The McGraw's materialism really is pretty scary. Every photo shows Robin in the latest shitty hair-doo (you can probably match her hair-doo to a year) and all of the crap they purchase. The message is always that a working man in charge and his woman having a charge is all it takes to keep a family going. It's all so repellent. However, I'm pretty sure that neither BBJ or SSJ are as big an ass as their Pappy.

Did anyone else thing that Phil's memoirs, monotone monologue, and photo montage with The Sweetly Sad Strings of the Broken Home were all a bit much?

The other thing I hate about him is that he thinks that if he could pull himself out of poverty then anyone can and if they don't then it's just their own damn fault.

And once again, we're getting all the usual bullshit about how money doesn't matter; even though most of Phil's interventions (from therapy to home design) seem to require quite a bit of money. Talk show humiliation and overexposure seem to be the new way to fix your life. If you prepared to air your dirty laundy before millions of people, there is a way out for you.

Every time I watch Phil, I think to myself:

"Who does this man think he is?!?"

The Cojo twins were rather freakish. All they really needed was acne medication and maturity. There's no way I'd allow my child to mutilate his face like that.

Gemmadoll now owes my employer a new keyboard cause I think the Diet Pepsi bath is gonna eat right through the high quality plastic!

Did anyone else giggle when we saw Kitty Surprise in her Halloween costume, all dressed as a kitty? ICAM with everyone about Kitty's materialism with the nutcrackers and other geegaws that make memories. I know a couple of these holiday-obsessive types, but even they don't put the Christmas tree up by Thanksgiving. Maybe that Thanksgiving faux-nanner pie tastes less like crap when you're distracted by the twinkly lights and shiny tinsel and all the mass quantities of stuff.

ETA: Hot damn I'm a couch potato - you may kiss my ring!

Can't stand Dr.Phil; don't watch 'im, but, I saw the commercials and have to know:

what are the 14 characteristics of a serial killer?

(and what kind of stuff was that kid with the nine traits doing?)

~color me morbidly curious~

ETA: wait...I just realized...it hasn't aired yet, has it? ooops...

Dr AL, Robin's "hair-doo" made me giggle. And yes, the Dr. Phil story was waay too much. Um, Dr. Phil? Your upbringing is hardly unique (sadly). I need to stop watching this show. Oh, I didn't watch today! Yea me.
serendipity, I'd bet money that child has abused animals and that that's one of the traits.

Happened to catch A&E's Biography of Dr. Phil--parts of it--and it was good to see as much of the truth as current slander laws allow. Finally, Kitty's passive, demure, "I enjoy being a girl" had a backstory of sorts. (And having just seen CNN's Christiane Amanpour RIGHT before this...I don't know. The difference between substantative womanhood and frilly facade was as jarring as a 5.0 in a Noritake shop.)

She has told the story on Phil's show, but I couldn't remember the meat of it. It was the story of Phil ("this huge, huge man") carrying a 3 week old Jay to the operating room ("this tiny, tiny baby") to have surgery on his stomach valve. What Robin said next defined her:"I Knew at that moment that he WOULD ALWAYS PROTECT US." Because he is huge, huge and she is tiny, tiny. Like baby Jay. Carry me, protect me, I am helpless and you are so strong.

If you need further clarification, the pics of Robin with towering fluffs of hair AND unfortunate floral print dresses says volumes. The scales will not fall from Robin's eyes because--unlike Phil's former business partners--Robin is protected by either community property law or a decent pre-nup. Besides, he's a huge, huge man...

Dr. Phil does have a large ego, but a lot of his advice is very sensible. I like the bit about if mama ain't happy, ain't nobody happy. Robin doesn't bother me particularly - seems like just another rich man's wife.

By the way, the twins don't look like Brad Pitt.

I think, though, that to author books, lead rallies, and host a television show because his credibility is scaffolded by his PhD in clinical psychology, one could expect his advice to teeter above the truisms painted on mugs and cross-stitched into samplers. Then again, there's no reality, only perception. And sometimes I wake up grumpy, and sometimes I let him sleep.And, shit happens. And what part of no don't you understand? And, hang in there baby, Friday's coming. And finally, my husband went through years of graduate school and all I got was these lousy credit cards.

