I have a confession to make: I like Dr. Phil. I know 99% of his show is trash, but I enjoy it, and it makes me feel a little less guilty than if I were to indulge in, say, Jerry Springer. I can pretend I’m learning something useful, and then spout off phrases like, “You teach people how to treat you,” and various phrases involving cats, fertilizer, and brick walls. Obviously the guy’s a bit of a hack, but normally he can justify what he says in such a way that I’ll be nodding along with him in a few seconds flat. This is not one of those times. Apparently Dr. Phil is good friends with Lynne Spears, and has gone on the record, telling People that she’s a good mom, despite the fact that she’s about to be a grandmother for the third time… and her daughters are 26 and 16. Right on.

Ever the optimist concerning the Spears family, Dr. Phil McGraw commends matriarch Lynne Spears – despite the current controversy regarding her 16-year old daughter’s pregnancy. “We know the Spears family, particularly the parents,” he tells PEOPLE at Adrienne Maloof and Dr. 90210 Phil Nassif’s holiday party in Beverly Hills on Saturday. “An asset that Britney and Jamie Lynn both have is a great and dedicated mother.”

McGraw admits that his friend is “troubled right now” but is “really looking for the positives in this.” As her daughters live under the glare of public scrutiny and criticism, Lynne has “her feet squarely and solidly on the ground,” he says.

“They’re a very strong, close-knit family,” says Dr. Phil’s wife Robin, “They’re relying on each other.” And with her book recently put on hold, Lynne is also drawing strength from her faith. “I talked to Lynne yesterday and she said they’re turning to prayer, asked that I pray for them. That’s how they’re going to get through it.”

[From People]

I get so annoyed with people who don’t behave as if they’re religious, but then suddenly start referring to scripture right and left when they’re in trouble. Or when they win a Grammy. It just comes off as hackneyed and trite, and certainly doesn’t make me say, “Oh, well I guess I was wrong, Lynne Spears IS a good mother!” Frankly I think Jamie Lynn getting pregnant at sixteen doesn’t speak nearly as badly as to Lynne’s parenting as does Britney’s psychosis. But while Lynne’s getting a lot of negative attention lately, it’s important to remember that the girls have two parents, and their father is just as culpable. Jamie Spears has kept a pretty low profile, but he’s struggled with alcohol addiction. Probably an excellent reason that he should try being a little more involved with his daughters – maybe to help Britney with her own addiction issues. I think Dr. Phil should move the whole Spears clan into the Dr. Phil house (you have to say that with the bravado with which he says it) with the 88 cameras, lock them in, and do some intensive therapy. For a year. You know an on-camera teenage birth would make for great ratings. And Britney and Jaime Lynn fighting over who gets to/has to breast feed the baby would make for a great Dr. Phil intervention.