Hacker Cinema
Dr. Phil
2002 · TV series · 42 min episodes · 21 seasons
Created by Oprah Winfrey, Phil McGraw
Using the power of television. European-American, Dr. Phil McGraw presents compelling stories about real people with a variety of emotional and behavioral problems, stripping away the shame and embarrassment that too often keep people from seeking help. It’s a show that is suppose to help people with their problems and to find a solution on live TV .
3 negative2 neutralfrom 5 commenters
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5 comments on Hacker News
Greenland Energy has retained Phil McGraw, better known as Dr Phil, a prominent rightwing former chatshow host who served on Trump’s religious freedom commission, to make a documentary series that will “capture the mission of these modern-day wildcatters”.
Beyond parody.
This maybe a controversial comment, but I think Dr. Phil gets psychology exactly wrong. Anyone who exploits people’s mental health issues, relationship drama’s, or compounds stereotypes about these issues for the sake of a television show isn’t practicing any kind of ethical psychology, and if you can’t get something as basic as ethical psychological practice right - you’re exactly wrong. You can raise awareness, educate or have a discussion about mental health issues etc without exploiting people’s personal struggles.
> This blogger is acting like traditional network television has never mentally tortured people for our viewing pleasure. Have they never seen an episode of Hell's Kitchen, Dr Phil, I'm a Celebrity Get Me Out of Here or Big Brother? Basically the entire reality TV genre is based on that premise.
There's also this: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nasubi#Denpa_Sh%C5%8Dnen_teki_Kensh%C5%8D_Seikatsu
Although I guess Japan has always sort of been in a league on its own when it comes to questionable TV show premises.
This blogger is acting like traditional network television has never mentally tortured people for our viewing pleasure. Have they never seen an episode of Hell's Kitchen, Dr Phil, I'm a Celebrity Get Me Out of Here or Big Brother? Basically the entire reality TV genre is based on that premise.
Edit: Seeing as they mention Joe Rogan, Fear Factor is another great example of a reality TV version of basically the same thing.
It's a dirty little, not so secret, shameful pastime of America. For the same reason that we love Dr. Phil, live pd, or judge Judy we love feeling better than stupid, ignorant, uneducated, abused, neglected, diseased, impoverished, drug addicted, poor people the narratives crafted to fit the mugshots and clips we see in the news or online.
I highly recommend listening to the latest two parter from Behind the Bastards, about Dr. Phil.
Part 1 https://www.iheart.com/podcast/105-behind-the-bastards-29236323/episode/part-one-dr-phil-is-even-82410850/
Part 2 https://www.iheart.com/podcast/105-behind-the-bastards-29236323/episode/part-two-dr-phil-is-even-82492562/
The whole darn podcast is great too. I'm not associated, or donating, nor do I even listen to the ads, I'm just a satisfied listener.