Dr. Phil doesn't really care about kids

The BBQ Pit
1

I caught the latest episode of Dr. Phil today and I’m outraged at what a scummy fuck he is when it comes to the welfare of kids. Though he’s a television personality and of course shilling for his show, I thought he was a generally good guy who could help some folks with his advice, and he at least seemed to be sincere in wanting to protect and help children. In today’s episode he showed me how wrong I was.

The show was about a woman who is a hoarder. Typical hoarder story, with her house packed full of useless shit and garbage. But from the promos all the way through the episode, the show treated it all as something humorous. Yuk, yuk, you’re keeping a bunch of plastic bags?! Plastic vampire teeth?! Girl, you just crazy!

Okay, laughing at a lady with a mental disorder, maybe not the right approach but she was going along with it. But then they showed that she has a 14-year-old son who has grown up in this shit hole of a house and since 5-years-old has had to sleep on a couch among garbage because his bed and rest of his room is full of her hoarding shit. He told his story about growing up in this horrid firetrap of a house, never having a friend over, and how he struggles to find a clear space to do his homework, then curls up on a couch and goes to sleep. He was holding back tears the whole time he was talking. He said he couldn’t wait to be 18 and get of this house. (His dad is a useless cowardly fuck who left the mother and now wants to marry her again, but he isn’t doing anything to rescue his son.)

Cut back to the mom, dad and Dr. Phil on stage. More yuks and laughs over how crazy and silly this is! Then we take a few moments to be serious, and Dr. Phil says he is just introducing some levity to get the message across to her. And then back to the giggles and laughs! Oh, how silly this is! You save broken clothes hangers because one side is still good? Crazy, silly, weird!

Then they show the results of testing that indicates serious mold and other health issues in the house. The mother admits that her son complains of respiratory problems because of the filth in the house. She keeps giggling about how silly it all is.

In the end he sets her up with an organization specialist and some kind of therapy for aftercare. But nothing is said of rescuing this kid from this hellhole. Clean up your house and you’ll feel a lot better! See you later!

I’ve never thought a lot of this Dr. Phil guy, but fuck if this doesn’t take it to a new low. Here’s a minor in a clearly dangerous, neglectful situation and he does jack shit to help him. He’s made a big deal on other episodes about how he is a mandated reporter, but he didn’t seem to remember that for this kid. If any other mandated reporter walked into that house, a report would be made and some kind of intervention would take place.

If I could find out where this bitch mother lives, I’ll personally call the local DFACS/CPS.

2

I always thought Phil was only interested in what kind of rating he could at people expense ! I see no reason to even call him something he is not , he not a doctor . I only saw a few minutes of his show and he was insulting someone and trying to get some laughs at their expense. Phil is sick SOB that has no feeling anyone I don’t waste my time watching this jackass !

3

It has always been clear to me that Dr. Phil only cares about one thing and that is Dr. Phil. The guy is a fucking a charlatan and is a waste of skin. Just my 2 cents.

4

Dr Phil has a tv show whose purpose is to show the audience people who are worse off than they are, which in turn makes the audience feel better about themselves.

The very best option is to not watch it. It helps you be a better person and it helps speed the demise of the show.

5

What a strange show.

6

I have no interest in defending Dr. Phil. I don’t watch Dr. Phil and don’t give a shit about Dr. Phil. But just because he didn’t advocate for the kid–or call social services for the kid–on camera, doesn’t mean it didn’t happen.

7

True - but I’m pretty sure if he had ‘rescued’ the kids, that would have been a major talking point for him.

8

Dr. Phil thinks he can solve any mental health problem in the 15 minutes between commercial breaks.

9

And this is where you went horribly, horribly wrong. Don’t ever do this again and your life will improve immensely! You can trust me, I’m a Doctor.

10

Ever since I heard Lewis Black refer to him as such I always call him “Dr. Fuck-Phil”. He, along with that John Edwards guy, should be marooned on a deserted island forever.

11

Huh. I figured this was a zombie raising. I didn’t know he even still had a show. I figured he went off to Oprah’s network.

Is Rachel Ray still around? Dr. Oz?

12

I’m with BigT, Phil still has a show?
Last I heard (coupla years ago) Ol’ Phil was caught up in some sort of scandal or other and I figured that would be the end. I guess I just mental-shifted him into white noise end of the celebrity spectrum?

13

How about a nice game of chess instead?

14

John Edward was the phony psychic. John Edwards was the politician who imploded his career by trying to cover up his extra-martial love child.

Both should be marooned somewhere, but the former has a stronger thematic link to Dr. Phil.

15

I know Rachel is still on air.

16

I think the OP is missing something: How true is Dr. Phil’s show?

17

You may disapprove of Dr. Phil and his methods, and I’m certainly not sticking up for him. I agree he’s a charlatan. But he has a Ph. D. from the University of North Texas, so he is entitled to call himself and to be referred to as “Doctor.”

18

Dr. Oz also has a medical degree, but the snake oil peddler is not advocating products backed by scientific rigor, he is therefore not acting in the capacity of a medical professional. Both are not doctors in any meaningful sense.

Andrew Wakefield had his license ganked, that needs to happen more often.

19

Chain Dr. Phil to a burning building with a hacksaw, and the fool will cut off the wrong foot. Are you sure he didn’t get his PhD from the University of P.O. Box 42751, Phoenix, AZ?

20

Dr Phail. Always sounds like he’s straining to take a big shit.