Damn You Keith Ablow
While Sunday here at TCA was all quiet on the network front, the syndication side snuck in for a Sony breakfast with Greg Behrendt and a Warner Bros./Telepictures lunch with Dr. Keith Ablow, both of whom have talkers launching in the fall.
Behrendt is the guy who wrote "He's Just Not That Into You" and will infuse his stand-up past into a relationship show. Behrendt is a somewhat interesting and amusing dude (you can say "dude" about anyone who used to be in a rock band), as he told his story about battling back from being badly overweight, having a dependency problem and being out of work. Yeah, but just wait until he tries to make a new syndicated talk show work in this day and age.
In the Sony press kit was the story I wrote on the show a couple weeks back, the first piece outlining the content of the rookie show. Many of the panel's questions could have been answered by a quick perusal of my story…but then again, I can barely make it through any of my stories, either. But some of the lady hacks in attendance not only took advantage of the free breakfast spread, but seemed to hit Behrendt up for some free relationship advice. In front of everybody. Sigh.
But in the interest of full disclosure, a chat with Keith Ablow prior to his meeting with the press made me wonder if a) he was going to bill me for the chat and b) if I could afford a second session. Ablow is a forensic psychiatrist (sounds very CSI meets Dr. Melfi) who is hosting a show where he will be a younger Dr. Phil. I just hope his background in the Scott Peterson crap won't mean he will spend too much time on silly celeb/tabloid stuff.
But Ablow has this thing where he looks at you (he resembles Locke from Lost) and puts this Vulcan Mind Meld on you and you really believe him. The guy analyzed my marriage in like 20 seconds, and I think all I had asked him about was if he knew where the men's room was.
Damn you Keith Ablow, you're good.
–Ben Grossman
Leslie commented:
I can't say enough about my lack of respect for this man. He aired a show where he literally stuck a camera up a 3 and 5 year olds nose and reported on how their mothers hated them (yes that was the name of the show) He grilled the 5 year old on why she hated her step dad (gee, not intimidating at all-any 5 year old would spill her guts openly to adult strangers on tv) then he ended the show without helping these children. All for entertainment!?! Disgraceful.
Lisa commented:
I beg to differ, Keith Ablow is a fraud, I know for a fact. I was contacted to be on the Dr. Keith Ablow show, verbal promises were made to me by his producer and assistant and within 24 hours, I was on a plane to New York to be on his show. Every promise that was made to me by his employees as well as on his show never happened and they denied making the promises. DO NOT AGREE TO BE ON THIS SHOW UNLESS YOU GET THEIR PROMISES IN WRITING. I'm in a severe crisis which has only worsened by his false promises.
Blackfin commented:
Nope, he isn't. Ablow is the real thing, I just think he should stick to being on TV in his current consultant role. Greg Behrendt on the other hand will be a general waste of time.Probably similar to Megan Mullally upcoming debacle.
Mike commented:
Ablow is a fraud.