FWIW, those staffers were reprimanded and plans for that show have been pulled, per msnbc.com.  Not a Dr. Phil fan, either, but they do admit that this is not standard procedure and taken the appropriate actions.

Thanks for posting about this.  I seriously cannot believe this guy.  Yes the staffers may have been reprimanded, but the fish rots from the head.  I think its reasonable to presume that either: they had permission to begin with and this is a PR move after the fact, OR, they did not have permission, but pressure from the show's star to make the shows more and more salacious drove them to it.

I hadn't watched Dr. Phil in years, but tuned in last year when I went on maternity leave. It has devolved into a really trashy show, just barely one step above Jerry Springer.  

A $250,000 car?  What a loser.  I imagine he's not too eager to give up that lifestyle, so we'll likely see him bailing out sociopaths again soon.

come on now jerry springer is way better than dr. phil. at least he is honest about what his show is and is about.