‘Dr. Phil’ Talk Show to End After 21 Seasons on Air

Dr. Phil. (Getty Images | Jemal Countess)

The long-running daytime talk show “Dr. Phil” is coming to an end after 21 seasons on the air, distributor CBS Media Ventures announced on Jan. 31.

In a joint statement with CBS Media Ventures, the show’s host since 2022, Dr. Phil McGraw, said he made the decision to stop making new episodes, citing his plans to embark on “new ventures.”

“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. 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.”

The media company said it will air original episodes of the daytime show through the current 2022-2023 television season, which will also include new content such as “wrap-arounds and intros” by McGraw, as well as guest updates.

‘Phil Changed the Daytime Landscape’

According to the statement, the former host will be focusing on prime-time programming in the immediate future and will soon unveil “a strategic prime-time partnership” that is set to launch early in 2024, and which will “expand his reach and increase his impact on television and viewers.”

McGraw said in the statement that he was “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.”

Steve LoCascio, president of CBS Media Ventures, said McGraw is a “valued partner and member of the CBS/King World family,” adding that the company has a strong relationship with the TV host.

“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,” LoCascio said.

McGraw earned a doctorate degree in clinical psychology from the University of North Texas before going on to gain a post-doctoral fellowship in forensic psychology from the Wilmington Institute, according to his official website.

He was a licensed psychologist in Texas where he practiced clinical psychology before moving to California where he ultimately launched his talk show in 2002. According to reports, McGraw stopped renewing his license to practice in 2006.

Show Faces Criticism

McGraw was also honored with the Presidential Citation by the American Psychological Association in 2006 for his significant contributions to the field of psychology, was inducted into the Broadcasting & Cable Hall of Fame in 2015, and received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in February 2020.

His show featured an array of guests who were often battling with an array of issues with regard to their health, finances, and relationships, and quickly became regular on daytime television.

McGraw and his show weren’t always well received. In a 2016 interview with “The Shining” actress Shelley Duvall, McGraw was criticized by Duvall, who appeared to be dealing with a distressing mental illness and experiencing mental delusions at the time.

McGraw also faced backlash from the family of Britney Spears and mental health professionals after he visited the singer when she was in hospital following a mental breakdown. The episode was later scrapped.

Former employees of the show have also spoken out about their experiences, describing it as “traumatizing” and claiming they experience racism and a “war-zone” like atmosphere that left them with “nightmares.” None of the former employees said they witnessed negative behavior from McGraw but said the negative experiences came from others on set.

At the time, attorneys for McGraw denied the allegations.