Dr. Phil -- Screwed from the Bottom

Posted Apr 13th 2008 8:10PM by TMZ Staff

TMZ has learned Dr. Phil's legal document wielding, cash-carrying, tough guy was not a supervising producer on the show. He was not an assistant producer. He was not a producer. He was not even close to being a producer. He was a production assistant. Think intern with a paycheck.
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 smackdown 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 plan could have been pulled off, but after the P.A. mouthed off publicly, Phil's battleship was sunk somewhere off the Florida coast.

We contacted Phil's people an hour ago, who responded by saying they "have no additional comment."

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Filed under: Breaking News, Dr. Phil


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1. haha

Posted at 8:16PM on Apr 13th 2008 by james

2. Dr. Phil made a deplorable situation worse.
He should be ashamed. I guess he really has no substance to him.

Posted at 8:17PM on Apr 13th 2008 by Andy

3. DR. PHIL (HE'S NO LONGER A DR. FOR GOD'S SAKE) - ANYWHO, PHIL IS A QUACK AND A MONEY GRUBBING
WHORE. HOW DARE HE USE BRITNEY SPEARS FOR RATINGS. NOW HE IS USING THESE AWFUL TEENS
AND BAILING THEM OUT FOR RATINGS. THAT BALD WHORE NEEDS HIS ASS KICKED.

Posted at 8:17PM on Apr 13th 2008 by Maria Smith

4. Whoa Maria!
Why don't you say what you really mean?

Posted at 8:18PM on Apr 13th 2008 by Andy

5. HERE WE GO AGAIN, REWARDING BAD BEHAVIOR.....WHY MAKE THEM CELEBRITIES????? THIS IS WHY WE HAVE SO MANY LOSER TEENS IN THIS WORLD...THIS FILM SHOULD NOT HAVE BEEN ALLOWED ON YUTUBE, THEY SHOULD DISCOURAGE THIS CRAP......PUNISH THEM, DON'T REWARD THEM....THE SAME GOES FOR HOLLYWOOD SO CALLED STARS WITH BAD BEHAVIOR..

Posted at 8:23PM on Apr 13th 2008 by JOANIE

6. Phil is a bag of gas in a three piece suit.

Posted at 8:38PM on Apr 13th 2008 by Sentence structure matters

7. Actually, I was hoping Dr. Phil would have those teens on his show. Seriously, he would have asked them straight up, WHAT WERE THEY THINKING?!?

I don't think Dr. Phil was exploiting anyone. For this season, he is reporting on major events and this was one of them. I was really hoping he would have those girls on his show so he can teach them a thing or two. Because, as of recently, those girls saw NOTHING WRONG with what they did. A lecture from Dr. Phil would have changed their minds.

Posted at 9:09PM on Apr 13th 2008 by Wish there was a show

8. Until Dr. Phil himself makes a comment, I will assume he would rather see these girls rot in jail before helping them one bit...

Posted at 9:16PM on Apr 13th 2008 by chicken stripper

9. dr phil is a MORON now

Posted at 9:18PM on Apr 13th 2008 by Robin

10. Some flunky had the power to write a $3300 check and guarantee collateral without the powers that be knowing about it? It looks like Dr. Phil got busted and now he's trying to save face. That little monster should still be in jail thinkng about what she did to that girl, how she's ruined her own life . Not to mention the financial burden put on her parents in finding a lawyer to defend her sorry ass.

Posted at 9:28PM on Apr 13th 2008 by Tasha

11. Ugh. Enough of this bloated one-man ego trip.

Posted at 9:35PM on Apr 13th 2008 by Karen

12. Give us a break, #8. You obviously work for Phil, or you are Phil.

This kind of garbage tv and medical quackery must stop. The reason teens pull vicious stunts like this and post it on You Tube is to get on tv. Shows like Phil ultimately encourage this kind of behavior and reinforce the sick culture.

Regardless, Phil is hardly qualified - either professionally or ethically - to deal with a problem of this profundity and severity.

Thanks, Oprah, for the gift of Phil. First Phil, then phony biographers, then Obama. Any other plagues you want to unleash on us?

Posted at 9:38PM on Apr 13th 2008 by Give us a break

13. Wish there was a show, if you honestly think that the type of sociopath who would commit this sort of attack would listen to a middle-aged bald guy in a three-piece suit and turn their lives around, I have a couple of bridges I want to sell you and some prime bottom-land right between Minneapolis and St. Paul.

Go Sox

Posted at 9:43PM on Apr 13th 2008 by Baseball Junkie

14. I will never watch Dr. Phil again, He used to have a great show, he's now turned Hollywood and all morals are out the window as long they get the "top" story, those little brats didn't deserve bail.
Dr. Phil I sure hope you've put all your money in investments that will be able to support you and your family in the fashion you've grown to love, cause I bet you get canceled real soon.................I hope!

YOU NEED TO "GET REAL" DR.PHIL, "HOW THAT WORKING FOR YOU????"

Posted at 9:45PM on Apr 13th 2008 by NO MORE DR PHIL

15. Dr. Phil, YOU are a DOUCHEBAG.

Posted at 9:45PM on Apr 13th 2008 by Had my Phil...

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