Since breaking away fromThe Oprah Winfrey Showback in 2002, Dr. Phil McGraw has been a constant presence on daytime TV, with his eponymous talk show coming into its 21st season this spring. However, this run ofDr. Philwill be the last new ones produced as McGraw calls time on the long-running series. Although no new episodes will be made, distributor CBS Media Ventures are planning to continue syndicating old episodes through 2024.
According to reports, the decision to end the show was the choice of McGraw. Having been involved in a number of other shows in recent years as a producer and acting as host on two different podcasts, the 72-year-old now seems ready to leave one part of his work behind, which is possibly surprising to many considering his show continued to pull in the highest ratings of any daytime talk show with around 2 million viewers per episode. In a statement, McGraw said:
“I have been blessed with over 25 wonderful years in daytime television,” McGraw said in a statement. “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. I am compelled to enage 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.”
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Dr. Phil Has Been A Staple of Daytime TV But Not Without His Controversies
Dr. Phil McGraw made his name as part ofThe Oprah Winfrey Show, but it was after branching out on his own for several years that he made his mark on daytime television. That is something that continued across his two decades on TV. As Steve LoCascio, president of CBS Media Ventures, said in a statement following McGraw’s decision to end his show:
“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 the ‘Dr. Phil’ business with the library for years to come and welcome opportunities to work together in the future.”
Although hugely popular,McGraw’s show has frequently come under criticismfor exploiting guests and their mental and physical plights, with an interview with actress Shelley Duvall gaining instant notoriety. However, as the show comes to an end, CBS revealed that the program had given guests on the show a total of $35 million in resources to help them with their issues. The show has also collected over 30 Daytime Emmy Awards across the last 21 years.
