Big ol' WORD to this!
At least Oprah emphasizes education, reading and improving one's MIND. Sure, her hand-out-the-gifts shows have become more of a test of maturity but she does use her resources to help folks who need it. What does Robin stand for? What are her passions and how could she use what has been handed to her to help others?
I think that comes back around to the total BS of what DrP chooses to give people. I've seen Oprah give money to all kind of real people with real causes thru her Angel Network. While DrP gives obnoxious crap that does not fit where that person is at or what may truly benefit them in the long run. I guess all that materialistic nonsense of the Hollywood "elite" has a hold of him and alll he can think is that others want to live like that too.... while their house is being foreclosed or they can't afford to go back to school.


As my cats' mom... I know that look too!

15. Sit in on a meeting of a useless charity that she chairs; instructing those with more time, like voulenteer teachers and stay at home moms, to do the actual grunt work. I can totally see Robin chairing something like "The Makeup of Sucess: providing the foundation of sucess to get women out of the shadow of poverty by providing them with interview-appropriate facial wear."

Dr. Al, totally agree with dethroning the Welfare Queens, though I think this problem was largely mitigated by the Clinton welfare reforms. Both my inner democrat and my stomped down gagged and bound inner republican hate the idea of people having more kids while on welfare. That said, most of the programs you suggested are already in place: in Europe and China. So my suggestion is, move to France where you can a) be unemployed b) eat a great croissant or two, then have the state pay for your resultant heart disease treatments c) be annoyed by the rudeness of everyone around you (they are rude, those Frogs) and d) stink in public without raising any eyebrows. Or move to China where you can watch families a)commit infantiside because they are pregnant with the 'wrong' sex child and they've already reached their limit or b) try to escape to take high-paying US jobs that they're highly qualified for because they want more than one child. I'm not saying your suggestions are not valid, just that those social programs come with their own problems, and aren't perfect.



Heh! With ALL those kids, they got the group discount on admission, like a church youth group.

On today's show: Robotoxin shows America how to "shake-n-bake"! Before pouring maple syrup on brussel sprouts & rutabagas... And then tells a black woman that sugar is "the white devil." Seriously, folks...

Having two young 20s daughters, one entering sr yr of college in pre-med (state school and not even the largest state school -- full scholarship including stipend), other entering 4th yr of science grad school (also fully funded), I tuned into Fri's show hoping to hear something from Phil to convince my girls they need to continue working toward this training for real-life jobs. Both are getting restless, wanting to start "living" (neither are in debt -- but we're not giving them much money, either) and afraid they are training for jobs that are going to be too hard and demanding. Their professors seem to be trying to contradict everything we tell them. They have been told they are "too smart" to do "real work". They should take their degrees and go straight into academia. They should have "fun." They should study just for the expansion of their minds (forget their pantries).

ITA with those who say professors have no experience in real life (scarydad says they would all starve if they had to really work for a living) and they seem to exist to recruit other professors. Colleges do NOT train graduates how to put their educations to work finding paying jobs. I say this from experience, as scarydad and I made some really big mistakes since college graduation, when we emerged thinking WE were special and deserved big jobs with big bucks. And that was 25 years ago. We've done okay for ourselves because we worked very hard at some very low-level jobs and never lived extravagantly, never lived on credit, etc. And I was unbelievably lucky to be able to work at home as a writer so I could make a living and raise 3 kids. Actually, it was a combination of luck and very hard work -- writing isn't as easy as most people believe. The only info of value I got from DP's show was -- see? you aren't the only ones who want more than you have right now, or think that life should always be fun and entertaining. He gave no solutions, but at least he showed them that pretty much everyone their age feels that way. Don't know if that was worth watching or not.

Holy Moly... HOW can I miss this this afternoon??
That racist little shopper... "the white devil"? And did she by any chance condemn brown sugar too just to level the playing field?
Where's the outrage?! And please tell me she didn't say this in any kind of derogatory, talking-down-to tone... and that she didn't preface it with the term "oooh chile...."?

Seriously, has this show not totally spun off it's axis into some kind of alternate universe? So is this what you get when you combine Maury and Oprah?? Bizarre-o world guests one segment followed by recipes and gift baskets the next??

someone. please. send. help....

Almost me, borokat. I grew up in NC so close that the only TV stations we got were in Tenn. (Bristol-Kingsport-Johnson City!) So far back in the hills that even the Catholics handled snakes.

