Bodog Beat

Again, Dr. Phil has been caught trying to cash in on a media story. (Courtesy Peteski Productions)

Dr. Phil has screwed the pooch again. After the Britney Spears fiasco, you think Phil would stay away from the exploitation of young girls who have fucked up royally. Nay. The opportunistic TV doctor tried it again this weekend.

Apparently, Phil's staff members bailed out the alleged ringleader in that MySpace teen beating video, with the agreement that she would give Phil the exclusive interview.

Seventeen-year-old Mercades Nichols was sprung from jail and a Dr. Phil rep was there warding off other reporters claiming to have "exclusivity." TMZ recently uncovered the fact that the so-called Dr. Phil "producer" was actually a production assistant. You know, that guy who runs out to Cinnabon for everyone. Anyhoo, TMZ has the video of this guy telling reporters to step off because this was Phil's story.

A spokesperson for Dr. Phil's show has told the media that paying for Nichols $30K bail was a mistake, stating that "certain staff members went beyond show guidelines."

All eight teens involved in the beating face kidnapping and battery charges. Meanwhile, the teen who was beaten, Victoria Lindsay, has lawyered up with none other than Gloria Allred. Could the plot thicken anymore?