Good lord...go away for three lousy hurricanes and I lose total track of this board! Oh, I'm sorry, those hurricanes weren't reality, only perception. I only perceive my house is boarded up and I now live in a batcave.

IMO, when Phil's guests are at a level where a platitude in the form of a swift possum-mouthed verbal kick are in order, he shines. But when people have real problems, like FUFs 1 and 2, he's in over his head. I think it honestly confuses him when people don't Phall in line and say, "By gosh, Phil, you're right. If I just do what you say, I'll be happy and thin and as fulfilled as Kitty instantly." His response to those who don't do this: they no longer exist. To wit, the three weight loss participants who Phailed. They are as gone as Jimmy Hoffa and Steadman.

ETA: Hey, I'm a couch potato, too, now. SiameseCatLady, shall we lie about on divans and say "heads will roll, heads will roll..."?

nothing to see

I don't know what's scarier, that Patriarch Phil believes his own shit, that Slave Girl/Bound Concubine Kitty Surprise is held up as a model of contemporary womanhood, or that all those women who are Phans of Phil don't seem to realize that by worshipping this sexist oppressor they are in fact turning back the clock on women's rights and the many gains that have been made.

I just can't deal with this "You must respect the man!" bullshit because while I'll respect anyone that has earned it, I absolutely refuse to respect someone just because they have lived longer than me or happen to have a penis. Older and male doesn't equal wiser, kinder, or fairer.

No, sorry PP, to qualify for my respect I'm afraid I require something along the lines of sensiblity, organization, fairness, self-awareness, awareness/empathy/compassion for others, pro-social agendas and behaviors, and an absolute zero tolerance for psychotic authoritarian personalities who seek to rule others. If you don't have those then (as far as I'm concerned) you either need some serious training or to be put out with the garbage.

I want to see Stacy and Chris back in a year. I'm still wondering what's up with Brianne and Michael's biodad. I also wanted to hear what was happening with Nathan's biodad and his family. Dr. Shrill tried too hard to sugar-coat the FUFs.

Did anyone catch Phil's chat with the Bushes and the Heinz-Kerrys? I didn't get a chance to watch it and I am dying to know what happened.

I don't think it's aired yet, DR. AL. But I strongly suspect which candidate Phil is supporting.

Re: today's show: nice to see that BBJ has the time to drop by Dad's show in between shooting his FOX series. And the high-school dropout who was mourning the death of his uncle made drug addict Brandon look positively charismatic by comparison; I felt bad for him, since he so obviously did not want to be on TV. Ah well, on to tomorrow and the "I want a threesome" hubby!

I don't want to get off subject as this show probably has it's own forum BUT if someone can justify Jaybronee's show, please speak up.
I love the way they try to get the "counseling" aspect into it. I guess so we won't just think it's all about cosmetics and "stuff". Because as DrP viewers, we all know that's just crazy thinking! right? <cough, cough>

Oprah has created a monster-family....

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Anyone else notice that BBJ was wearing his shirt untucked in an attempt to hide the BB?

Also, when the mother whose daughter had gotten pregnant at 14 said she thought sex ed/handing out condoms at school be like giving them permission to have sex, was I the only one who was screaming at her that her daughter must have felt like she had permission even without the condoms? That kind of attitude, like when Alexandra of FUF1 said Erin didn't believe in birth control for 15 year olds, after her daughter had already had a baby, makes me go absolutely apeshit. Get your heads out of the sand, you fucktards - next time your daughters might not just end up pregnant - they might get an incurable, deadly or at least unpleasant and dangerous if not treated STD!

Word, word, and word to everything you've said, and I agree with you Loudfan, Phil is probably religiously bound to support another Texan to say nothing of the fact that Kerry represents the thinking eastern establishment and has a powerhouse of a wife. Anyone want to take bets that Phil uses these "interviews" as a means to torpedo the Heinz-Kerrys and promote the oh-so-wholesome yet chemically dependent (Because we're still living in the 1950s!) Bushes?

