Dr. Phil has often said that his guests are “teaching tools” (aka guinea pigs) for the viewing public This week, three fighting couples enter the Dr. Phil House, a virtual Habitrail, to teach us what I learn from most of his episodes–that I am way better off than those guests! The most notable difference between these couples and past feuding family members is that these three women are as aggressive (if not more) than their husbands and are able to stand up to Dr. Phil without looking too stupid. Aside from the “teaching tool” motive, is the linchpin of Phil’s calling in this world: To Save the Children. I side with him on that issue and it is one of the reasons my TiVo is still set to The Dr. Phil Show.
Senator and soon to be Secretary of State Hilary Clinton could probably feel her ears (and cankles) burning when Mr. Weston, a defendant on Judge Judy, gave his exit interview yesterday. Judge Judy had dismissed Mr. Weston’s case of false arrest for assault with a deadly weapon when his neighbors claimed he had allegedly tried to run over his son with his car after being challenged to a fight.
Did he have anything to say to his neighbors?
Ready to Raise Your Child
“IT TAKES A VILLAGE TO RAISE A CHILD, AND THEY ARE NOT VILLAGE PEOPLE“
Caroline Kennedy looking lovely at a New York Public Library fundraiser luncheon with Jeffrey Rosen and Stephen Schwarzman
being photographed eating in public. According to Limbaugh, it’s a “rookie mistake” to be photographed eating, let alone in public. He said no one wants to look at a picture of someone with their mouth full of food; however, because Caroline Kennedy is so thin, he was apparently happy to learn that she was actually eating in the first place. Limbaugh looked to the Pope as a role model in this public relations arena; Pope Benedict refused a dinner invitation to the White House because he doesn’t eat in public.
El Rushbo then moved on to reveal Burger King‘s latest product: Beef Scented Cologne. Apparently market research revealed that people enjoyed the smell of the inside of a Burger King restaurant, and wanted to carry the scent with them between meals. (Be be on the lookout for these scent wearers
The effects of Eau de Burger King
running down the street from a pack of dogs)! Limbaugh said that Burger King’s customers “smell bad enough” anyway, so it isn’t going to make a difference. I think Limbaugh should help out the economy by hiring anther joke writer; El Rusbo’s next bit was offering his own line of bath and beauty products for purchase on-line through the EIB Network: Trans Fat Soap-on-a-Rope. No Thanks.
Inspired by a viewer’s email last week, The Soup‘s Joel McHale introduced a new and ever more bizarre segment called “Thongate“, a clip from All My Childrenwhere actor, Cameron Mathison, turns around and reveals the top a black thong before making a dramatic exit from a room.
Just when I think no one watches this stuff but me, this week The Soup revealed that the mainstream maidens ofThe View sanctioned a few seconds of their precious airtime to Thongate. However, The View one-upped The Soup with a “surprised” entrance by Mathison who walked onstage, and stopping next to Barbara Walters, turned around, pointed to his backside exclaiming, “This is how it was–here we go: T-shirt! T-shirt! It was a T-shirt caught in the pants! T-shirt!”
McHale and his co-stars, Mankini and the Spaghetti Eating Cat, didn’t buy it. “You are a lying freak, Mathison!” said Mankini. Accordingly, McHale said a viewer survey showed that 94% agreed.
The Soup's Spaghetti Cat
Check Out My Thong
Decide for yourself: Click here for video clip and story.
Sloppy editing and talent improvisation continue to provide material for The Soup. Another Soup segment, Is Al Roker Talking About Semen? featured The Today Show‘s Al Roker exclaiming, “Live on Five: Hold the Mayo!” after Ann “Good morning- Good morning” Curry was cold and had just asked Roker and Lauer to hug her, thus making an “Ann Sandwhich.”
Ann Curry chillin'
Producers need to encourage their talent to stick to the script, less they become future fodder for E!‘s and VH1‘s popular clip shows.
Oprah made an entrance in Grant Park on election night
On MSNBC, or as Rush Limbaugh calls it “PMS-NBC,” the correspondent announced, “We hear that Oprah has officially arrived, so that gives us an indication…”
News Anchor: “It’s been confirmed–Oprah has arrived. Whether or not she’s out mingling with the crowd is up for debate…”
Hopefully. She was quoted saying, “I gave my heart and soul out there. Nastia deserved the gold.” But there was sadness in her eyes; maybe not for winning silver, but probably because the All Around Finals are over. Athletic rivals couldn’t ask for a better competition; both were healthy and performed near flawless routines. But leading up to the Olympics, Shawn Johnson was the headliner on the women’s team. She was to be the next Mary Lou Retton. It’s evident the media still wants Shawn in the spotlight because the pair has been called “The Golden Girls.” Well the fact is that there is only one gold medalist, Nastia. I can’t picture both Johnson and Liukin together on the Wheaties box. Honestly, if Johnson won the gold, I really don’t think they would be calling the pair “The Golden Girls” because Johnson had such a good story, and it’s the story that connects the athlete to the audience. Johnson won the last two national and world titles; she is 16; Beijing is her first Olympics; she is from Iowa; she trains only 4 hours a day and attends public school; her coach was born in Beijing and his gym was damaged in the flood. Then there is the legacy angle: Although Carly Patterson was the last American to win the All Around gold medal in 2004, Johnson has been touted as “the next Mary Lou Retton.” Why? Well both Johnson and Retton perform “explosive” gymnastics and both have that All American Smile, and as a bonus, both Shawn and Mary Lou’s smiles are genuine.