Back on topic:

I'm not an Oprah fan, but I must say I was totally touched by her "Christmas in South Africa" junket that she put on. Yes, she's un-freaking-godly rich, celebs it up too much, and gives away gifts like Santa Claus on meth, but when she then turns around and puts her money where her mouth is, you gotta appreciate that. I have yet to see anything the DP does that doesn't benefit himself, his wife, his spawn, or his [product placed name] corporate sponsors.

And I don't count the gifts he gives away to his guests, since most of those seem so freaking backwards and also like, here's a trinket, now go away happy. As long as you go. And if you bitch about it, remember I have hours of tape on you and I control the editing.

Hexele thanks for my first belly laugh of the day! Priceless!

Does Robin have any experience in nutrition and human biology (yeah, I know... but stranger things have happened!)? If not, I don't think she needs to be giving others advice on what they eat. The annoying blonde woman from the WLC was a nutritionist, so I was willing to listen to what she said. Robin has not provided any credentials so I'm tuning her out.

Thanks Medigal! I couldn't remember her name.

Does anyone else think it is hilarious that the nutritionist's name is JJ Virgin?

No, just me? I'll just be over here then.

I know that today's and tomorrow's shows are new, but does anyone know about the rest of the week? Phil's website does not say if there are any reruns, but I think Friday's must be a rerun, due to the fact that they have a baby talking woman on.

I'm not sure, but the baby-talking woman sounds like a re-run. They did a follow-up on her and everything. Ugh. With a side of ugh.

I just had a look at the website, and started roaring. Where it says "Want [Shill's] help with a parenting problem?" it looks like he is about to put the unsuspecting kid in a choke hold. Just tickled my sick funny bone I guess!

Has anyone here ever put maple syrup on vegetables? I'm just curious because it looked really disgusting.

Also: Psychological addiction more power than physiological? Sure that's why marijuana withdrawl can kill you and heroin withdrawl can't...oh wait....

This show is making me vomit, along with his little whore..er I mean wife. How the hell did this evil minion of the Devil get his own show? Wait, I just answered my own question.....

I have never put maple syrup on vegetables, but a traditional Jewish dish my grandmother makes involves stewing carrots and raisins in a grown sugar mixture. It's called "tsimmes" and I think it's nasty because I hate raisins, but to each their own I suppose.

I missed the 3 pm showing due to a dentist appointment and also the fact that I don't really care about Robin, but perhaps I can still catch the 5 pm showing. I did check DP's website though and Robin is prominently featured in the blurbs for two more shows.

Oh, look. Another DP book. Goody.

BibiBella, it's a cookbook. I'm guessing the next one will be the Ultimate Weightloss Challenge Shopping List, followed by the Ultimate Weightloss Challenge Guide to Plastic Surgery.

Bag O' Sugar lady made me retch. I can't believe someone can just sit down and eat sugar like that! Although, I knew someone who would eat sticks of butter on a dare.

Snowdog, what's the new DP book about? Thanks...

The D Phil show gets corporate sponsors to provide the gifts. I read in the newspaper that the corporations who provide gifts to everyone in the audience have to pay money to the show -it is a form of advertising. As well the corporations who provide trips and cruises to guests do so for the "free advertising" so depending on the cost of the gift the company may (or may not) have to pay the show for the "free advertising".

Robin did a show where she discussed what makeup, hair products and skin products she used. I recall Lancome and Estee Lauder being mentioned. It was just one big infomercial! They must have paid to have their product promoted or it was a perk for signing a lucrative advertising contract with the show.

The other show that reeked of being an informercial was the one where Jay was promoting his book on how to talk to teens. I recall one clip where they asked an older teenage girl what she wished for. She responded that she wished that a book such as Jay's was available when she was younger. Yuk!!! Such blatant promotion of his book.

Like DP, Oprah gets the things she gives away (except for the donations for the Angel Network - that comes from the public) from corporate donors, she doesn't pay for them. She doesn't give stuff out every day like DP, but those goodies given out at the holiday and summer 'Best Things" show are all donated - it's the best publicity a company could hope far, way more valuable than paid ads, esp. being on the Oprah show as a "favorite thing". Her endorsement makes sales skyrocket!

