Dr. Phil announces end of daytime talk show after 21 seasons
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After more than two decades, Dr. Phil McGraw is ending his daytime talk show.
McGraw, who has a Ph.D. in clinical psychology, said in a statement that the show “has been an amazing part of my life and career” but that he wants to move on to other things after the 21st season.
“I have been blessed with over 25 wonderful years in daytime television,” McGraw said. “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.”
McGraw says that his next step will be to focus on prime-time shows, and he plans to announce a strategic prime-time partnership in 2024.
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McGraw said, “I feel compelled to reach out to a wider audience because I care deeply about the American family and want to help restore a clear sense of purpose and our core values.”
McGraw started on TV with “The Oprah Winfrey Show” in the late 1990s. In September 2002, he hosted his first talk show, “Dr. Phil.” The show was a huge hit right away. It was either No. 1 or No. 2 in its genre during its whole run and got 31 Emmy nominations.
The show also caused a fair amount of trouble. In February 2022, a Buzzfeed report said that a dozen current and former syndicated talk show employees said it was a dangerous and traumatic workplace.
People who talked to BuzzFeed said that executive producer Carla Pennington and other high-level employees often yelled at them. Five interviewed people noted that when Pennington got angry, she called people “idiots” or “stupid” and used other slurs.
An ex-staff member once said, “This show broke me down mentally, emotionally, and physically.” “Not only do they make you feel like you’re not worth anything, but they tell you every day how (expletive) you are and how bad your work is, but they can’t fire you because they need you. This mental game affects us emotionally and physically and stays with us after we leave the show.”
McGraw is a producer in addition to having a popular talk show. He was the executive producer, writer, and co-creator of the CBS show “Bull,” which he also worked on. He is also the host of the podcasts “Phil in the Blanks” and “Mystery & Murder: Analysis by Dr. Phil.”