In Philly, Dr. Phil says Vick has ‘sociopathic’ side

Dr. Phil broadcast his first live show ever this morning from Independence Mall off Market Street.

Under overcast skies and in front of a boisterous crowd recruited from his Web site, he took to the stage outside the Liberty Bell pavilion. First up on the docket, what Dr. Phil termed "the biggest story in this town right now": the Eagles' hiring of Michael Vick.

Dr. Phil convened a panel that included Gov. Rendell and CBS3 sports anchor Beasley Reece to debate the topic. During the discussion, the host pulled no punches, suggesting that the controversial quarterback exhibits a "sociopathic adjustment to life" and is unlikely to ever acquire empathy.

He referred frequently to a napkin on which he had scawled notes from a phone converation with Eagles coach Andy Reid.

The mostly white audience booed lustily when J. Whyatt Mondesire, president of the Philadelphia branch of the NAACP, suggested from the stage that the censure of Vick is a racial issue.

Gov. Rendell stuck around for the next segment on staying healthy, sharing the secret to his recent weight loss (45 lbs.!): giving up sweets and halving his portions.

During commercial breaks, Dr. Phil descended into the crowd to talk to people and then welcome viewers back.

Workers at the adjacent dig for the planned President's House memorial shut down the heavy equipment so they could sit by the chainlink fence in their hardhats to watch the goings-on.

The broadcast went off efficiently, ending promptly at 9:57, before the clock at Independence Hall could toll the hour. Afterwards Dr. Phil vanished for 45 minutes with his wife Robin into a furnished bus.

Then it was time to tape another show, this one also set in Philadelphia to air Friday.

Among the segments for the second show: a "cheesesteak showdown" between Pat's and Geno's.

Apparently no TV show can visit the city without featuring that rivalry. At this point, the rest of the country must think of us as the Hatfields and McCoys of sandwich cuisine.