Don't feel bad Tarheel, I find BBJ kind of hot myself partially because he's cute and partly because he's much more laid-back and bullshit detecting than either of his fool parents.

I dunno, I kind of agree with the pregnant teen's mom, just a teeny bit. I whole heartedly agree that sex ed. should be taught in the schools, 100%. I took it and I think it helped me I think. That asshat who was saying it should be the parents responsiblity was right, but with one problem. A whole lot of these kids' parents are not responsible enough to teach their kids about it anyway! It doesn't matter who should do it, the point is that it gets done.

But speaking personally, at 15 if my school had passed out condoms, I'd be damn tempted to try it out given an opportunity. I don't think they should just be thrown around at the kids like confetti at a parade, but should be made available in some way, sure.

I think I like watching this show because it makes me look positively angelic compared to these peope. It makes me feel better. Hee.

I cannot watch Phil when he does any sort of sex show, so tell me when it's over. I don't want sexuality to be in any way, shape, or form to be linked to Thug McGraw. Icky icky. Stone cold libido stopper. Makes it crawl back up.

(Attacking Phil, not the poster). I haaate when he says this. I hate that it could mean that if every one in the family is not respected and heard then the family is going to suffer. Coming out of Phil's mouth, however, it means "Big Daddy is out earning the money and unless he gives his little wife a healthy allowance and once a while cares for his own children, so that mom can go out and spend the money on a nice little flower dress, then mom is going to be a total bitch and won't make us our Most Favorite Dinner, so shut up and let her go to Sears for an hour. She'll bake us up some Pillsbury pre-made cookies when she gets home"

nothing to see

So glad to find a place to vent my feelings about this whored-out show. Maybe it's time to call Shill the Emperor, since they adopted folk all the time to succeed them.



Yes, it's all about the stuff -- we can't have a holiday unless we overconsume and run out the planet of all its resources -- surely Jesus would approve! Kitty must spend all her time decorating to block out those repressed feelings that she might actually have had a life outside of her relationship to Shill. I also think it's time to send in Peter from Clean Sweep, cause you know that he'd never let Kitty get away with all that crap.

Yesterday's ep was the first one I've seen of the new season; I've been on vacation and blissfully Phil-phree for a few weeks.

So Shill's going to provide this little town with a good compromise solution to teen prgenancy, teaching sex ed, etc. - right after the commercial! That's what he said. But did he ever get around to offering that solution? Of course not. He always teases that he's got some great idea that will please everyone, "right after the commercial," but he never delivers. He'd make a great carnival barker. I was waiting to hear how he'd reconcile this town's conservative views with teaching sex ed, and sure enough he didn't offer anything at all.



That asshat was the school principal, I think, and what an asshat he was. He had about 5 different reasons as to why he didn't think the school should teach sex ed: it's not our job, the parents don't want us to discipline their kids, the parents want us to do everything, etc. I don't get what disciplining kids has to do with teaching sex ed, so whatever. (And word to what you wrote, katymo.)

re: Wives with sex problems. What was with the threesome guy? He was like a toddler being denied his Barney toy.

I can't believe Dr. Phil didn't go after Mr. Threesome for his emotional manipulation, and just left the poor woman with some "threesomes don't work" platitude that the husband will obviously ignore. Those folks had more problems than sex -- that level of sexual blackmail borders on violence in my books. Rage!

Then again, Dr. Phil is the king of emotional manipulation. Maybe he was awestruck.

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Ohmigod - can't you just imagine the visual on that. Peter trying to get Kitty to put some of her Kitty accessories in the toss or sell pile while Kitty is hissing at him and saying "the only way you'll get these 1200 nutcrackers and my 147 scrapbooks full of pictures of my darlin' boys at all the most popular Judeo-Christian holidays, every sporting event and school play and every other time they had a hangnail or made #2 is to pry them out of my cold dead perfectly manicured hand!" And then it's Shill to the rescue cause he's so big, big, big and she's so wittle, wittle, wittle.

You know, I'm the girliest girl that ever girled - my favorite color is pink, I love make-up and frills and all manner of frou-frou and the only way you're getting my girlie stuff is to pry it out of my cold dead hand, but Kitty's girliness (or girlishness) is too much even for me.