Beautiful Nastia
But Nastia is different: she is not cute, she is beautiful and has beautiful long limbs. Her artistic gymnastics style will not be compared to Mary Lou’s and this is a good thing in my opinion. Mary Lou said in her Today Show interview that Nastia came in as former World Champion and Mary Lou was “an underdog.” (Meow). What Nastia brings the the post Olympic story is an expanded definition of “All American.” Her parents are former Soviet gymnasts who came to America and opened a gym. More importantly, Nastia’s win puts more distance in the Karolyi dynasty. By not being the next Mary Lou, Nastia will in no way be associated with “Bela’s Girls.” I think it is time that Nastia’s father get some credit. It was wonderful to see the individual coaches encourage all the girls on the American team. They seemed so comfortable with each other. They looked like a real team! Marta’s role was that of manager, not coach.
Nastia and Shawn are both good role models, and hopefully they will become better role models as a pair. With a rivalry, only one person can win. From watching Shawn and Nastia I’ve learned that yes, one person will win, but both can help each other do their best. Although Shawn Johnson won the silver medal, she couldn’t ask for a more perfect Olympic experience.
Saturday morning I watched a segment of the Today Show when Lestor Holt interviewed (via satellite) two campaign face-people who said each camp is putting on a united front against the common enemy, John McCain. Holt’s bottom line was that these two senators have been campaigning against each other for months now, so has either one altered his or her platform? Has Hillary Clinton publicly conceded yet? From the stage in New Hampshire, Senators Obama and Clinton looked like equals on the Democratic Presidential ticket, and honestly I couldn’t tell who was running for president and who would be the running mate. I felt Hillary showed more confidence in herself and her party than with Senator Obama. It was strange because I got the vibe that Hillary felt that she could still win, or that Barack Obama could win only with her support. I guess I was hoping for a show of humility and honesty from Hillary, but from my perspective it was another exercise in the Clinton family’s self-importance in American History. I don’t think Hillary will be satisfied as Vice President, even if she would be the first woman Vice President. She wants a larger role on Capitol Hill, and if Barack Obama doesn’t realize this, he’s in for a rude awakening. I don’t think he’s that naive: offering to help Clinton pay down her campaign debt was a brilliant political move; it highlighted her enormous debt and made him look sympathetic. (I’m sure his gesture drove Hillary crazy) Senator Obama declared, “She Rocks!” in New Hampshire, but I don’t think he’d say that if their positions were reversed. There is so much at stake for the Democrats in the upcoming election and so much opportunity to make history. I will miss Hillary and Barack campaigning against each other. I only wish Jon McCain could have had the opportunity to verbally spar with a strong Republican opponent.
PJ
The following video illustrates why I question if the new “Unite for Change” rhetoric is genuine.
Chelsea Handler featured a story about Heidi and Spencer on her round-table last night. Heidi and Spencer, who are a couple from an almost-reality TV show The Hills, and are also a couple in “real life” as well should feel honored that they are a topic of discussion on Chelsea Lately. Why are they under the impression they are similar to Katie and Tom or Posh and Beck? They aren’t actors or singers (although Heidi has tried), or sports legends. They are feeding the media with these lame little anecdotes about themselves and we are supposed to be interested. last night I learned that they bought guns. Now if they were a high powered paparazzi-chased couple, this could be interesting to some people who have a lot of time on their hands, or perhaps if they were kind of nutty (like Brittany) this might be scary. But as Chelsea said, these two are “officially idiots.” I hope Chelsea stops giving them commentary because I never want to become bored with Chelsea’s material. So go away, “Spidey,” I want forget about you.
Fergie, the lead singer form The Black Eyed Peas, sang her version of Heart’s rock anthem “Barracuda” on the Today Show. Fergie is so hip, Meredith Vierira had to read her intro off an index card. Fergie performed three songs at Rockefeller Center on May 20th, but “Barracuda” should have been performed at 2:00 a.m. at Times Square, or Fergie should have substituted her stripper-pole choreography for a more appropriate routine. Kids remember this song from Shrek the Third, when it was a call to arms for Princess Fionna. The under twelve members in the front row of the Today Show stage looked dumbfounded when faced with the singer, live.
Fergie on Today Show: ‘Barracuda’ Performance 5/20/08
As an artist, Fergie had every right to interpret the song as she saw fit, but I think she could have shown a little more class. Madonna often had similar criticism in the 1980’s and early ’90’s, but she always responded that she was attempting to be “ironic” and “provocative.” Will kids stop listening to Fergie? I doubt it, but hopefully they won’t make her too-tight leather pants the latest fad, either.
Once I heard that child molester, Grandpa Al, was back on Dr. Phil to state his case, I was ready for Dr. Phil to lay on the “get real” rhetoric. In fact, I was looking forward to having Al put in his place. However, the Dr. Phil Show made a conscious decision to treat this family with dignity and respect. Unlike “The Sister In Law From Hell” family, Dr. P did not use them as “teaching tools.” In spite of the polygraph results from the last show, Dr. Phil only recommended pastoral counseling for Al, and separate counseling for Al’s wife. Ditto for Sherry-Lynn and her husband. What disturbed me was that Dr. Phil did not recommend (at least publicly) that Grandpa Al stay away from his 12 year old grandson, Parker. What about protecting the children? Dr. Phil always says he’s on the side of the children. If their situation takes a turn for the worse, CPS will be very interested in this episode.
Posted by pjbottoms 
Senator and soon to be Secretary of State 
PJ Bottoms Blog 
What makes Heidi and Spencer newsworthy? {Chelsea Lately}
June 10, 2008Pj
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