Nicholas Brendon Arrested Yet Again...

[FaithsFollower]

Apparently his episode will air 9/16:

http://community.drphil.com/boards/?EntryID=40690

 

[Ethan Reigns]

Well.. the people aren't forced. The agree to go on the show. The know what the show is about.

The point is, if he was acting like a true therapist, he would know enough to not put people on the air.

 

[GwenRaiden]

The point is, if he was acting like a true therapist, he would know enough to not put people on the air.

Mr. Pole: but I think everyone that goes there knows he's not really a true therapist.

Dr. Phil doesn't have a licence to practice psychology anymore, no. He has stated that he is a retired psychologist and that his show is an advice show for entertainment, thus no licence is needed. I'm perfectly sure his celebrity guests are (sometimes) fully aware of that too.

Although, my feeling is that some of his guests may be going through such an ordeal and at their lowest, with a team of representatives not looking out for their best interests, that they may not realise until later that their mental health has been capitalised on in the name of entertainment and that they're not really seeing a true doctor or getting any real help. That is what I have a problem with. Maybe Brendon got genuine advice from someone who cared later rather than sooner, resulting in his departure.

 

[nightshade]

So…that aired. It was extremely sad that the producers decided to sensationalize and exaggerate the already-disappointing events of the past year, especially the events of the week leading up to taping. A few things I need to clarify, for the sake of my family and loved ones.


Dr. Phil had some hard words for my mother, who I love dearly and who I have caused more heartache than I care to remember.
When I was molested as a child, it was 1982. Therapy wasn’t talked about and accepted the way it is today. Going to therapy in 1982 would be similar to getting a divorce in 1950. It wasn’t done, and if it was, it wasn’t supported by those around you. There certainly were not the kind of resources that fortunately exist for abused children today. My mother, a victim of child abuse herself, was convinced by others that the best thing for me was to just put it behind us and move forward. My mother regrets this deeply, and it hurt me that Dr. Phil took her to task for not forcing me into treatment at the time.
My mother has always done the best she can for her children, and if any of you have parents that have never made a wrong turn, bravo. If you know a child in danger, treatment is the answer, even if they don’t want it.



The night before the show taped, I got drunk. Drunk to the point I still smelled of it the following morning.
I was very stressed about doing the show, and was very upset that an attempt was made to blindside me by bringing on my former booking agent Andrea Albin, a manipulative, unprofessional person several former clients are pursuing legal action against and who frankly I never wanted to see or hear from again. The worst combination I can imagine is an addict (no sense denying it, I am) and a self-serving enabler.
Ours was a mutually destructive relationship and we are better off without each other. While it didn’t make it to air, I’m glad that at least the studio audience was able to see a small portion of her lies exposed by Dr. Phil. I’ve done several conventions since walking away and have had no problems with fans or the law since. Hoping to continue the trend. It’s been nice.

I always have and always will take full responsibility for my actions. I will also defend my loved ones. I am grateful for the support of my family, girlfriend and my wonderful fans. By no means am I a perfect person, but I am also not the monster as portrayed by this show.

I am actively participating in treatment and remaining positive in the light of negativity. It will remain my goal to one day obtain the clarity and clearness of spirit that Dr. Phil demonstrates daily.
I commend those living with depression, alcoholism, the kicker that is dual diagnosis and are brave enough to speak out and ask for help. You guys are my heroes.

-Nicky

From his Facebook

Did anyone watch the show?

 

[Silverspike]

No I didn't, but it does make you think why do this show at all. Nick couldn't have been so naive that he thought it would do anything more then make matters worse.

 

[Buffy Summers]

I DVRd it lol I'm ashamed to say. Didn't watch it yet though.

 

[Skanky Vamp]

I'm ashamed to say.

Can't be too ashamed to say it as you said it. You must watch it.

 

[DawnNotSummers]

I watched it on Youtube last night. Let's get the petty complaint out of the way first--Phil called Buffy a "teenybopper" show! 😡 To quote a friend of mine... "I was like teeny bopper, Phil I wish Buffy would teeny bop your ass!"

