TBO.com - TBO is Tampa Bay Online

Sleazy Tactic In Polk Is Latest Evidence Dr. Phil Needs To Bail Out Of Our TV Screens

ADVERTISEMENT

By WALT BELCHER

The Tampa Tribune

Published: April 15, 2008

Because "Dr." Phil McGraw comes off as a know-it-all blowhard, some of us wouldn't shed any tears if his latest publicity brouhaha brought about his downfall.

But we can't celebrate yet because a lot of hot air goes a long way.

The balding Texan is slicker than a 3-week-old banana peel on a linoleum floor. He already has distanced himself from a supposedly lowly field producer who posted bail (reportedly $33,000) this past weekend for 17-year-old Mercades Nichols.

Nichols is one of the eight Polk County teens arrested in the severe beating of a 16-year-old classmate, Victoria Lindsay. The incident was recorded on video because the teenagers planned to post the footage on MySpace and YouTube in retaliation for Lindsay trash-talking about them online, according to the Polk County Sheriff's Office.

Now a video of McGraw's producer is on the Internet. He is seen escorting Nichols from jail and telling a gaggle of reporters to bug off because Nichols' mother has signed an exclusivity agreement with the show.

This would be called "checkbook journalism" except that you can't dignify McGraw by putting his ilk in the same category as journalists.

It just comes off as another sleazy attempt to profit from someone's misfortune.

This year, McGraw had to squirm his way out of what appeared to be an embarrassing attempt to use a hospital visit to troubled pop star Britney Spears to further his career.

This past weekend, McGraw's publicity staff went into damage-control mode. A statement was issued saying "certain staff members went beyond our guidelines," suggesting that the producer acted on his own.

You wonder whether this producer was going to put the bond deposit on his expense account.

HERE'S THE "CATCH": Of all the reality shows, "Deadliest Catch" is the only one that lives up to its name. Some of the participants have actually died.

This seafaring series returns to Discovery for a fourth season at 9 tonight. Once again, the race is on to harvest Alaskan crabs from the brutal Bering Sea. The action follows the crews on a handful of ships.

It's back-breaking, dangerous work for the rugged souls who do it. When "Deadliest Catch" first started, it quickly became a cult hit. Some of the word-of-mouth ("you've got to see this") novelty has worn off, but about 4 million viewers are still hooked.

SECRETS HIDDEN: We'll never know whether Marla Maples could join the circus. The former model and ex-wife of Donald Trump was to have demonstrated her acrobatic skills tonight on "Secret Talents of the Stars," but CBS canceled the show after one episode after it bombed in the ratings last week.

Tonight, CBS offers a new episode of "NCIS" at 8, followed by "Big Brother" at 9 and "48 Hours Mystery" at 10. On "NCIS," Abby (Pauley Perrette) helps a German shepherd suspected of murder.

On April 29, "Shark" (the James Woods series) returns to CBS on Tuesdays at 10 p.m.

"Secret Talents of the Stars" is the 10th series to be canceled after one showing. Can anyone name the other nine? E-mail me with your answers at wbelcher@tampatrib.com.

FUNNIEST CHARACTERS: Coming to CBS on May 9 is "TV's All-Time Funniest," a two-hour, clip-filled special based on a nationwide poll of viewers.

Nielsen Media Research asked TV fans to pick the funniest characters in eight categories: fathers, mothers, kids, relatives, neighbors, friends, bosses and co-workers.

TUNE IN TONIGHT

Escape to Dreamland, 9 p.m.,

WEDU, Channel 3

This is a history of the 225-mile Tamiami Trail, the scenic highway that runs from Tampa to Miami, cutting through the Everglades.

Elizabeth, 9 p.m.,

WMOR, Channel 32

This 1998 Oscar-nominated film features a stunning performance by Cate Blanchett as Queen Elizabeth I.

For more listings, go to TBO.com,

keyword: TV.

Loading Comments...

Email Print

ADVERTISEMENT