Robin sucks. She's like a low-rent version of Sandra Lee. Her recipes looked dry, flavorless, and unimaginative. Did you see that "unfried chicken fried steak"? The end result looked like something from the Gallery of Regrettable Food. And that banana cream pie? I'm sorry, but cereal, fat-free sugar-free flavor-free pudding, and fat-free sugar-free flavor-free yogurt does not a pie make. It looked runny and gross.

And didn't Dr. Phil brag later that she never touches sugar? Just what does she think "Banana Nut Crunch" cereal is flavored with, anyway? HATE!

Dr. Phil is making Oprah look better and better. She may revel in her wealth and glorify material goods, but at least she does some charity, and she isn't constantly shilling books and other useless crap like Dr. Shill. I bet she is really sorry she ever attached her good name to his.

The new book is: "The Ultimate Weight Loss Solution Cookbook"........ go figure. If there is a buck to be made, Dr Shill's name is gonna be on it.

Since when is Rob-Botox qualified as a nutritionist. Credentials please, Robin?

Word to Maybelline!!!

LOL @ "low-rent version of Sandra Lee." Mr yard_stick calls Sandra Lee's cooking program "That Half-ass Cooking Show." And.... he's right on target, I think.

ITA, Robin does suck. She needs to stick to getting her hair and nails done, facials, massages, shopping and etc....... And...... THAT voice of hers... like fingernails scraping on a chalkboard to me..... YIKES!

Hee yall are funny! I always thought Robin had a weird voice, but it didn't occur to me until today that I find it extremely irritating. She's like Pat O'Brien with the nasal. Robin reminds me way too much of a Stepford wife, with all the creepy perfection.

Robin came off as a real asshat when she was talking about never eating sugar. Oh really? I agree upthread, that's whats in cereal, dope! Also when she was talking to bag o' sugar lady, she was like I used to be way into sugar and candy, not as much as you though! It just came off as really accusatory and arrogant. She really does think she's better than these people. HATE.

Given what a shill DP has become, I just wonder how much longer Oprah will produce his show...I read in the news a few months back that rumor was that she was very unhappy with how he was doing/working/shilling his show, etc.

I was thinking that today. I swear if this show came on at 2:00 in the morning there would be NO mistaking it for an infomercial. It's getting way past the point of pandering and making an overall ass of ones self. It's insulting to turn on a show for one reason and it's like letting the Fuller Brush man in your house! As tho the regular, usual commercials aren't enough.


Major kudos to her if she would put her foot down on this! Hopefully for the right reasons and not because it's getting a little too close to her own "santa on meth" form of gift-giving.
I was sure glad to see we didn't have to come out of last week's festivities cold turkey and that we were able to continue the gift giving and celebrity guests within the first 10 mins of the show! What about the lady who worked her way out of the wheelchair?? WHY didn't she get a Precor?

One other thing... I think it best to go to JJ FIRST for nutritional advice and not the "favorite celebrity cook" across the table.

No Medigal, not just you. I giggle like I'm twelve every time I hear it.

That woman who didn't feel comfortable making her own meals did not really get any help. Her whole problem was that she didn't understand what was healthy and what wasn't. By giving her the cookbook it seems like all they are doing is switching her from eating what Jenny Craig tells her to eat to eating what Dr. Phil tells her to eat without giving her any understanding of WHY she's eating it. She's always going to be cooking out of that cookbook simply because she doesn't know what else she can make.

I know we have a few pregnant ladies on the board right now, hopefully one of you can clear something up for me. When they were talking to the pregnant woman, JJ mentioned something about not being allowed to have any fish while pregnant because of the mercury. I thought that certain types of fish were okay to eat while pregnant, maybe I'm wrong.

The "I Love Dr. Phil" apron? There are no words.......

I'm guessing if Oprah's unhappy with the direction DP's taken his show, it's not because of any gift giveaway competition between them, since she does that only at her two "Best of" shows (except for when an author is on the show and brings a copy of the book for everyone - that kind of thing).

I'm guessing it's because a) DP has quit giving tough, honest advice (as he did on her show where he was actually good and you saw people treated with RESPECT about their problems, not showcased as idiots and shamed to death) but now he just showcases some really pathetic people who, yes indeed, need real help; and b) then gives so many screwed-up people fabulous gifts as if they got them for being so screwed up (FUF family anyone?). Not to mention that every day is some type of mega-gift giveaway on his show now.

