February 10, 2010

In the spirit of “Love Week” on The Lisa Wexler Show, Patti Stanger of Bravo’s Millionaire Matchmaker joined Lisa as tonight’s first guest to discuss her business as a matchmaker and to offer some helpful answers to listeners looking for love.

Patti and Lisa started the show by commenting on the popular news story surrounding John Edwards and his taboo decision to propose to mistress-turned-fiance, Rielle Hunter, on the same day that he confirmed paternity for the couple’s daughter, Francis Quinn Hunter. Patti and Lisa agree that Edwards’ actions were poorly planned.

“Once a cheater always a cheater,” Patti commented.

Lisa continued to comment on her stand on the situation later in the show, giving Edwards an award reserved for his beyond poor choices that have surfaced as of late.

“He gets the low-life award,” Lisa said. She continued to express her disappointment with the former senator for his consistent, less-than-favorable appearances in the press that showcase the soap opera-like consequences that followed his decisions to carry out a very public, marriage-ending affair.

Segueing into matters of business, Lisa and Patti discussed the very successful, global matchmaking service that Patti offers. Millionaire Matchmaker (Bravo, Tuesdays 10 p.m. EST) only profiles a small part of Patti’s business. The actual matchmaking service called the Millionaire’s Club has a variety of options available for men and women, gay or straight.

The Millionaire’s Club is has a fairly extensive application process and information can be found on the Millionaire’s Club website.

Lisa and Patti continued discussing the technicalities of the trade. Curious of how gendered matchmaking is, Lisa questioned Patti about the appearance of millionairesses on Millionaire Matchmaker.

Patti explained that women of wealth are tired of dating down, and so more millionaire women are turning to her service.

Keeping the changing trend in matchmaking in mind, Lisa and Patti shared views on the male ego.

Lisa commented, and Patti agreed, that the male ego is more invested in occupation than the female ego.

When Lisa asked Patti if she conducted background checks on the people in the Millionaire’s Club, she was surprised to find that the only people submitted to formal background checks are the individuals who appear on the Millionaire Matchmaker.

The final topic of discussion between world-renowned matchmaker Patti Stanger and Lisa involved dating principles surrounding the traditional dating debate: how soon is too soon to sleep with a date?

Patti and Lisa agree that playing hard to get is the way to go. Lisa shared her personal, and now Patti-approved philosophy, commenting that she will not set people up who do not agree to go on at least two dates. She believes this removes the tension associated with the first date.

Despite practicing Judaism, when Lisa questioned Patti on whether she has rules about mixing religions, she explained that at the end of the day it’s all about what the member is attracted to.

A woman calling from Norwalk, CT called to ask Patty the geographical limitations of her service. Patti was happy to respond that the Millionaire’s Club operates on a global scale.

Patti will be doing a book signing of Become Your Own Matchmaker: 8 Easy Steps to Attracting Your Perfect Mate on Saturday February 13 at the Mohegan Sun.

Switching gears, Lisa discussed the brutal weather and traffic that has been hitting the East Coast and commented on an earthquake that hit Chicago today.

She also mentioned a news story about Michelle Obama’s efforts to collaborate with the government in an attempt to reduce the instances of obesity. Although Lisa admits to not being an Obama maniac, she strongly supports Michelle Obama with this particular cause, calling it extremely commendable and important.

Lisa agrees with Obama in that the government, which has the ability to regulate the foods that appear in school cafeterias and vending machines, as well as the types of foods that the government subsidizes, can make a difference and potentially significantly reduce the number of obese Americans and in turn reduce the instances of heart disease and adult-onset (Type II) diabetes. She recounts on her experience in grade school where school lunches came from home and were natural, compared to the soda and artificially flavored foods that appear in school cafeterias today.

As a great introduction to her second guest, Dr. Demitri Papolos, Lisa referenced the front page of today’s New York Times, which featured an article about the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM) that discussed a change to the manual about how mental health disorders are labeled, which will have a very big impact on the mental health community. One change that is of particular relevance to Dr. Papolos’ research is the labeling of children diagnosed with bipolar disorder. The changes to the DSM would be effective in the book’s fifth edition, which is expected in 2013.

