Ryan Seacrest by Jean Baptiste Lacroix/WireImage.com
How does the song go? "If I Were a Rich Dog... "? The late Leona Helmsley's dog, Trouble, earns $12 million per year and makes Parade magazine's annual "What People Earn" survey. But trouble loves company: The pooch is joined by Ryan Seacrest at the $12 mil mark.But that's kibbles & bits when compared to other celebs, like Miley Cyrus ($18.2 million), 50 Cent ($33 million), Dr. Phil ($90 million) and Oprah ($260 million).The magazine also surveyed regular folks (that is, folks who don't turn up on tabloid covers) and found they make roughly 1/100th of the top-paid celebs.So who's worth it: Is Miley worth $18.2 million? Is Dr. Phil a bargain at $90 mil? — J.R. Whalen
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Dr. Phil McGraw by Michael Caulfield/ WireImage.com
Dr. Phil McGraw is facing not just a firestorm of public criticism, but also shrinking popularity since visiting Britney Spears at the hospital Saturday, ostensibly against her wishes. The New York Daily News reports that, despite canceling his proposed Britney "intervention" show, the famed doc is having a hard time booking guests in the wake of his ill-informed visit.The doctor's show is working on its 1,000th episode (seriously!), which was initially envisioned as a celeb-laden tribute to him. One source, however, said that "nobody wants to go near it" now. As for those who have booked, some suggest that they've done so in order to stay on the good side of Oprah Winfrey, whose company produces The Dr. Phil Show. Is it time for Dr. Phil to "get real"? — Anna DimondRelated:• Dr. Phil to Britney: "Turn to the People that Love You"• Dr. Phil Scraps Spears Show, Citing "Intense" Situation• Britney Gets Her Kicks from Champagne But Not from Dr. Phil
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I'd like to think that Dr. Phil has Britney's best interests at heart, but dag, if that were the case, wouldn't he try to help her privately rather than publicly? In a message on ETOnline.com, the doc tells Spears, "You can make this OK. Your family loves you. You may not always agree with what they say, with what they do, but they've loved you when you weren't lovable. Turn to the people that love you and listen."As for the scolding he has received from the public for appearing to prey on Spears, McGraw tells ET, "Somebody needs to step up and get this young woman into some quality care, and I do not apologize one whit... for trying to make that happen." One last Brit bit: As if things aren't bad enough for the trouble magnet, Us.com reports that while she was out for a drive Monday, she got a flat. Cops let her abandon her car but then towed it as she and her assistant got a ride home from one of the photogs who is constantly on her tail. (And a paparazzo "on her tail" has taken o...
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Dr. Phil abruptly brought his bandwagon ride to an end on Monday, announcing that the Britney Spears-centric episode of his talk show that he planned to tape today and air Tuesday has been scrapped. "We had planned to tape a Dr. Phil Now show... focusing not on the tabloid side of Britney’s latest problems, but instead on the very serious issues surrounding this case," the TV personality explains on his website. "Because the Spears situation is too intense at this time, and out of consideration to the family, I have made the decision not to move forward with the taping at this particular time." Assorted media outlets are reporting that Dr. Phil is more likely bowing to public pressure and the condemnation he's been hit with for seemingly preying on Spears. The wavering participation of Brit's folks, Lynne and Jamie, also may have played a role in the special's dissipation. "Britney and her family are in our prayers," he says in his statement, "and we ask that they be in yours....
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Dr. Phil to the RescueAfter what clearly was a nervous breakdown, officially losing custody of her boys, and her becoming even more of a spectacle around the world, do you really think Brit was up for a visit from Oprah's favorite shrink? Probably not so much. But as the daytime host explained this morning on The Early Show, he wasn't trying to get in on the media storm, he instead went to see Britney at the hospital "at the request of her family." But word on the street now is that she wasn't feelin' the whole psych-session with the doc, and their "meeting" was much briefer than he had led everyone to believe. Watch it now! | More online videos For more great videos, check out our Online Video Guide now!