His show has increasingly taken on the tone of Jerry Springer mixed with Maury and I'm sure this is also why Oprah is not happy. She doesn't give her name to anything hardly (endorsements, etc.) and so she can't be happy that DP seems to have completely lost all integrity and has sold out faster than a hooker on Sunset Blvd. And from the article I read, her unhappiness and disappointment is because of the tone his show now takes...

damn - another excuse not to work on my dissertation proposal.

Robin - carbohydrates contain sugar. This includes no-fat milk, beans, whole wheat pasta, brown rice. You are eating sugar, you nutrition information challenged idiot.

I'm a diabetic. I count carbs to regulate my blood sugar - that means I'm consider the SUGAR I put in my mouth, including such seemingly innocuous items as the above; white sugar is just the tip of the iceberg.

Word to your no words. How gauche. Robin, you are such a natural in front of the camera! [/sarcasm]

Did anyone else crack up when DP was saying how Chaka Khan didn't ask for anything to be on the show? It's not exactly like she's at the pinnacle of her career and has her calendar solid booked with her many many appearances. (Not that I didn't like the music, I just thought that was funny.)

Off topic and unrepentant: Maggiegault, thinking about your brother on Memorial Day; hope all is well and he comes home soon.

Maggie, can my childless and overweight self come with you. I've always said that a TwoP vs. Shill show would be something to behold. I think a show with childless employees vs. employees with children could be as brutal as the SAHM vs. Working Mom show.

After watching the Cooking with Robin show, I am dumbstruck. I'm from Texas. I love me some chicken fried steak and can tell you where to get the best in Dallas. But that thing Our Lady of Perpetual Botox prepared looked nasty and nothing at all like a chicken fried steak. And, as much as I love the chicken fried steak, it's a little bit dry sans cream gravy. The veggies looked okay until she got the maple syrup out - why not just steam them or broil them and maybe use a few herbs if you don't like it plain? The triscuit pizza - LOL. The only thing she made that looked remotely edible was the potatoes - and that's probably cause I don't think I've ever met a potato I didn't like. Maybe we could have aprons with Dr. Phil with the big read circle/slash through it. Does anyone know if Robin has any kind of advanced training or work experience in any field or if she is an expert in anything and everything simply by virtue of being Mrs. Shill?!

And add me to the list of people awaiting the arrival of lil' Borokat - hope listening to Shill hasn't made the lil' one decide never to come out so Shill can't ask "how's that working for you?!"

Oh, and as if the descent to Big Lots wasn't enough - I was at the Dollar Tree today and saw boxes of Shill's bars.

I wonder what Precor paid to "give away" the machine. On the show D Phil did a commericial for their new universal gym. They must have paid big bucks for that plug. As well he also has any product he endorses on the D Phil website.

Oh that woman who lost weight with the help of her support group-of course it is a group that follows D Phil's weight loss book. Such blatant promotion!! So many of his shows have become infomercials for his books or his son's books. It is sickening! I think that when he comes up with an idea for a show he also thinks about a new book-or is it the other way around.

Post Banana Nut Crunch cereal contains not only white sugar, brown sugar, and corn syrup, but partially hydrogenated vegetable oil. So, it's hardly a nutritionally pure food. I agree with the person who said the pie looked NASTY. I'd rather have a small piece of real pie once a week than a huge slab of fake pie every night.

These kind of people like Robin work my last nerve. It's like those people that claim "I never watch tv!" or some kind of crap-ola that they think makes them sound so smart. They just know everyone is in awe of their knowledge and are dying to know their secrets! I go in our local la-di-da health food store for vitamins, etc and get the biggest kick out of these "Robins". Of course, being the simpleton peasant that I am, I can't afford to grocery shop at those places... I have to go to the common-place grocery store.

Which this leads me to another thing.... notice how whenever we're following a guest who gets some luxury get-away or they are having some "hip" outing, they are always drinking alcohol (or the impression they are)?? What's up with that? As someone who's been sober over four years, I'm curious why word one is never said about that by the McGnaws?? Is that like the universal code for luxury and having it going on? I don't believe I ever heard anything about the WLC folks cutting out the bottle... Doritos, the devil in chip form.... alcohol, WOO-HOO!!!

Word of the Day

I do not think ff vanilla yogurt smeared on top is going to fool me into thinking it's the "cream" portion of banana cream pie.

