Peter David on why Dr Phil is scum, and why Craig Ferguson doesn't make Britney Spears jokes

All too true. [Link]

The big headline in the "Daily News" is that Phil "Quick Draw" McGraw was summoned by Britney Spears' parents for help, and that he escorted their tormented daughter from the hospital where she was quite rightly dispatched. Frankly I think the intended three days couldn't have hurt, but she departed with McGraw after a day. As I read the article, I thought, "Okay, well...maybe I was too hard on the guy. He's reaching out to a high-profile mentally collapsing patient and perhaps--"

Then I got to the part where he's planning filming a TV special about her which will doubtless land him huge ratings if he can get her to cooperate.

What a slimeball. What a total scuzz. What an opportunistic creeping bag of pustulence is Doctor Phil McGraw. Craig Ferguson memorably gave a monologue as to why he had no intention of making Britney Spears jokes that was by turns honest, painful and hilarious, and in the end he absolutely nailed it: This is a woman having a public mental breakdown and she needs genuine help. Ferguson, a recovering alcoholic, understood that. McGraw understands ratings and keeping his own name out there.

Britney's troubles aren't funny. They are just sad.

Here's the Craig Ferguson monologue on why he won't make Britney jokes. [Link]



Britney's parents are real pieces of work. [Link]

According to another source on the nursing staff at Cedars-Sinai, Spears was overheard angrily telling a friend ''this is the final straw'' -- furious her parents had contacted TV counselor Dr. Phil McGraw to step in and attempt to help Britney deal with her various demons. Spears was not alerted about Dr. Phil, and his appearance in her hospital room came as a complete shock to her.

The fact Britney's parents Jamie and Lynne Spears are expected to appear on a special ''Dr. Phil'' show (reportedly airing Tuesday) supposedly enraged her even further.

'''I will never speak to them again!' Britney reportedly screamed into her cell phone after McGraw met with her Saturday for about 15 minutes.

I hope she gets the help she needs.