I wasn't very impressed but came away with the impression that this was a big disaster from the word go. Phil didn't seem prepared at all for the interview, completely leaving the ball in Nick's court, and Nick had obviously reconsidered what he was doing because from the moment he got on the stage he was on the defensive. The impression I got was that he had hoped the publicity might help but once he was up there, he realized it was a bad idea. He didn't want to put his life out there "to be laughed at" as he put it, and while he did know what he was getting into I think it's one of those things where it didn't really hit him until he was up there. He didn't really storm off the stage though, he just left. He got a little angry at the end when he said, "Good for you, Dr. Phil!" because Phil was reading reports of what had happened the night before with the hotel.

They tried to get him to come back, but he refused, stating that he'd sign autographs for and talk to the fans but he didn't want to talk to Dr. Phil. Eventually he spoke to the producers and this is part of what he had to say.

"I just felt like it was going to be a situation that I was not comfortable with, you know. Dr. Phil, the way he talks to you--he talks at you. And his eyes are a little dead and he just doesn't care. I understand hes making a TV show, you know, and he does a lot of good work for a lot of people, just not for me."

Nicky's mom broke my heart and this was the portion of the show that really ticked me off. Right out of the gate, she admits that she didn't pursue therapy for Nicky after his molestation and that she knows now that was a mistake. Their talk starts off all right, but then they get to the molestation. It was a teacher at what she says was supposed to be a very safe school. She said that's the crazy part, that she had been molested as a child and so it was very important to her to protect him from that. At this point she's crying and I'm crying with her because she's talking about how much guilt she feels that she didn't protect him from that and it breaks my heart. Phil begins to go after her about the therapy thing, telling her how bad of an idea it was for them not to pursue therapy. She again owns that and says that her husband believed it'd be better for Nick if they just moved on and left it in the past, but now she knows how wrong that decision was. Phil keeps harping on it for a moment before explaining why it's a bad idea to the audience.

Now, I understand that getting abused children help is an important message to get out and I understand him wanting to get that point across. I even understand him bringing it up for that reason. What I don't understand is why he berated her about it when she already knew and admitted it was wrong. To me, it seems like that would only compound the guilt she's already feeling.

I was just left feeling like this was all just a big waste of time. I really hope that Nick is able to get the help he needs before someone is hurt.

 

[Blaze]

I watched 5 minutes and it's already obvious that the whole thing is just a stunt by Dr. Phil to attract viewers. Instead of talking about a man that is clearly struggling with addiction, Dr. Phil just seems to belittle the guy, and just remind him and everyone of all the shit stuff he's done. He doesn't want to help him. He wants to exploit his situation.

Ugh, I just hate Dr. Phil. To me he's a fraud, that doesn't know how to approach a situation dealing with an alcoholic. I might not be an expert on the matter, but surely that's not the right procedure. It was just very obvious that it was the wrong approach to take with Nick, who understandably was on the defensive. He's a alcoholic and is showing the symptoms of it.

Saying stuff like "don't surrender to the disease" just isn't something a psychologist should be saying.

...oh and Nick needs to get rid of that manager...someone that tells someone with an addiction that is depressed that they only do it for attention should probably be fired.

 

[jom]

Dr phil might be an opportunist but xander wanted attention too. I dont blame Dr Phil on this i blame the one who's destroying private property and and got his own life screwed up. Oh you drank, you have a decease, you killed someone or destroyed private property while being drunk, it is not your fault, you're sick and need help....Fxxx NO. This guy wanted attention. Dr Phil is an attention seeker that makes his money by bringing guess that will bring the most viewers. Dr phil is being himself and xander wanted the attention

 

[DawnNotSummers]

...oh and Nick needs to get rid of that manager...someone that tells someone with an addiction that is depressed that they only do it for attention should probably be fired.

Andrea is his former agent, according to his status update on Facebook. I'm not really sure why she was even brought on there since they apparently edited out where some of her lies were exposed. But she's a horrible liar as it turns out.

