The Bullet

So... in July 2014, I got an email from an Associate Producer at ZoCo -- Dr. Oz's production company, and an affiliate of Harpo, Oprah's company -- asking me if I wanted to be considered for an "upcoming segment on the show" regarding their "new life change" shows:  "The show would be based around one guest who wants to get on  the right track to changing their life for the better. This will be a great opportunity for someone like yourself who has been on a weight loss journey."  The Associate Producer then listed a bunch of questions IN ALL CAPS (wtf?).  

At the time, I thought about all of my friends who had been published in books, featured in magazines, on local or nation-wide news, or who had achieved international recognition.  I wondered: Was this my time in the sun?

After 30 seconds of due consideration, I penned my response:

[Associate Producer]:

Thanks for reaching out to me -- but I feel that Dr. Oz's promotion of weight loss pills doesn't fit with my mission statement or branding.

Cheers!

-Robby

The more and more I read about Dr. Oz, the more I think that I dodged a bullet.  Earlier in the year the FTC investigated the "doctor" that Dr. Oz backed in regards to the green coffee bean extract diet – Lindsey Duncan – and they've just this week ruled that his claims were deceptive, fining Duncan's companies $9 million.


Does Dr. Oz say some good things? Sure.  But even a broken clock is right twice a day.

More fun links:

• John Oliver attacks Dr. Oz and nutritional supplements withthe help of George R. R. Martin
  http://www.theverge.com/2014/6/23/5834858/john-oliver-attacks-dr-oz-and-nutritional-supplements-with-the-help
• Dr. Oz's 10 Most Controversial Weight Loss Supplements http://www.forbes.com/sites/melaniehaiken/2014/06/18/dr-oz-senate-scolding-his-10-most-controversial-weight-loss-supplements/ 
• Dr, Oz and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Dayhttp://www.sciencebasedmedicine.org/dr-oz-and-the-terrible-horrible-no-good-very-bad-day/