Courtney Hazlett The Scoop

A new chapter in Dr. Phil’s publicity crisis was written over the weekend, and some sources close to the show wonder whether he’ll survive his latest stunt. The host and his show is under scrutiny for posting $30,000 bail for Mercades Nichols, one of the eight teens arrested for severely beating another teenager in Florida.

The “Dr. Phil” show issued a statement saying “certain staff members went beyond our guidelines (re: the bail being paid),” but a source close to the production fears that this incident could be the final straw for the show.

“It’s getting desperate behind the scenes. Dr. Phil is so demanding, and there’s a feeling anyone will do anything for the get. But it creates chaos. I don’t know how much longer everyone can take it,” said the source. (The talk-show host earlier this year came under fire for spreading word that he’d visited Britney Spears at Cedar-Sinai at the request of the family, and was going to be the one to save the troubled pop star.)

Does that mean Dr. Phil’s days with the show are numbered? Rumors about Oprah Winfrey’s Harpo productions cutting ties with Dr. Phil have been circulating for months, but even if Harpo did pull out, it’s still CBS TV Distribution that does the day-to-day production of the show.

Credibility concerns seem to be front and center at the moment. “People don’t trust him like they used to,” another source revealed. “The Britney incident was beyond embarrassing for the entire show. How do you bounce back from this?”

Neil Patrick Harris does want Britney back

We take it back! Last week on “Morning Joe,” I relayed news of an AP story about Neil Patrick Harris not wanting Britney Spears to return to “How I Met Your Mother.” Harris has since issued a statement saying that his words were taken out of context.

Slide show   The week in celebrity sightings Keanu looks cool, Miley green-lights aid, Mariah looks shady and more. more photos

“Britney did a great job on the show. She really did. In fact, we are all hoping that she returns rather soon to reprise her role as Abby,” he said.

Some wonder if the 180 is because there could be negotiations underway with Spears, but a source close to the Spears family says that the majority of her camp isn’t interested in her returning to television work soon. “It’s about her health right now,” said the source. “Turning her into a television star really isn’t on the agenda.”

Weekend box-office victory

Let the winning streak begin again. As predicted, more people made a date to see “Prom Date” this weekend than any other film at the box office. The widely panned horror flick made $22.7 million, and handily beat Fox Searchlight’s “Street Kings,” which made $12 million. “21” continued its slow and steady march toward $100 million, and came in third place with another $11 million, which brings the blackjack caper to $62 million total over three weeks. “Smart People” didn’t fare so well. It made only $4.2 million and came in seventh.

Celebrity sightings

In Las Vegas … Eddie Murphy celebrated his 47th birthday at The Bank Nightclub at Bellagio. Murphy arrived around 12:30 a.m. with an entourage that included washed up talk-show host Arsenio Hall . One spy said Murhpy made a habit of having security walk him through the club so that he could meet ladies he’d spotted from afar. … Dina Lohan swung by Moon Nightclub on April 3 and celebrated the birthday of a friend.

In L.A … Kim Kardashian and Danity Kane arrived together at Jonathan Cheban’s Kritik Clothing Launch at Lisa Kline in Beverly Hills. ... Nicole Richie and dad Lionel stopped into Il Sole for a family dinner April 7. On April 10, crooner Robin Thicke had dinner there with friends.