A couple of weeks ago, he went to great lengths to disavow such rumors. And did you know Oprah and Kitty Surprise (thanks stinkylulu!) are like best friends forever? Yeah right...

Robin is to nutrition, as 'Phillip' is to therapy, something mildly entertaining on TV in its utter horror but something to be avoided in real life at all costs.

JR Labrador, who is Kitty Surprise?!

My new nickname for Robin...

JR Labrador, thanks. Somehow I really, really, really doubt that Kitty Surprise will ever be even a 'close' friend of Oprah's, much less her 'best friend' (Gayle already owns that position, Robin!).

(Star, sending good baby vibes to Borokat and all the mothers-to-be......)
When I was pregnant, I was told to stay away from tuna and most other types of seafood. I recall that excess amounts of mercury could cause serious damage to the baby. So I suffered for nine months, being lactose intolerant (no cereal), having no spicy foods, and not being able to have a tunafish sandwich.

Topic: After seeing what this weeks show topics are, I can safely say that I will skipping Dr. Shill this week. I'll still be here, though!

You are supposed to limit your fish intake on certain types of fish. Tilefish, mackerel, canned white tuna, shark, swordfish, and a couple of others that I can't remember. I think tilefish is a kind of snapper, but I have never said, "I'll have the tilefish", so I dunno.

This is in response to all the "eat fish, eat more fish" that happened a little while back, so of course the pendulum swings the other way, "no fish! ohmigod!" after someone said, do ya think we should worry about the mercury? I ate fresh tuna several times when I was pregnant, and grouper a few times. IMO JJ will toe the more narrow line to avoid liability, as do many practicioners. In other words, it's easier to say "cut out ____" than to say "well, there is a little risk, but you'll probably be okay...". YMMV.

To SiameseCat Lady

Dr Phil claims that the Shape Up vitamins/supplements will help you take control of your weight. REALLY! It is that easy? He says:
"I've helped to develop a line of nutrition products to support the plan. These products contain scientifically researched levels of ingredients that can help you change your behavior to take control of your weight." You can check out the quote here.
http://www.drugstore.com/products/prod.asp...x=29384&tab=0#0

The supplement intensifiers cost about $60 per month ($28.99 plus tax for 30 packets that last only 15 days) and then another $60/month for vitamins!! That is a total of $120/month- a lot of money to people who are gullible enough to believe the claims. Such greed!!

Okay, I watched the 5 pm airing. But not because I wanted to, only so I could talk about it with you guys :-)

My mother does something with grilled vegetables, olive oil and fresh herbs that is fabulous. You don't need maple syrup at all. In fact I think it would clash with the olive oil, wouldn't it?

Also, I am not saying it's a good idea to eat a 5-pound bag of sugar or anything, but sugar itself in a proper form is not the devil, bad, evil. Every time Robin says she eats no sugar, I just cringe. First of all small amounts of sweets are fine if you can control yourself. I would never buy a whole bag of cookies because I know I would eat them all, but if I am at someone's house and they offer me a cookie I can eat one and be quite happy with it. My little brother is going through that teenage boy phase of eating, so my dad's house is always well-stocked with junk food. Mots of it I can't eat because it involves ice cream and I have a dairy allergy, but I had a cookie on Sunday (just one) and it didn't kill me. Also, there are natural sugars in fruit. It kind of bugs me that Shill's book tries to regulate that. It says you should have 2 fruits a day. I asked my sister-in-law who is a nutritionist what would happen if I had three or four fruits a day and she says it is such a struggle to get most of her clients to eat ANY fruit that if someone came to her and said they wanted 3, she would practically be clapping.

That woman today just proves my point. She has no idea what to eat unless someone tells her exactly. She is not learning anything. Turn her loose in a grocery store and she would have no idea what to do. That is a terrible lifestyle because the first time she is at a dinner party or on vacation or something, she'll just have no idea. She even admitted it. But just like Friday's show, he was too busy yelling at people to give them any tools. Dr. Shill has stopped giving tools, and that's the whole problem.

I am a new lurker and don't post often anywhere. However, I have to ask, WHAT IS UP WITH ROBIN'S FACE? Seriously, there are pictures of her on dr. phil's website where she looks normal and pretty. Now, she is all bloated and stiff looking. Is that truly the effects of Botox? Because she just looks awkward and stupid. I cannot believe people would pay money to have their face look like that. Maybe it is the side-effects of not eating white sugar for years?