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Dr. Phil by Jamie McCarthy/WireImage.com, Britney Spears by Michael Caulfield/ WireImage.com
Britney Spears on Sunday marked what would have been the conclusion of her 72-hour hospital lockdown — that is, had she not checked out early Saturday — by swigging bubbly and snuggling with paparazzo pal Adnan Ghalib, People reports. What, is Dr. Phil not a good drinking buddy? Actually, reports of how the TV shrink counseled Britney at Cedars-Sinai and then "escorted" her from the hospital have since been scrutinized, with some accounts saying the doc was not welcome at all by Spears, who allegedly threw a fit upon his intrusion into her space. As for talk that Spears herself will visit Dr. Phil for an episode taping today and airing Tuesday, TMZ hears "she absolutely will not appear" — though mom and dad Lynne and Jamie are set to speak out about their daughter's downward spiral.In response to the attacks on his seemingly unsolicited involvement, Dr. Phil told Monday's The Early Show that he showed up at Cedars "at the request of her family," including both parents...
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Having escorted Britney Spears out of Cedars-Sinai on Saturday morning via an underground tunnel, Dr. Phil has weighed in on the broken-down pop star. "My meeting with Britney and some of her family members this morning in her room at Cedars leaves me convinced more than ever that she is in dire need of both medical and psychological intervention," Dr. Phil tells ET Online. "She was released moments before my arrival and was packing when I entered the room. We visited for about an hour before I walked with her to her car. I am very concerned for her." According to TMZ, an episode of Dr. Phil exploring Britney's situation is being taped Monday for Wednesday broadcast, perhaps featuring a visit from Spears herself.As for how Britney got released from the "72-hour lockdown" she entered late Thursday, Cedars-Sinai says they made the decision on their own — without consulting either legal team in the custody clash — which they are at liberty to do if at any point during a lockd...
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It’s that time of year again: when the POTUS, First Lady and other D.C. bigwigs attend the annual holiday Christmas in Washington concert. With hosts Dr. Phil and wifey Robin (who even gives you TV Guide users a shout-out), the concert is a musical celebration benefiting the National Children’s Medical Center. So who’s on the roster? Let’s see… there’s Ne-Yo, Alan Jackson, Andrea Bocelli and Katharine McPhee (talk about a wide assortment). Even High School Musical celeb Vanessa Hudgens will be doing a little number. Get a peek of her belting out the classic Christmas tune “Angels We Have Heard On High.” Watch it now! | More online videosThe special airs tonight at 10 pm on TNT.
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Bob Barker by Gregg DeGuire/WireImage.com
What becomes a living legend most? Modesty, grace and good humor. Such were the virtues on display throughout Bob Barker’s official last day (and night)on Friday as a revered, iconic game-show host.It started with his last-ever day hosting CBS’ The Price Is Right after 35 years, capping a 50-year career in broadcasting. (I remember growing up watching him on the slapstick game show Truth or Consequences before he landed the Price gig.) Despite the confetti, the standing ovations, and the prime-time replay just before the Daytime Emmys telecast (where he also cleaned up), it was mostly just another hour of Price Is Right merriment, albeit with the audience frenzy a bit more amped up given the nature of the day — and the fact that many audience members had camped out for days to be there (including the worshipful Patrick, who “came on down” as the show began but didn’t make it up on stage until the very last game).Bob Barker, ever the pro, wasted no time...
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What lurks in The Office of Steve Carell's boss man?
There is no episode of The Office airing this week. NBC is putting an episode of Teachers in our place tonight. I shared a changing room with three of the actresses from Teachers at a press event earlier this year. They were sweethearts, so I do hope their show does well.
With no Office episode airing tonight, I thought this might be a good week for some more frequently asked questions. These are all from your e-mails. Here we go!
I was wondering: Will you guys ever tape in front of a live studio audience? — Misty, Atlant
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