Allegations Against Dr Phil Show: In response to charges that Dr. Phil’s long-running daytime talk program has a poisonous work environment, Patrick Morris, McGraw’s personal attorney, has spoken out. As many as a dozen currents and former employees of the long-running sitcom complained to BuzzFeed News about the verbal and physical abuse, intimidation, and bigotry they experienced while working on the production of the show.
In a statement to Variety, Morris stated, “It is a clickbait story because as everyone knows, Dr. Phil sells tickets.” In the wake of BuzzFeed’s sensational narrative being shattered by the facts, they turned down the opportunity to interview dozens of current and former employees. He doesn’t get involved in employee relations, but the crew at Dr. Phil’s program never invokes racial origins like those portrayed.” “Creating safe and inclusive working environments is a major priority,” a ViacomCBS spokesman tells Variety. “We provide several ways through which employees can submit issues to the company both on the record and anonymously,” the ViacomCBS spokesperson added.
There is no fear of reprisal for any employee who reports that they or others in the organization have been unfairly treated. “We take all such reports very seriously.” Dr. Phil has been accused by seven staffers of manipulating vulnerable guests on the show, in addition to the hostile work environment charges. Employees at the concert allegedly received instructions to ensure a guest didn’t take her prescribed medication, according to one former staffer. “They wanted her to look unstable and quote-unquote, ‘crazy,’ for lack of a better phrase,” the employee told BuzzFeed News, “so we made sure she didn’t take her medicine before she went onstage.”
They Wanted her to Appear Irrational
Nobody got there in time, so she took the prescription herself. ‘Oh my God! I don’t want to be the one who tells them or dissuades them from that,’ I remember thinking.” And all of this was done purely for the sake of making good television. This girl is clearly in need of medication, which is why we’re trying to get her help, but for the sake of television they wanted her to appear irrational.”
Seven other Dr. Phil staff members claimed that the show’s producers encouraged them to use racist stereotypes in their work. None of Dr. Phil presenter Phil McGraw’s past or current coworkers who talked to BuzzFeed News reported seeing him be toxic or abusive on set. The majority of employees said Carla Pennington, the executive producer, and other senior personnel were abusive in their communication. A 31-year-old Paramount Pictures rotating page who worked on Dr. Phil commented, “How can he not know?” Tiffany Clark, however,
The following statement was sent by a Dr. Phil spokeswoman to Variety:
The “click-bait story” on Buzzfeed contains objectively and verifiably false characterizations and reporting of the publicly available contradictory results of these legal cases [including dismissal with prejudice due to lack of merit, not even being a party, and other factual errors] raises significant doubts about the credibility of other unsubstantiated, anonymous claims about the show and its staff, which are false. Countless quotes from current and former Buzzfeed employees have been shared with the site, and each one has been verified as factual. Their sensationalized and unfounded report is based on verifiable evidence that contradicts its whole premise.
More than 200 dedicated employees, many of whom have been with us for more than two decades, worked diligently and respectfully with thousands of grateful guests under Dr. Phil’s leadership. Dr. Phil McGraw and the rest of the show’s employees and guests have been treated with respect and openness by the show’s producers since the beginning. Over the past 20 seasons, we’ve had an astounding number of proud, dedicated colleagues who have helped us accomplish our long-term success.”
BuzzFeed respond to Variety’s request for a statement
Oprah Winfrey and Phil McGraw co-created Dr. Phil, an American talk program. Dr. Phil made their television debut on September 16, 2002, following McGraw’s success on The Oprah Winfrey Show with his segments. Both presentations feature McGraw, a clinical and forensic psychologist, giving advice in the form of “life strategies.” [3] The show is available in syndication in the United States and in a number of other countries, including Australia and New Zealand. CBS has occasionally shown prime-time specials. Since 2004, the show has been nominated for a Daytime Emmy Award.
Oprah Winfrey and Phil McGraw serve as the show’s executive producers. Peteski Productions produced it, while CBS Media Ventures distributed it. While CBS Paramount Domestic Television was a secondary co-producer until 2007, Harpo Productions was a primary co-producer until 2010. King World Productions was the first to release it. On the Paramount Pictures site in Hollywood, the show is taped in front of a live studio audience on Stage 29. A break for the holidays is taken in December when it is recorded from August to May. According to a recent announcement, Dr. Phil has been renewed for a total of four more seasons, bringing its current run to a close in May 2023.
Ratings
According to Nielsen Media Research, the Dr. Phil show had 6.69 million viewers on May 21, 2007. On May 12, 2008, 5.69 million people tuned in to watch the show. When it came to talking shows in May 2008, Dr. Phil came in second to Oprah Winfrey’s show in terms of viewership. For the 150th week in a row, Dr. Phil was the most popular syndicated talk program, with a 2.9 national Nielsen rating. In the first week of March 2020, the Dr. Phil program was the most-watched talk show with a nationwide Nielsen rating of 2.8.
Today’s Dr. Phil
A typical episode of Dr. Phil Now features McGraw’s take on current events, frequently accompanied by an interview with the subject matter expert in question. This might be anyone from a suspect in a true crime case to the parents in the middle of a bitter child custody dispute to a famous person. In these episodes, the music tends to be more intense, and the section is often originating from the KCBS-control TV’s room, where a bank of monitors are set to various news networks and local news stations.
Format
A wide range of topics is covered, including weight loss, financial planning, errant children, gift suggestions, autistic children, unhappily married couples, rebellious teenagers, mothers who dress far from their age, mothers who refuse to attend weddings, and mothers who refuse to give their married sons money for charitable causes. Speaking about his failed marriage (and subsequent divorce) with his second wife Gretchen, radio personality and former child star Danny Bonaduce appeared twice a year on the show.
Polygraph tests have been performed on a number of television shows, generally by former FBI agent Jack Trimarco. The tone of the show is typically serious, but there is a smattering of humor here and there. It has its share of suspenseful and downright tacky sequences. McGraw is well-known for his “Dr. Phil Family” segment, in which he frequently brings families back to his shows for additional “therapy” sessions.
