Posted Sep 2nd 2008 2:22PM by TMZ Staff
A string of bad luck -- including two deaths -- has the staff at the "Dr. Phil" show wondering if their set is cursed.
Sources close to the production tell TMZ in the last few months two employees of the show have passed away and two others suffered medical emergencies. We're told one staffer recently died of cancer, while a young intern who had strep throat was dead by the end of the week. Our sources also tell us the wife of an editor recently suffered a family tragedy, while a producer suffered a concussion and a broken arm while on the Paramount Studios set of the daytime talk show.
Our sources say Phil and other execs have been trying to retool the show for the new upcoming season and that has some staffers feeling the bad luck may be a sign they should leave well enough alone. We're told Phil held a staff meeting this past Friday where he addressed the recent sad turn of events and attempted to boost the crew's morale.
A rep for the "Dr. Phil" show was not immediately reached.
Filed under: Gossip/Rumors, TV, Dr. Phil
Posted Jul 25th 2008 12:48PM by TMZ Staff
Country wreck Mindy McCready's trip to Dr. Phil-approved rehab comes with an added bonus -- a spot on Dr. Phil's couch.
While there were conflicting reports as to whether McCready was in rehab for addictions or for psychiatric issues, a source close to Mindz tells us she is at a Texas center that specializes in both drug addiction and mental health issues. Two for one.
We're told Dr. Phil set the whole thing up and will pop in to see her in a week or so. McCready will spend a total of 30 days at the facility and her rehabilitation will culminate with the taping of an in-studio appearance on "The Dr. Phil Show." Our sources tell us Mindy will attempt to explain how she doesn't think she has a problem. She's tellin' the story.
Filed under: TV, Nurse!, Dr. Phil
Posted Apr 18th 2008 2:06PM by TMZ Staff
Since we made him talk about Dr. Phil, David Spade demanded we actually run his response, ASAP.
...otherwise, we probably wouldn't have.
Filed under: TV, Wacky & Weird, Dr. Phil
Posted Apr 14th 2008 2:23PM by TMZ Staff
Dr. Phil's peeps who posted bail for the Florida girl charged in the videotaped beating were not hiding their affiliation with the show when they posted bail.
Our sources say the production assistant (Mikey) who flaunted his "exclusive" with Mercades Nichols outside court, along with a female producer, went to the bail bondsman and made it clear they were representing the show. They posted $3,300 bail -- 10% of the total amount.
The show claims the producers exceeded their authority. We're guessing Mikey -- who makes around $800 a week -- didn't personally pay that kind of jack.
We've also learned the show did not post collateral for the entire $33,000 -- someone not connected with the show did that.
Filed under: Celebrity Justice, TV, Dr. Phil
Posted Apr 14th 2008 12:15PM by TMZ Staff
Holy media mouthpiece! A Florida teen who got her butt kicked on YouTube has tapped Gloria Allred to be her attorney.
Victoria Lindsay's dad tells Tampa Bay's 10 News that the fam will no longer be speaking to the media, because Gloria has told them all to zip it. Gloria telling someone to shut their mouths? Shocker.
The video shows Lindsay brutally beaten by several teen girls, while others allegedly stood outside the house as lookouts. As we reported earlier, the alleged ringleader, Mercades Nichols, was bailed out by the "Dr. Phil" Show.
Allred had no comment.
Filed under: Celebrity Justice, TV, Dr. Phil
Posted Apr 14th 2008 11:07AM by TMZ Staff
Dr. Phil was part of the brutal Florida beating case even before his famewhore PA butted in.
She can't speak now -- thanks to that darn "exclusivity" -- but check out Mary Nichols quoting the good doctor the morning before Phil's rogue production assistant bailed her granddaughter Mercades out of jail.
Filed under: Celebrity Justice, TV, Dr. Phil
Posted Apr 13th 2008 8:10PM by TMZ Staff
TMZ has learned Dr. Phil's legal document wielding, cash-carrying, tough guy was not a supervising producer on the show. He was not an assistant producer. He was not a producer. He was not even close to being a producer. He was a production assistant. Think intern with a paycheck.
Here's the way it all went down: The good Doc's executive staff sent a seasoned producer down to Florida, along with a P.A. to chase the story of 8 teens who allegedly beat a classmate on tape. We're told the folks back home were horrified when they saw Mr. Large-and-In-Charge putting the smackdown on local reporters after springing 17-year-old Mercades Nichols from the pokey. We're told execs on the show were pissed that the experienced producer allowed the P.A. to be in a position to embarrass the show in front of the cameras.
The bigger question -- who hatched the plan to pay the bail for the woman accused of kidnapping and videotaping the brutal beating? The show issued a statement saying certain staff members "went beyond their guidelines," but the buzz on the Paramount lot is that it would be impossible for the producer to pay the $3,300 for the bail and put up $33,000 in collateral without the full knowledge and approval of higher-ups on the show.
The plan could have been pulled off, but after the P.A. mouthed off publicly, Phil's battleship was sunk somewhere off the Florida coast.
We contacted Phil's people an hour ago, who responded by saying they "have no additional comment."
Filed under: Breaking News, Dr. Phil
Posted Apr 12th 2008 10:24PM by TMZ Staff
We have exclusivity -- WTF does that mean?!? Check out video of Dr. Phil's so-called "producer," shot by FOX in Tampa, as one of the teens charged with allegedly videotaping a brutal beating was released from jail.
While this guy claims "exclusivity," TMZ has learned that collateral for this chick's five figure bail was backed -- in full -- by something equal to that amount. We're told this is usually done in cash, a mortgage on a house, land or cars. So who put up that scratch? This dude?? We doubt it.
Dr. Phil's statement suggests some sort of rogue producer went down to Florida and went "beyond their guidelines." We're not buying it.
Here's how it works ...
Click here... it's not over yet
Filed under: Celebrity Justice, TV, Dr. Phil
Posted Mar 21st 2008 11:39AM by TMZ Staff
Dr. Phil McGraw stuffed his face at über-classy Beverly Hills restaurant The Grill yesterday -- telling photogs he "pigged out" inside.
Next time, try Sizzler. Triple the food for half the price!
Filed under: Paparazzi Video, Wacky & Weird, Dr. Phil
