A producer for Dr. Phil posted the $33,000 bail for Mercades Nichols tonight. Mercades was the alleged "ringleader" for the 8 teens who were involved in beating another teenage girl until she could not see or hear in one ear. The teens taped it, and it was brutal. Click here to see it. Out of all the scum bags the producer picked the worst one, and set her free. On the way out he claimed Dr. Phil’s show had exclusive rights to the Mercades’ story. She may have a problem telling her story however, since a judge has a strict gag order in place which won’t even allow the Sheriff to talk to the media. Dr. Phil already issued his damage control statement:

"We have helped guests and potential guests in the past when they need financial assistance to come on the show – assisting with clothing allowance, lost wages, accommodations, travel and necessities. In this case, certain staff members went beyond our guidelines (re: the bail being paid). These staff members have been spoken to and our policies reiterated. In addition, we have decided not to go forward with the story as our guidelines have been compromised."

Uh huh, sure Dr. Phil. This was all a mistake, just like when he talked to Britney at the request of her mother. If anyone deserved to remain behind bars it was Mercades.

The most disgusting part of the video above is the female reporter putting her hands on the mother, and demanding they talk to her, as well as arguing with the Dr. Phil producer over exclusivity rights as they are walking along the street. Desperation is in the air.

Britney Spears has done the impossible since her discharge early Saturday morning from Cedars-Sinai hospital: slipping out of her Beverly Hills home undetected despite the constant vigil of paparazzi and media outside. The pop star, accompanied by Finalpixx photographer Adnan Ghalib since a few hours after her release, popped into the Daily Grill in Palm Desert around 10 a.m. Sunday.

"She seemed in a really good mood, laughing with the guy she was with," says the restaurant’s manager. Spears shielded herself behind large, dark sunglasses and "had a champagne mimosa to drink," he said. Champagne for breakfast sounds very healthy. She stayed at the restaurant about an hour, as Vegas Confidential’s Norm Clarke first reported.

Spears, 26, had been keeping company with Ghalib, 35, before her recent meltdown. The two checked into two hotels over the past couple of weeks, but he was not on hand Friday during her stay in Cedars-Sinai.

Dr. Phil responded in this video below to the TMZ stories reporting that psychiatric professionals questioned Cedars permitting the TV doc into Britney Spears’ hospital room without her prior knowledge or consent.

Here’s what he said about his visit on Saturday morning on today’s "Early Show": "I want to set the record straight. I went to see Britney at the request of her family. I talked to Lynne, Jamie, and Brian, because they were frustrated that she wasn’t going to be held for a longer time."

Asked how he had come to be involved in the saga, Dr. Phil said, "Thursday night, the phone rang, it was Lynne, clearly she was very upset. Any parent would be. I was first contacted by her family a year ago, and had maintained a running dialogue for the last year or so."

Britney Spears is currently on the road to pay a visit to her manager Sam Lutfi. Friends say Sam is the only person Britney will listen to. Sounds crazy.

While Britney faces another crisis in her life, Britney’s mother Lynne Spears is more than 3,000 miles away in Kentwood, Louisiana, doing nothing for Britney. Lynne’s parenting has only produced extremely troubled children, so it’s better that Lynne just stays away from Britney while she gets her life together. Right now Lynne needs to stay close to her next meal ticket, Jamie Lynn Spears. Although Britney’s father Jamie Spears has been at Britney’s side during this crisis, she’s is already not listening to anyone again. If Sam saves Britney he could turn his very negative public image around.

Update: Now Sam is looking for Britney after she didn’t show up. Sam is rumored to be worried that Britney may be going to see her bang buddy and paparazzi Adnan Ghalib. It’s rumored that Britney may also be at Dr. Phil’s house, but when asked his wife wouldn’t say if Britney was there. I hope she is.

Dr Phil says he played no role in getting her released from Cedar Sinai Medical Center. He made an unscheduled visit to see Britney Spears while she was checking out of the psych ward. Dr Phil said:

"My meeting with Britney and some family members this morning in her room at Cedars leaves me convinced more than ever that she is in dire need of both medical and psychological intervention. She was released moments before my arrival and was packing when I entered the room. We visited for about an hour before I walked with her to her car. I am very concerned for her."

Right now Britney may be driving around Los Angeles in her white Mercedes. If you see her just pull over to the side of the road as if she was an ambulance with its lights on.

After Dr. Phil McGraw visited Britney Spears this morning in the psych unit, she was released from the hospital. The 72 hold she was on is only a maximum amount of time Britney could be held against her will, during which time she is required to be evaluated by a professional. If Britney was released then she was evaluated, and although she could be suffering from bipolar disorder, severe narcissism, may be severely histrionic, and may have other borderline personality disorders, as long as she is no longer a threat to herself, others, or to property she must be released, so she was.

The Dr. Phil Show is taping a special about Britney Spears on Monday, which will air on Wednesday. It’s entirely possible that Dr. Phil has asked Britney to be on his show to explain to the public what is going on with her. If Dr. Phil gets Britney on his show Oprah will be pissed, and Dr. Phil’s ratings will go to the moon.

Just 8 minutes ago, the brokendown pop wreck left her Beverly Hills mansion in her white Mercedes, saw photographers and turned in the other direction.

WARNING: If you see a pink haired chubby pop star with a crazy look in her eye, and a swarm of paparazzi around her, run for your life.