Dr. Phil Drives Me Nuts

Am I the only one who doesn’t trust that guy? I’m not a watcher of his show, but during the past few weeks while enjoying all of the benefits of InfectionsRUs, sometimes I was just too tired to change the channel. Besides, what good is a really good illness if you can’t enjoy really bad television?

There are plenty of adjectives to describe him – sanctimonious, arrogant, self-righteous, self-aggrandizing come to mind. Then there’s condescending, pretentious and obnoxious.

Don’t get me wrong – I completely support most of his messages – personal responsibility and accountability, say what you mean and mean what you say, etc. Yay! All really great concepts. But when a decidedly un-svelte Phil calls someone on their weight, the unspoken hypocrisy makes a very good message lose impact. There’s something do-as-I-say-and-not-as-I do about that, and who gets inspired that way? Not me.

But it’s not about the weight. When he’s talking about adultery I’m thinking, “I’ll bet he’s cheated.” When he’s blustering about honesty and integrity I’m guffawing (not a pretty sight, especially when whatever I’m drinking comes out my nose).

He talks a really good talk, but does he walk the walk? There’s just something missing that niggles at me every time I see or hear him. It’s a gut feeling that I couldn’t trust him as far as I could throw him. A lack of integrity. And it’s not about the increasingly exploitative bent his program has taken, either.

For me it’s hard to trust the message if I don’t trust the messenger. And although I’m not a huge fan of Oprah’s show (I admit I’d rather watch Judge Judy), I like her. And I think Oprah has lots of integrity. Her support and faith in a buffoon like Dr. Phil has me questioning her judgment.

And from what I hear, that’s something that could get me shot in 49 states. And the District of Columbia.

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