Before her interview with Dr. Papolos, Lisa commented on the latest news involving the trial of the youngest Guantanamo detainee, Omar Khadr. Khadr was 15 years old when threw a grenade that killed a U.S. Special Forces medic.

UN officials and human rights groups argue that he was indoctrinated as a child and should not be prosecuted, but instead rehabilitated, for his war crimes. US officials wish to go to trial at Guantanamo in July.

Lisa explained that because Khadr is now 24, he will probably appear to the jurors as a much more capable criminal in this case. More so, having been kept at Guantanamo, she suggests that he probably has more reason to have negative feelings toward the United States. She explains that if he is not receptive to rehab, it’s the fault of the United States.

As an American Jewish woman, Lisa commented on how it is obvious how much she hates terrorism and what terrorists stand for. She continued, though, to say that as an American and as lawyer who truly believes in the constitution, this prisoner should not be tried as an adult - rather, he should be tried as a juvenile, since he was picked up at 15 years old and for many years was not offered the services of an attorney. It is a terrible situation, but one that was created by the US government, not him.

In local news, Lisa mentioned a situation involving the Connecticut Unfair Trade Practices Act (CUTPA). In a unique argument in Madison, the city decided to make building permit fees very high, raising them to $4000. The allegation is that the building fees violate CUTPA as the town is gathering money that it is unauthorized to collect. The homeowners who have obtained said permits since 2003 are coming together as a class, and received class certification (recognition by the court that there is some claim of action).

Lisa welcomed her second guest, Dr. Demitri Papolos, to discuss changes to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM) as well as Dr. Papolos’ work with bipolar research in juveniles. Dr. Papolos is an associate professor of psychiatry at the Albert Einstein College of Medicine in New York City, where he is the co-director of the Program in Behavioral Genetics. He co-authored a book with his wife Janice on the subject called The Bipolar Child.

Lisa and Dr. Papolos discussed the debate of whether bipolar disorder exists in childhood and whether or not it is right to prescribe children medicine to manage the disorder when its existence is up for debate.

Dr. Papolos commented that the DSM’s role in this situation is important because it’s used as a tool to diagnose psychiatric conditions and by insurance companies in deciding whether they’ll pay for a particular diagnosis.

Dr. Papolos explained that the debate has been around for years despite the diagnosis having been around since Hippocrates, who described mania and melancholia in children. He continued by saying that for some reason this controversy has persisted despite much clinical research that clearly shows that the disorder does exist in childhood but presents itself differently.

In response to the New York Times article, he said it’s merely a first foray of the potential changes that will be subject to public comment and researcher criticism. Dr. Papolos explained that the choice to leave out Pediatric Bipolar Disorder was done to make room for what they’re calling a disruptive personality disorder that will parse childhood bipolar disorder in the way that is described in the New York Times article.

When Lisa asked why medicine is being chosen over other options, he explained that children with bipolar disorder need to be on antipsychotic medication because they do have psychotic symptoms; it’s part of the controversy because there is not clear criteria for childhood bipolar disorder.

There has been research that is meant to create evidence-based criteria for diagnosis. It is under review by the DSM committee and as far as Dr. Papolos knows, it’s the only criteria to be developed on rather vigorous methodology. He hopes that it will get the due consideration and inclusion in one of the diagnostic manuals. Because the DSM only gets revised every decade or so, it continues to place doctors at a disadvantage of not having real criteria for diagnosis of childhood bipolar disorder. Lisa pointed out, however, that in Dr. Papolos’ book, The Bipolar Child, there is a comprehensive self-assessment.

Before closing, Lisa mentioned an article about Google’s plans to produce a broadband Internet service as well as an article about new sanctions in place by the United States against Iran. Lisa also announced the death of Charlie Wilson, who passed away today at 76 years old.

Tune in tomorrow for of our resident psychic, Jennifer Rodgers, who will join us for another love week special.

Written by Alexandra Kirsch