The night before the show taped, I got drunk. Drunk to the point I still smelled of it the following morning.
I was very stressed about doing the show, and was very upset that an attempt was made to blindside me by bringing on my former booking agent Andrea Albin, a manipulative, unprofessional person several former clients are pursuing legal action against and who frankly I never wanted to see or hear from again. The worst combination I can imagine is an addict (no sense denying it, I am) and a self-serving enabler.
Ours was a mutually destructive relationship and we are better off without each other. While it didn’t make it to air, I’m glad that at least the studio audience was able to see a small portion of her lies exposed by Dr. Phil.

 

[Blaze]

Dr phil might be an opportunist but xander wanted attention too. I dont blame Dr Phil on this i blame the one who's destroying private property and and got his own life screwed up. Oh you drank, you have a decease, you killed someone or destroyed private property while being drunk, it is not your fault, you're sick and need help....Fxxx NO. This guy wanted attention. Dr Phil is an attention seeker that makes his money by bringing guess that will bring the most viewers. Dr phil is being himself and xander wanted the attention

His name isn't Xander, it's Nick. And even if he did want attention, he's an alcholic with his life spiraling out of control, he's sick, he needs help. Who cares about how he gets the help, as long as he gets it. Dr. Phil is a supposed professional, I blame him about wanting the attention way more than I blame Nick.

@Manda, well it's good to hear that she's his former agent, she just seemed highly unprofessional and full of herself.

 

[Skanky Vamp]

Dr. Phil is a supposed professional, I blame him about wanting the attention way more than I blame Nick.

Come on. You cant really fault Phil for wanting headlines, it's his job. He is a talk show host, the people he has on are supposed to be headline grabbers to get viewers. What happened with Brendon is exactly what people tune into see.

 

[GwenRaiden]

As someone who's previously been addicted to pain pills, heroin, alcohol, and valium, whilst also suffering from acute anxiety and depression, I can completely agree with Brendon's attitude towards Dr. Phil. Dr. Phil seemed far more defensive towards Nick and spoke to him like he just did not like him one bit. Entertainment or not, like, he's a f**king human being, too.

Clearly the events leading up to the show being filmed were all part of Brendon being anxious about it (the show) - the alcohol abuse and fighting with his girlfriend and arrest all point towards someone who feels ashamed and depressed and anxious about the situation he's in. Unfortunately, the substances he is addicted to are all readily available and legal (prescriptions for pills seem like they're very easy to obtain for celebrities, sadly). He's using alcohol and drugs to cope with his mental health problems and getting nowhere fast. The guy needs some intensive counselling and good people around him.

I really didn't think I'd feel as bad as I do for Nick after watching it but there you go. If anything, I actually respect him that bit more for walking off. After discovering Dr. Phil was aiming to rehash a horrible part of his past with his former agent, something which obviously caused the guy a lot of grief and problems, I would have walked too. I get that it's for entertainment and viewers but why, as a human being, put another (knowingly ill) human being under that kind of stress. Fortunately I managed to beat the living hell out of my demons, I was self-medicating and I knew it. Even now after a social drink or a valium pill to help my anxiety I can feel those same feelings from before. Booze and drugs do what they are intended to do for me now, I dealt with my internal pain in other ways. But now I know my limits, I know I could never be an addict again for the sake of my child, and I'm trying my best everyday to live as "normally" as I can with depression and anxiety disorder. I hope Brendon can also find that peace. No one wants to be an addict. It's a prison of a life. It is basically signing your life away to death until you escape it, if you ever can. If he can overcome this, I will be ecstatic for the guy. Recovery is long and hard and you're put to the test everyday - fortunately for me as soon as I started college I broke away from it all, had amazing people around me, meditated daily, learned a vast amount about a subject I love, then fell pregnant and had a beautiful baby who changed my life even more. I was just lucky. That's what it comes down to so much of the time; luck.

 

[Skanky Vamp]

I get that it's for entertainment and viewers but why, as a human being, put another (knowingly ill) human being under that kind of stress.

Because he volunteered for it. Rather than seeking real counseling, in a private one-to-one setting, he volunteered to go on a nationally televised talk show to discuss it.