See this time, I thought DP was way easier on the woman that had an affair than the guy who wanted a threesome. He wasn't nearly hard enough on any of them though. Why women like the threesome lady let themselves be treated like that I will never understand. That guy should be so ashamed.

Word to you, Tarheel! If they put that much importance on being adventurous sexually, your marriage sucks. I know sex is important and all like that, but get a grip.

When I heard that guy's "You mentioned casually ten years ago you wanted a threesome" excuse, I thought, "That's SO male!"

Yes, the threesome couple needs to break up so that guy can go join some swingers club like he wants to and that woman can find a normal guy and stop "burning daylight."

Let this be a warning to all women - don't let the jerk in on your fantasies! Oh, I have no fantasies, you're more than enough for me! Mr 3-some is harrassing his poor wife. I would be heading for a lawyer's office.

Is this the day he has a show during prime time? I want to see the killer kid.

For what it's worth, today's New York Times gave Phil's primetime special an absolutely searing, scathing review. IIRC, the final line was something like "Shut up, Dr. Phil". It was nice to see that sentiment in print.

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You can find the NYT review here:

http://www.nytimes.com/2004/09/22/arts/tel...ion/22heff.html

Just scroll about halfway down. This is a good line from it:

Imagine being married to that guy. Every utterance his wife ever made, over the entire course of their marriage, he stowed away and now brings out to club her over the head with. What an emotional bully.

Stupid guy also couldn't comprehend that fantasizing about a threesome, or whatever, is much different from experiencing the real thing - which his wife evidently didn't like.

Phil is not kidding about the poolof vomit. I went through that too.

Problem with that little kid not going to bed: It looks like there is another baby in that room. They need to give him his own space so that they don't have to worry about a baby being kept awake.

Now, while it's all fine and dandy for consenting adults to do whatever as long as they're all excited about it, I kept waiting for Shill to bring up the point that having a fantasy about something, especially something sexual, does not necessarily mean that you want to act it out. Lots of women have rape fantasies - they don't want to be raped in real life. Lots of people of have fantasies about orgies and gangbangs, but they don't want to really take part of them. Lots of people fantasize about the milkman or the clerk at the grocery store, but they never actually want to fulfill them. Crap on a cracker, couldn't Shill at least make that one point?!

From what I gleaned during the Prime Time Previews today, smearing your poo on the wall is one of them. Who knew? Could have done without the multiple shots of said besmirched wall, though. But will I be watching? Oh, yeah. I'll give Phil this, his teaser department can snag you quicker than an Eagle Claw fish hook.

For those of you who are sports fans (or even if you're not): Terry Bradshaw and Howie Long were guests on The Best Damn Sports Show, Period last week. While going over TB's endorsement deals, Howie opined that Bradshaw doing Super Cuts commercials was on a par with Dr. Phil telling people how to lose weight. If I didn't love Howie already, that would have done it.

SiameseCat Lady--hilarious commentary!

Deep Red--so right.

I cannot stand to watch Dr. Shill anymore--even to find somthing to snark about here. I just read what y'all write and laugh. BTW, Thanks for the laughs!

I liked him on Oprah, but I liked BobGreene and Iyanla more. Last week I gave away all my Dr.Shill books too. What a load of crap out of my bookcases!
HE DOESN'T HELP! Or maybe I shoulda read them. Nahhhh.

The FUFs are still Fuffed Up--and more so bec of their exposure on Dr. Shill.
And now, primetime? Shut up, Dr. Shill.

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I missed the beginning of the prime time special. Can anyone fill me in on why that father hadn't spoken to his son for a year. In the wrap up at the end it showed that the father had apologized, but it didn't allude to what had happened.

1. No friends = Loner
2. Hurting animals, insects and sister = No empathy
3. Head banging tantrums = Power and control
4. Poo Smearing = Power and control
5. Started fire in kitchen = No fear of consequences
6. Just to watch it bleed = Finding joy by inflecting pain
7. Denial of poo smearing = Not accepting responsibility for his actions
8. Torture = Suppressed anger
9. Denial of poo smearing = Tells lies
10. Tantrums = Seeking negative attention

Ok, I’m hard pressed to name more. This describes my nephew. I wonder what it would take to have Dr Phill make a house call to their house?



