After an incredible 21-year run, Dr. Phil McGraw has finally opened up about why he decided to end his popular TV show. In an interview with CNN’s Chris Wallace on “Who’s Talking to Chris Wallace?,” Dr. Phil shared that he felt he had accomplished his goals for the show.
Dr. Phil’s initial aim with the show was to shed light on crucial social issues, particularly mental illness, and bring them to the forefront of public discourse. He expressed his concerns about the rising mental health challenges, especially among teenagers, and linked this trend to increased smartphone use and the unrealistic portrayals of life on social media.
As a clinical and forensic psychologist, Dr. Phil co-created the show with Oprah Winfrey back in 2002. Throughout its run, the show served as a significant platform for discussing psychological issues and offering valuable “life strategies” to guests. However, Dr. Phil’s decision to end the show stemmed from a place of fulfillment, having successfully tackled the topics he set out to highlight, including the “silent epidemics” of mental health.
Dr. Phil’s dedication to mental health awareness has made a profound impact on countless lives. By addressing these critical issues on a public platform, he has helped reduce the stigma surrounding mental health and encouraged individuals to seek the help they need. Although his TV show may have come to an end, Dr. Phil’s mission to promote mental well-being continues.
In today’s fast-paced and digitally connected world, it’s become more essential than ever to be aware of our mental well-being. Dr. Phil’s support extends far beyond his TV show, as he continues to contribute to the field of psychology through various channels. Whether it’s writing books, conducting speaking engagements, or facilitating online resources, Dr. Phil’s valuable insights are readily accessible to those seeking guidance.
While we bid farewell to the show that touched so many lives, we can take solace in the fact that Dr. Phil’s message will endure. His commitment to mental health advocacy remains unwavering, ensuring that individuals of all ages have the support they need to thrive in today’s complex world. Let us join together in thanking Dr. Phil for his dedication and for sparking meaningful conversations that have reshaped our understanding of mental health.
Phil McGraw Reveals Why ‘Dr. Phil’ Is Ending — and What’s Next (Exclusive)
The long-running daytime series will conclude with its 21st season.
Phil McGraw is saying goodbye to Dr. Phil. ET’s Kevin Frazier spoke with the 72-year-old TV personality on the heels of the announcement that his long-running daytime series will end at the conclusion of its 21st season later this year.
“I’ve been doing this for 21 years and I love it, I’m still very passionate about it, and make no mistake, I’m not moving on from television. I’m just moving on from daytime [TV],” McGraw told ET, before teasing what viewers can expect from his new primetime venture.
“I can’t talk about it yet because I’m about to close all the details of this, but I wanted to partner with a network, so I can do some things in primetime that really have significance,” he explained. [It’s] not just a show, but a whole approach to what’s going on in America right now because… I’m very concerned with what’s going on in America right now. I’m concerned that the American family’s under attack, that our values are under attack, that the very concept of truth is under attack. I wanted a bigger audience, a bigger play, a bigger platform than daytime can afford.”
McGraw added that he expects to “return to the air in January of ’24 in a really big way.”
“My commitment to helping people do what they need to in their lives, learn what they need to use in their lives, and be of service to them, that’s what I’m gonna focus [on],” he said. “I’m not getting ready to do a political show… It’s gonna be Dr. Phil — I think at my highest and best use of television — dealing with couples, dealing with families, how everything going on is impacting them, and seeing things through their eyes.”
McGraw noted that he feels “such a bond with the daytime viewers” and expressed his hope that they follow him “to the next platform.”
“They’ve been so loyal, and so good, and so true,” he said. “I’m gonna make ’em proud.”
Though the show is ending, CBS Media Ventures has announced plans to offer stations library episodes of Dr. Phil, which will include new content, much to McGraw’s delight.
“I want to stay involved, so I’m gonna be putting new information in some of those shows, I’m going to be working with their anchors and stuff to keep people apprised with what’s going on, updating guests, things like that,” McGraw told ET. “It’s not gonna be pure library [episodes], because I’m gonna be in there, freshening things up and going along every step of the way.”
As Dr. Phil prepares to say goodbye, McGraw is looking forward to his new scripted and unscripted shows. Even so, ending something that’s lasted more than two decades won’t be easy for the TV personality.
“There’s been a rhythm for 21 years of doing this… Everybody associated with the show… has been there for 21 years… People always say they’ve got the best team in television, I have the best family in television,” he said. “I’ve watched them have children, grow up, go to college. It’s been terrific and I think a lot of these folks are going to be part of the next chapter.”
“When I came out here, I didn’t know how long this was gonna last,” McGraw added. “… 21 years is a whole career for a lot of people, and I’ve made some wonderful relationships there that go way beyond the work relationships… It’s been a wonderful, wonderful experience… We’re gonna miss it, I’ll put it that way.”
“So you are endi.ng your show this spring after 21 years on the air. And over all that time you have either been the number one or the number two most watched show in daytime syndicated talk shows. So why stop now?” Chris asked Dr. Phil.
Replying candidly, the 72-year-old psychologist said: “Well, you know, 21 years is a long time. And I’ve done the things that I’ve set out to do.”
Speaking about why he wanted to star the show in the first place, Dr. Phil told the host he wanted to “talk about things that matter to people who care” and “talk about the silent epidemics”.
He also spoke of how he wanted his show to “talk about the things that had such a stigma about them that you just didn’t talk about them”, adding: “And I really wanted to push mental illness to the forefront of the narrative in America.”
CNN’s Chris then said that Dr Phil read studies that say anxiety, stress, depression are bigger problems than ever, that teenage girls more than ever feel thoughts of suicide of wanting to hurt themselves, adding: “What’s going on?”
The TV talk show was created by Dr. Phil himself as well as Oprah Winfrey ( Image: Getty Images)
While hosting his show he interviewed many interesting people ( Image: NBCU Photo Bank/NBCUniversal via Getty Images)
Dr Phil then replied: “Well, you know, everybody thinks that the pandemic is perhaps behind this. But that trend really started back in 09, 10. it’s like a big freighter flew over the United States and dropped smartphones on everybody.
“And young people started watching people live their lives, instead of living their own lives. And those lives they were watching, were fantasies, and we compare our reality to other people’s fantasy. And by comparison, we come away feeling worse about ourselves.”
The iconic show saw Dr Phil set out “life strategies” for his guests, which came from his life experience as a clinical and forensic psychologist.
Some of his most famous guests include Danielle “Cash Me Outside” Bregoli, Ukrainian orphan Natalia Grace, and Haley, a teen who claimed she was pregnant with Jesus Christ and that her father was rapper Eminem.
New episodes of Chris’ show are available Friday mornings on Max, and Who’s Talking to Chris Wallace? airs Fridays at 10pm ET/PT on CNN.
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