Did Dr. Phil try to blindside Oprah? The story that makes the claim is from the Natalee Holloway case and celebrity court watchers TMZ have their eye on a case that has documents all the way back to 2005 between Dr. Phil and two men that have filed a lawsuit.

Dr. Phil, Oprah: Blindside in Natalee Holloway case?

The court documents in the case have been obtained by the celebrity justice website in the lawsuit filed against Dr. Phil by the two men for 'defamation.'


The part of the case highlighted by TMZ is an e-mail chain as Dr. Phil tried to scoop Oprah on a red-hot interview.

The report claims that Oprah had scheduled to do an exclusive interview with Natalee's mom, Beth on Sept. 20, 2005, but Dr. Phil tried to scoop the O.


The report says the producer had a plan: "But we can OUT SCOOP Oprah & do the show w/ her first no matter what we find tomorrow we still have an interesting show - plus only YOU can really help."

TMZ has more details.


Phil (using initials DPM - Dr. Phil McGraw) responded, "WE DEFINITELY NEED TO SCOOP THE DEAL SO IF WE NEED TO SHOOT THIS WEEK THEN LETS DO IT." Phil adds this caution: "IF SHE [Beth] TELLS THE OPRAH PEOPLE ABOUT US THEY WILL LIKELY ATTEMPT TO DERAIL IT BY MOVING UP THEIR SCHEDULE."

The producer responds, "Grea[t] & she won't say anything to oprahs peeps she knows it would jeopardize what we are doing - I'll email you both tomorrow as soon as I talk to jamie & we can go from there!! Yippie scoopen the big O!!"

Is this a big deal or is this what show producers are supposed to do?


(Image: WENN)