The father was trying to make the son do chores (take out trash), the mother didn't allow it. This was the father's way of giving up and punishing the mother.

Actually, there are more than 14. See: List of common childhood traits of serial killers and here is the Serial Killer Website

I don't know where Dr. Phil is getting his "14 characteristics" list from, and as usual doesn't cite to his sources. But, for a long time, Ann Rule's list of 14 characteristics was supposed to be the end all be all treatise on serial killers. But, she has been severely criticized for generalizing too much from her study of Ted Bundy. Ted Bundy had the 14 characteristics, but no other serial killer of note does. The list in my first link is more informative because it discusses how likely a serial killer will have that trait, and not all serial killers have all the traits.

Also, does Dr. P make the important point that just because a child has certain traits (like bedwetting, setting fires, cruelty to animals), this doesn't mean that he is destined to grow up to be a serial killer, just that most serial killers have these traits. In other words, you can predict that serial killers will have these childhood traits NOT that children who have these traits will be serial killers. I think that P (as usual) just glossed over and over simplified this.

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I really wasn't sure if I should post about this special here or over in the infomercial forum. What's next, a cardboard cutout of DP saying, "Buy my book!" over and over again? (™ The Critic)

So DP has a disclaimer on his show that all advice is for entertainment purposes only and yet he is dispensing his homespun wisdom to a family with an obviously disturbed child. Yeah, good job there, Country Boy. I think that child needs more help than LordGodKingDr.Phil.

Forget the kid, I thought PossibleSerialKiller's father looked a lot like Jeffery Dahmer.

Shoot me now, but I thought Brian Austen Green was adorable with his kid. "I'll call Halle Barry and tell her I went potty!"

The Prime Time Special really highlighted the things I still enjoy about Dr. Phil, and the things I have come to loathe. I think he's great with people who need a swift kick in the pants, but he needs to step back from the serious, long term psychological problems - like the "serial-killer" kid. BTW, if that kid was a loner before this show aired, Dr. Phil didn't do him any favours. I bet at least half the kids in his class saw the show. Being labelled a poop-smearing firestarter for the rest of his life might well turn him into a serial killer!

I did love Dr. Phil's take on the mom who can't stop buying toys for her 4-year-old, and the mom of the boy who watches tv all day long. When buying mom said, "It's just too hard to say no to her!" and Dr. Phil replied, "Who said this job was easy?" I wanted to stand up and cheer. That's the Dr. Phil I miss - good common sense, and breaking down a problem into workable tasks. Get rid of the damn toys, let your daughter pitch a fit, and teach her to appreciate the things she has by putting the toys in "prison" if she misbehaves.

I also loved the segment with the tv mom. She visibly blanched when Dr. Phil told her to get rid of the televisions - hee!

The messed-up family at the beginning and end of the show were just TOO messed up for my liking. They need intensive family counselling, not a tv doctor. What a freak show.

Phil, please stick to the lighter topics instead of trying to save the world!

I was wondering whether Shill's advice would backfire on the other kids. Shill thinks Poo Boy needs to be showered with attention when he does something good. OK. What about the other kids? Shouldn't he have told them to give all the kids positive attention and not just the sicko? It seems like just another example of Shill's "You screwed up! Here's a prize!" mentality.

RE; The "serial killer child". First, They showed all this bad beahvior and the woman crying but it seems like they spent no time really telling her and her husband how to deal. The only real advice I heard was "take everything out of his bedroom". It was disturbing but more disturbing that there was no satisfaction in Phil's answers. I would have rather he spent the time on this topic then force feeding us celebs and their parenting takes. Who really cares what these parents think- just because they are famous...are the experts on parenting?

Sorry Phil- you lose.

Re: Prime-time Special

"Find out what you could be doing RIGHT NOW that is scarring your child for LIFE." Such blatant scare tactics to get us to buy your ridiculous book -- surely it can't be working?