Apple Pie in the Face - A La Mode

The survey results are in for the "Mom vs. Mom, Part II" episode of the Dr. Phil Show! (Results tabulated as of midnight, Wednesday, September 8, 2004.) Click here to see how people felt about "Mom vs. Mom, Part I" (which aired in November of 2003) compared to Part II, and which suggested responses to the show were most popular.

Reactions were very mixed on Part II. About 37% of our survey takers felt the show was good or great. A slightly higher percentage - 48% - felt it was bad or terrible. And 17% felt it was no big deal, one way or another. A large number of survey takers did feel there was still room for improvement, and made interestingly similar suggestions for how mothers should respond to this episode. Click here to read a sampling of comments.

It’s clear that individuals looked at the show, how it was put together and how it was facilitated, quite differently. It can be helpful to take a step back, "deconstruct" these very emotionally charged shows and apply critical thinking skills to interpreting them. Click here for a segment-by-segment synopsis of "Mom vs. Mom, Part II."

The Dr. Phil Show should be commended for taking a more serious, less sensational look at the real issues affecting all mothers regardless of their employment status in this second part, compared to the first episode. Unfortunately, the show still could not resist fueling the fires of some extreme (and minority) opinions from mothers who apparently felt very defensive/offensive about their work/family situations (clearly not alleviated by the show’s approach to the subject). There is still room for improvement here and it’s up to us - mothers across the country - to suggest an even better way to provide insight and information about mothers’ lives and issues.

National Association of Mothers’ Centers (NAMC) Joins Forces with Mothers & More To Help Dr. Phil Get Real

As you will read in our letter to the Dr. Phil Show, NAMC has joined our efforts to hold the media accountable for its portrayal of mothers and our issues. NAMC previously offered their congratulations and support for our Apple Pie in the Face Award this spring to the marketing communications firm, Euro RSCG.

Together, our two organizations represent over 13,000 mothers!

We’d like to thank NAMC for their partnership, and look forward to bringing together additional mothers’ organizations in future. After all, together, mothers are powerful! And the more, the better!

Take Action!

Read our letter to the show:

Dear Dr. Phil:

Mothers & More and the National Association of Mothers’ Centers would like to commend you on the marginal improvement in Part 2 of the "Mom vs. Mom" series which aired September 3, 2004. You may remember that Part 1 of this series (air date November 2003) inspired Mothers & More’s first Apple Pie in the Face Award - an "honor" which calls attention to acts that divide mothers or trivialize the struggles mothers face in balancing caregiving with their other needs and responsibilities.

Although this episode’s editing was clearly toned down to a lower level of outrageousness, it was still miles away from being adequate.

Click here for full letter.

On an Individual Level

Through our survey, you have chosen these top four ways for mothers to respond to this "Mom vs. Mom, Part II" episode:

• Send an email to the Dr. Phil Show (54%). Feel free to cut and paste the sample below or compose your own response.
• Spread the word - send an email to other mothers you know, asking them to join us in responding (34%). Feel free to cut and paste the sample below or compose your own response.
• Urge the Dr. Phil Show to tape another show, focusing on the issues all mothers face from a society that does not support their caregiving work, whether they work for pay or not. (Most prevalent comment response to "Please share your own suggestions on how mothers might respond to this show.")

If you would like to view what The Dr. Phil Show advertised for the "Mom vs. Mom, Part II" episode, click here.

For background information on "Mom vs. Mom, Part I" of the Dr. Phil Show that earned Mothers & More's first Apple Pie in the Face Award, click here.

Like what you see on our website and want to join us? Click here to become a member of Mothers & More.

Like the work that Mothers & More is doing to improve the lives of mothers? Click here to contribute to Mothers & More.

Want to know more about Mothers & More? Go back to our home page and browse our site!

Sample Email to Dr. Phil:

NOTE: Use language in parentheses if it applies to you.

Dear Dr. Phil:

(As a loyal watcher and believer in your show,) I was disappointed in your "Mom vs. Mom, Part 2" episode on Friday, September 3. Although this episode was better than "Mom vs. Mom, Part 1," it still held firm in furthering the fallacy that there is a "war" among mothers based on their employment status. Pitting mothers against one another helps no one, and certainly does not heighten your popularity with one of your most important target audiences.

Please consider the request of Mothers & More and the National Association of Mothers’ Centers to do a show on the REAL issues affecting all mothers. There is a lack of acknowledgement that caregiving is real work, deserving of respect and support in our society. This attitude adversely affects ALL mothers. This issue is crying out to be heard. Print media - magazines and newspapers - have written about these issues for the last several months, but television network talk shows have yet to really explore this truly hot topic. As a show that counts mothers as its core audience and that focuses on families, parents and, particularly, mothers, you can and should lead the way on this topic.

Sincerely,

Highlight the above letter, and copy to your clipboard. Then click here to go to the contact page for the Dr. Phil show and paste it there.

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Sample E-mail to mothers you know to participate in responding to the Dr. Phil Show:

Dear Friend:

I’d like to make you aware of a campaign I support through Mothers & More, an organization dedicated to improving the lives of mothers through support, education and advocacy.

Mothers & More has joined forces with the National Association of Mothers’ Centers to ask The Dr. Phil Show to create an episode that truly speaks to the issues that all mothers face, regardless of their work status or personal choices.

Despite the fact that The Dr. Phil Show’s audience seems to be heavy with mothers, the show aired an episode entitled "Mom vs. Mom"” in November 2003, where mothers were put in an extremely adversarial environment based on work status and then egged on to have a "cat fight" (Dr. Phil’s words). Mothers & More "awarded" an Apple Pie in the Face Award to The Dr. Phil Show for its actions. In spite of Mothers & More’s efforts to draw the show’s attention to the negative impact on mothers they were furthering, the show still aired Part 2 to the episode this past September 3rd.

Since Part 2 was marginally less objectionable than Part 1, Mothers & More is giving the show the benefit of the doubt and hoping they just need more education on the topic. For this reason, Mothers & More and the National Association of Mothers’ Centers has sent a show suggestion to The Dr. Phil Show. To gain the most attention and credibility for this request, we need your help!

Please visit the Mothers & More website at www.mothersandmore.org to read more about these Dr. Phil Show episodes and to learn what you can do to help encourage the show to tape a different kind of episode that could really enlighten the public about mothers’ real struggles and help improve the lives of all mothers.

Sincerely,

Highlight the above letter, copy and paste into an email window to a mom friend.

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