The popular daytime show Dr Phil comes to an end after 21 seasons. Dr Phil McGraw, a 72-year-old, advised individuals and families hailing from different aspects of life on his talk show, which grew as a popular daytime television show worldwide.
The talk show began in 2002 featuring Dr Phil with different guests every day, asking for advice on their problems like finances, marriage, addiction, weight, families and more.
Dr Phil’s statement on ending the show after two decades.
In a statement issued by Dr Phil McGraw, he expressed his feelings regarding the end of his show. As per the British daily newspaper, The Guardian, he stated, “I have been blessed with over 25 wonderful years in daytime television. With this show, we have helped thousands of guests and millions of viewers through everything from addiction and marriage to mental wellness and raising children. This has been an incredible chapter of my life and career, but while I’m moving on from daytime, there is so much more I wish to do.”
According to the American television broadcast CBS, sources told American media company Variety that McGraw decided to end the production of the show himself.
The general audience became familiar with Dr Phil after he came on Oprah Winfrey’s talk show in the 1990s. He was also featured as a guest speaker on the show and became recognized for his candid nature in giving advice. His show, Dr Phil, was initially produced by Oprah Winfrey’s Harpo Production.
The host of the talk show did not share details about his plans but it’s sure that retirement is not what he has in mind.
The multinational news channel CNN reported that he “will focus on prime-time programming and plans to announce a strategic prime-time partnership, scheduled for an early 2024 launch.”
“I am compelled to engage with a broader audience because I have grave concerns for the American family, and I am determined to help restore a clarity of purpose as well as our core values”, McGraw added.
While the original episodes will be broadcasted in the 2022-2023 season, the network seeks to sell reruns for “2023-24 and beyond.”
“Classic library episodes will include new content such as wrap-around and introductions by McGraw, as well as guest updates”, the broadcaster said.
In a statement, Steve LoCascio, president of CBS Media Ventures, said “Phil is a valued partner and member of the CBS/King World family, and while his show may be ending after 21 years, I’m happy to say our relationship is not. Phil changed the daytime landscape as the force behind one of the most popular talk shows ever on daytime TV – we plan to be in Dr Phil’s business with the library for years to come and welcome opportunities to work together in the future.”
The network stated that the show became a hit after it began in 2002 and secured its way into one or two ratings in its genre as long as the show was on air. McGraw, in 2020, was honoured with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.
Dr Phil’s controversies
Dr Phil McGraw has secured a doctorate in clinical psychology. As reported, in 2006 he stopped renewing his licence to practice. According to The Guardian, the show uses ‘psychology as entertainment’ which has faced criticism from viewers. Some have condemned the way the disturbed and mentally vulnerable guests are treated.
In 2004, for instance, Dr Phil was subjected to heavy criticism when he compared a nine-year-old boy to a serial killer. The National Alliance for the Mentally Ill wrote to CBS stating that Dr Phil’s “conduct is serious enough to warrant investigation by a relevant board of licensure.” The spokesperson said the letter was “based on lack of information and inaccurate and inappropriate assumptions.”
Another controversy was in 2008 when Dr Phil paid a visit to Britney Spears when she was admitted to a hospital for a mental breakdown. The production of the talk show wanted to record an episode on her mental health. The special episode was postponed after the singer’s family and mental health professionals denounced the same.
In its recent controversy in 2020, Dr Phil criticized measures adopted to control the COVID-19 pandemic and further compared the then-increasing death rates to death caused by smoking cigarettes and drowning in swimming pools.
After being criticized on social media, McGraw issued a video apology saying his comments had been motivated by concern about the impact of restrictions on the public’s mental health.
