First, waive hello to Dr. Phil

At tapings, audience members are asked to sign forms saying they are not mentally ill and won't use the show to replace therapy. One critic says that makes the "doctor" a sham.
By Associated Press
Published March 19, 2004

LOS ANGELES - When Neal David Sutz walked through the Paramount studio gate, he was looking forward to seeing a psychologist he respected, talk show host Phil McGraw.

Sutz didn't know he was about to get caught in the awkward intersection of entertainment and counseling where "Dr. Phil" holds ground.

A mental health activist who has had treatment, Sutz hoped to attend a taping and connect with McGraw afterward to enlist his help in a public information campaign.

Instead, the Mesa, Ariz., paralegal student was stopped short by paperwork. He and other would-be audience members were asked to sign a waiver attesting they didn't suffer from mental illness and weren't under psychiatric care.

The waiver also said McGraw's statements shouldn't be considered therapy or a substitute for any form of therapy. Talking to a show representative, Sutz was told he could attend but couldn't talk to Dr. Phil or participate in the show, for Sutz's protection.

The disclaimer signals "that his advice is not real medical, psychological advice at all," Sutz said. "It is pure entertainment, and he should stop insinuating that it is anything but that, especially not real counseling."

MORE>>> http://www.stpetersburgtimes.com/2004/03/19/Artsandentertainment/First__waive_hello_to.shtml

He's a sham. I used to be fan last year but the guy is just so fake. His only purpose in life is to make money. It's sick!

He's a bad man. :spank:

ain't goin' to waste. :hi:

:-( :eyes:

Who would have thought that? :)

on the side of the Right Wingers would say the same sort of things about Rush Limbaugh, Sean Hannity and their myriad ilk. "that his advice is not real political, economic advice at all....It is pure entertainment, and he should stop insinuating that it is anything but that..."

Never cared much for Dr. Phil. I don't know what sort of individual would think his 'boot camp' beside manner was the cure to their ills.

is not primarily for entertainment purposes first. If it wasn't, it wouldn't have advertisers and sponsors.

Are there really people who try to get actual useful psychiatric help from television doctors? That'd be like trying to get legal advice from Court TV. You might be able to learn to cook from Food TV, but I doubt it.

It's TV, folks. The hard parts are left out. It's not life.