Since its premiere in September of 2002, Dr. Phil and his talk show have amassed immense international fame and truly intrigued the audience. The host of the show, Dr. Phil McGraw, claims to have an experience 25 years of in fields like psychology, sociology, and observation with a doctoral degree in clinical psychology from the University of North Texas, then a forensic psychology post-doctoral fellowship at the Wilmington Institute. His blunt ways of dealing with the guests on his show were criticized by some and closely watched by all.
According to the program’s official website, “Dr. Phil provides the most comprehensive forum on mental health issues in the history of television.” The viewers are particularly entertained by his sarcastic, snarky tone and comments and straightforward advice to his guests. His visitors range from quarreling couples, individuals who are hooked on drugs or alcohol, heartbroken and struggling celebrities like Britney Spears, and dangerous criminals. His strategy seems to be effective at retaining viewers’ interest in television.
The hour-long program, which air in the middle of the day from Monday through Friday, draws almost 2 million viewers, making Dr. Phil the second-most watched daytime program on television, with 31 Daytime Emmy nominations under the show and its host’s belt. According to CBS, the TV show has garnered five PRISM Awards for its “accurate depiction of drug, alcohol, and tobacco use and addiction,” and McGraw has received honors from the American Psychological Association for promoting mental health issues.
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Issues with the show’s format
The show was particularly under attack for the fact that Dr. Phil, the host, seems to extract monetary profits from individuals struggling with mental health issues. The program’s shock value has led to a never-ending stream of discussions, which are frequently framed by the notion that Dr. Phil exploits mental illness for cheap TV entertainment. Some even claim that the show is a “heartless and disgusting form of entertainment with no compassion for the people it shows.”
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Past Controversies
The plethora of controversies against the show started due to Dr. Phil’s lack of current psychological credentials, which gained attention in 2016 after he aired an interview with Shelley Duvall, who played the title character in The Shining, and who appeared to be having mental issues.
According to an investigation by “Buzzfeed News,” several Employees of Dr. Phil claimed that in order to create dramatic television, guests are frequently forced into vulnerable situations. In one instance, a staff member was once specially instructed to deny a guest any access to her prescription medication simply to make her seem shaky and unstable in front of the cameras.
Without offering any evidence, McGraw said during an April 2020 Fox News appearance that COVID-19 pandemic lockdowns will be more lethal than the virus itself. During the interview, his lack of medical knowledge was also exposed, and he faced intense backlash for scamming the public and posing as a mental health advocate and professional when he was none of those things.
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Recent controversy
But why is the show in the news and being talked about now? This is because after being on air for more than two decades and completing 21 successful seasons of his talk show “Dr. Phil,” America’s most contentious TV psychologist, Phil McGraw, decided to leave the show, ending his reign as daytime television’s king.
According to CBS Media Ventures, McGraw has chosen to stop creating new series after its 2023 season after 21 seasons of dominating the ratings. Even some reports suggest that Dr. Phil attempted a makeover in the latter months, but sponsors kept leaving. This might be one of the factors contributing to the show’s discontinuation after being so enormously popular and successful for so long.
McGraw’s Future Plans with CBS
According to reports, the 72-year-old actor is getting ready to reveal a “strategic, prime-time partnership, with CBS Media Ventures, scheduled for an early 2024 launch, which will increase his impact on television and viewers.”
According to McGraw, he feels that he needs to reach a wider audience as he has “grave concerns for the American family” and is “determined to help restore a clarity of purpose as well as our core values.”
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