If you notice, the camera hardly ever holds a close up of her face. I have Tivo and keep trying to pause it on her face, but it is not on her face at any straight forward angle for any amount of time. They do straight ahead close ups of dr. phil all the time. So, there must be a reason. They must know that she looks weird, too.

To Texelaine: What happened to Robin's face?

Last season Robin was cute looking. She looked young and pretty. I could not believe she was almost 50 years ago. This season I keep looking at her and wonder what happened to her face. Did she lose weight? Her face looks sunken. Her eyes are scary. Such a dramatic change in just one year. Does botox do this to you?

Will D Phil stay married to a woman who looks her age? A lot of men with big egos and big bank accounts like trophy wives. Is Robin worried about it and trying to look young to keep him around? Oh by the way I am not some young thing myself. Menapause is just around the corner for me.

I missed today's episode, so correct me if I'm misreading, but Robin put maple syrup on vegetables? People actually do that? I thought that was made up for that cereal commercial, specifically to sound disgusting. My worldview has been turned upside down. I just don't know what to do now.

Thanks to Dollar Tree and Big Lots, that's probably more like $10/month these days...

I'll have to check next time I'm at my local Albertson's if they still carry the Shape Up stuff. They had a big display of it a couple months ago -- sounds like "regular" stores must be dropping it and discount stores are picking up the leavin's.

ITA- Since I'm eating vanilla fat free yogurt and cursing Floriene Mark as we speak!

If Sugar is The White Devil then my Chewing Gum, Heath Bars, Reese's Cups, and Ice Cream (To say NOTHING of my Chinese Food!) are all sending me straight to Hell! Although with my progressive humanist politics and tolerance for all kinds of lifestyles -- according to Robin -- I'm probably already going to Hell anyway!

Tee Hee!

Actually (And I'm embarassed to admit I could like anything Robin says!) but I kind of like the idea of referring to Sugar as The White Devil. I may have to add that to my lingo.

Isn't it funny how PP manages to have all these serious topics for us to discuss and then we get these stupid-ass episodes where there's like nothing of any importance?

I also don't know how PP looks at himself in the morning when he has to so garrishly pimp out his own books through his show.

This is my first post here, but I've been lurking so long that I'm actually looking forward to the arrival of lil borokat

Can I just say Wordy Word to this:



I know pie, and that lumpy blob of goo was not pie.

Anyway, I just wanted to say that I'm glad to have found a group who seem to have the same attitude towards Phil as me; I hate him, but can't. stop. watching. The people posting at his official site scare me. They even love Robin! Even back when I still liked the show, Robin terrified me. I have a visceral reaction to her that causes me to occasionally yell at the television. Usually something along the lines of "Who the hell died and made you the Queen of marriage counsellors/ nutritionists/ chefs/ doctors/ etc.?"

Oh Robin, hun, what do you think corn syrup is? Sweetie, if you say you eschew sugar with the righteous indignation of a crusader then eat all manner of syrups, sugar by- products and such, do you know what that makes you? No, not a McGraw! It makes you a hypocrite. It IS as someone said, just like the "I never watch television!" crowd who think they are this close to being deities. Yet, they will say,"I only watch CNN...and Meet the Press...and PBS, of course...and The Golf Channel because I play at the club...and science channels to keep up with my husband's job...an occasional special, and the cooking show with the Italian vegetarians, but that's ALL! People watch WAY too bleebleeblahblahboo!"

Know why I limit my HoHo consumption, Rob? Because they are full of chemicals and the icky fat. Otherwise I'd enjoy their devily goodness by the short ton. Fake crap food is full of Texaco-made substances and that is what's bad, not the teaspoon of sugar. The trans fats, not the sweet nectar of the cane. But, even if my beloved snack cakes were radioactive I'd enjoy them in small doses, because I want to die an old plump woman, satisfied that she had suckled sufficiently at the tit of Beatrice Foods.

And Rob, better to eat crap that flows through the digestive system than have worse crap injected into your face.

Could Gemmadoll be any funnier? And who do we have writing our sit-coms? People who think running-out-of-toilet-paper presents the ultimate farcical opportunity.

My unfunny remark is that when Dr. Phil implied that being overweight was as dangerous to one's health as smoking, I got so mad I had to leave the room and thus missed most of Robin's Happy Homemaker show - and you know I would have loved that.