 

[Blaze]

Because he volunteered for it. Rather than seeking real counseling, in a private one-to-one setting, he volunteered to go on a nationally televised talk show to discuss it.

Not really sure NB could really give proper consent here considering he was under substance abuse. Can't fault Dr. Phil for doing his job (as an entertainer, NOT as a psychologist), but I can fault him for being a shitty human being!

 

[jom]

His name isn't Xander, it's Nick. And even if he did want attention, he's an alcholic with his life spiraling out of control, he's sick, he needs help. Who cares about how he gets the help, as long as he gets it. Dr. Phil is a supposed professional, I blame him about wanting the attention way more than I blame Nick.

It is easier for me to remember the xander name than nicholas. His life spiraling out of control is his fault, nobody else's. He has being offered help and gotten it but squanders it and leaves it mid point. I dont know if Dr Phil is proffesional on mental help or substance abuse, all i know is that he's a talk show host looking ratings. He's doing what he does, it is up to people to do his show or not, he has no blame in this.
If xander is mentally impaired, his family must take custody of him like we've seen on other celebrity cases. They must go to court, take him away from the cameras and the conventions and force him into a help facility and make sure that he follows the corresponding help steps in said facility and afterwards. Him not getting Blame for his chaos is really not helpful.

 

[GwenRaiden]

Because he volunteered for it. Rather than seeking real counseling, in a private one-to-one setting, he volunteered to go on a nationally televised talk show to discuss it.

The guy seems utterly confused, irrational and unwell, he possibly has made a bad choice by volunteering, but it doesn't make him a bad person - even if he is seeking press attention. We all make bad choices, addicts even more so. Maybe he thought he could get a TV role out of it, some work, some help for his condition. Any of those things could start the ball rolling when it comes to recovery.

Before watching I felt cynical about it too. But Brendon looks tore up and damaged and it's not nice to see. I don't think the drinking and fighting and arrest leading up to the show being aired were for "attention", I think that was due to illness. I think he ended up in a bad spot and respectfully walked off, I don't think that was for press either. He seemed to be having a very bad few days. I feel awful for the guy after seeing that.
 

They must go to court, take him away from the cameras and the conventions and force him into a help facility and make sure that he follows the corresponding help steps in said facility and afterwards

They can do that all they want, but it might not help one bit. Nick has to want it for himself. Maybe now, after Dr. Phil, he might realise he has hit his lowest point and will do something about it for himself. Maybe the show will be a positive afterall.

 

[Skanky Vamp]

he possibly has made a bad choice by volunteering, but it doesn't make him a bad person - even if he is seeking press attention.

No one (well, I) never said he was a bad person. But on the same token Dr. Phil should not be crucified for doing his job either. Brendon was looking for televised attention and he got it, Dr. Phil was looking for ratings and he got it. It's nothing to get upset about- everyone got what they signed up for. Brendon was a GD Twitter Trend due to the show- when did he ever trend on Twitter before? (for anything other than an arrest, I mean, not something positive)

 

[GwenRaiden]

But on the same token Dr. Phil should not be crucified for doing his job either.

Nah, of course not, he did his job very well. But he can still be called a scumbag of a human being.

Brendon was a GD Twitter Trend due to the show- when did he ever trend on Twitter before?

What does the GD stand for? But yeah, we already established he went on a highly rated show with thousands of viewers. A show that intends to cause as much drama as addiction does to someone's life.

I'm not upset! I just feel really sorry for NB. He looks mentally worn out and is behaving very ill. It's horrible to see, celebrity or not.
 

Mr. Pole: He wouldnt be a scumbag if people didnt continually go and and watch the scumbag's show. THAT is the real problem.

Yeah, totally. This episode, and one other about a girl from America's Next Top Model, are the only ones I've seen. I could never watch something as manipulative and depressing every week, or however often it's on. Brendon and Dr. Phil are both to blame, but one is a mentally ill addict and the other is not. They both may be cashing in on a reality TV show, but one is in genuine pain and the other is not. I guess that's what it comes down to for me. Reality TV is the pits (most of the time).