the publicity they are getting. Do not post anything on the Internet that might come back to bite you on the butt. The Internet has been proven not to be secure and private.

Posted at 12:58AM on Apr 13th 2008 by ynot12007

63. Wise up people! The woman who gave us this Texas idiot Dr. Phil is the same woman who's giving us Barak Obama. If it wasn't for her urging Obama wouldn't be running at all. Makes you wonder if her judgement of people is worth a damn. She was also a George W. Bush fan, has a lot of freaky gurus and goes to the same church as Barak Abama (until recently lead by reverend Wright). Oprah?...Noprah!!!

Posted at 1:09AM on Apr 13th 2008 by cafenitro

64. Let the little bitch out in general population and have her @ss beat like she did that other chicks and let's see if Dr. Phil will bail the beaters out.

Posted at 1:57AM on Apr 13th 2008 by Get a Clue

65. Although there are some cringe worthy moments on The Dr. Phil Show every now and then, I think he is pretty aweome. He is a very wise soul and I admire him tremendsously. His words have helped my life more than I can ever say. Phil McGraw is a visible representative for one of the most effective and top-notch, highly respected behavioral treatment programs in the Dallas area, the Minrith-Meier Clinic. A place of loving, caring people (highly educated and trained professionals) who have mended many a broken life and soul.

Dr. Phil is not to blame for Britney nor these loser violent kids, but if he can help them in a dignified and professional way and they agree to his help, then by all means. Dr. Phil may need to revisit some of the ways his production staff handle some of the higher profile guests. "

Posted at 3:08AM on Apr 13th 2008 by chicken stripper

66. The Dr. Phil show is like any other show on TV it is based on ratings. He has to find clever side means to keep him and his show popular. This move was designed to purposely create controversy thus more exposure for him and his show. It is indeed a sad world we live in.

Posted at 3:17AM on Apr 13th 2008 by tim

67. GROSS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Posted at 3:47AM on Apr 13th 2008 by gagme

68. People, people, people!!! Dr Phil is a BIG PHONY!!!! The following is just alittle snippet of what I have found on the net regarding past guests:
************************************
The bad part is what was aired. Things were put in that were never said while we were there. Phil giving advice that he never gave to us. On the third day I was determined to not look bad again. I came up with a solution to my problem and couldn't wait to share it! What aired was PHIL saying MY WORDS to me, and some how (I don't know how they did that) me replying, "yea I was thinking about that". This happened with most the guest. Things said on air that was NOT said at the show.
I have one regret in life and it's that I agreed to go on that show and that I didn't walk out when I could have. There is so much more but I think you get the picture.

Posted by: Past guest | November 03, 2007 at 01:58 PM (ref:
http://www.glitteratigossip.com/glitterati/2006/04/new_book_slams_.html)
************************************************************************************
Remember Phony Phil did the same thing to one of the brother's accused in the Natalie Holloway interview?

Posted at 4:05AM on Apr 13th 2008 by are you serious?

69. These mental defects say the wanted to be "Famous" Dr. Phil is committing a crime by abetting their actions.

Posted at 4:48AM on Apr 13th 2008 by A Mother

70. Everyone knows that "Dr" Phil is not really certified to do anything. He doesn't have the qualifications. Just because Oprah used him for a few shows to give people advice, he sort of just slid right into a spin-off show of his own JUST BECAUSE of her setting it up, and for no other reason. He's a fraud, he's unethical and this just proves it once again. He has NO right to get in the middle of a legal issue just because he wants a show out of it! What a LOSER. I hope his show gets cancelled. Then maybe his wife can do something besides spend all his illegally obtained money on cosmetic surgery procedures.
The two of them are a laughable, ridiculous couple! I hope this latest stunt exposes him for what he is. An opportunistic, unqualified prowler. He should be investigated.

Posted at 5:30AM on Apr 13th 2008 by Andie

71. A Mother... good question. I'm sure she'll be on the next Joe Francis' next bus tour "Bad Girl's Gone Wild". But I think since Phil cancelled the show idea he wouldn't be liable. However, if she were to go out and commit another crime while she's out on bail. hmmmm.

You bet!!

How's this werkin for ya Phil?

Posted at 6:00AM on Apr 13th 2008 by are you serious?

72. This is absolutely pathetic. Dr. Phil is not a real doctor, he's a television pariah. He's like a predator. he's an absolutely disgrace to those who call themselves Psychologists. Ethically, there are SO many things wrong with this that it makes my head spin! Shame on you Dr. Phil! I never watched the fraud to begin with, and I certainly won't ever start.

Posted at 9:55AM on Apr 13th 2008 by Craze

73. To #48 by watches dr. phil, I tell you what...you just keep on watching him. and you just keep on believing in his quick fix medicine show. He is a top notch phoney for sure and when he planned the Britney Spears intervention show I thought he could not possibly stoop any lower. He proved me wrong. A young girl has the crap beat out of her by a bunch of sadistic girls and his staff bail the ring leader out for an appearence on his show. Frankly #48, I quit watching the quack a very long time ago and with good reason. He is as phoney as they come, his advice beyond sanctimonious and he is not even certified as a doctor yet he has a show, provided by the equally ignorant Oprah Winfrey. His shows are staged, obviously. Now he has his staff bail out a vicious girl, who I have no doubt will make the news again in the future, after she has a group of girls like her commit murder. But no, for now he has to make a victims life even worse by deciding to do a show with the monster who started this tragedy. Once again, a crime victims life means nothing....bring on the perpetrator and run up the ratings. I watch neither Phil or his ignorant mentor Oprah. I know Oprah is too powerful to have her show pulled but I hhope that somehow her pal Phil can be pulled off the tube. He is a disgrace. His staff are all a huge disgrace.

Posted at 10:22AM on Apr 13th 2008 by completely disgusted

74. In reference to the following post: 74. A Mother... good question. I'm sure she'll be on the next Joe Francis' next bus tour "Bad Girl's Gone Wild". But I think since Phil cancelled the show idea he wouldn't be liable. However, if she were to go out and commit another crime while she's out on bail. hmmmm.

You bet!!

How's this werkin for ya Phil?

Posted at 6:00AM on Apr 13th 2008 by are you serious?

To poster #74...They could always revoke her bail if they were serious.

Personally, I feel she should not have gotten bailed out. She won't learn a thing from this experience, but that just my opinion.

Posted at 10:31AM on Apr 13th 2008 by Ann Marie

75. To #62 mjn, well said!!! I agree with you 100%. A talk show once hosted by a very unknown Oprah Winfrey ahs boomed into a marketing nightmare. I will give the woman credit, like her pal Madonna she has done well in self marketing. She made herself billions of dollars and picked up some trash along the way. I would no more vote for Obama than I would watch her beloved phone Phil. Both spout what she wants to hear. All that Oprah has said about her childhood may well be true, but suddenly when her father decides to write a book, he is stopped. What is it he knows that Oprah may not want us to know. It would be a blessing to have Oprah and Phil pulled from the tube. I am with you mjn.

Posted at 10:32AM on Apr 13th 2008 by completely disgusted

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