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Dr. Phil (talk show)

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This article is about the TV series. For its host, see Phil McGraw.
Dr. Phil
File:DrPhil Season 7 title card.png
Current HD Title Card, Season 7 (2008)
Presented byPhil McGraw
Opening themeShine by Meredith Brooks used from 2004-2008
Country of origin United States
Original languageEnglish
No. of episodes1,242 (as of March 16, 2009)
Production
Production locationsParamount Studios, Los Angeles, California
Camera setupMultiple-camera setup
Running time60 minutes with commercials
Original release
NetworkFirst-run syndication
ReleaseSeptember 16, 2002 –
present

Dr. Phil is a talk show hosted by Phil McGraw. After McGraw's success with his segments on The Oprah Winfrey Show, Dr. Phil debuted on September 16, 2002. On both shows McGraw offers advice in the form of "life strategies" from his experience as a clinical psychologist.

The show is in syndication throughout the United States and Canada, as well as a number of other countries. Also, the show's syndication contracts specifically state that if Dr. Phil is on another station, it cannot air at the same time as Oprah. [citation needed] Its eighth season premiered on September 14, 2009. It was announced on August 3, 2005, that it has been renewed through at least 2013, or eleven seasons. Occasional prime time specials have aired on CBS.

As of September 8, 2008, the seventh season of Dr. Phil is being broadcast in HDTV with a revamped look and a new theme written and performed by McGraw's son, Jordan.

Format

The show covers a wide variety of topics, including weight loss, financial planning, errant children, gift suggestions, children who have been diagnosed with autism, unhappily married couples, rebellious teenagers, mothers who dress far from their age, mothers who refuse to attend weddings, children being stars in their parents' rights, dysfunctional families, mothers who refuse to give their married sons monies and support for charitable causes. Radio personality and ex-child star Danny Bonaduce, came to the show twice in a year to discuss his failing marriage (and later divorce) with Gretchen. On several shows, children and/or adults have taken a lie detector exam. The show is generally serious in tone, leavened with humor from time to time. It has its occasional tense moments and often trashy scenes, like that of The Montel Williams Show, but without melees or aggressive fights on stage, in contrast to The Jerry Springer Show, The Steve Wilkos Show or Maury. He is noted for often bringing back families for multiple shows for follow-up "therapy" sessions in his segment called "Dr. Phil Family." Generally, the program is filmed and guests appear in studio, but in 2006, the Dr. Phil House began as an occasional series. Dr. Phil and his production staff invite guests to a special house wired with numerous cameras and microphones. There, his staff monitor the conversations of the guests he is trying to help, and intervene as necessary to prevent physical violence. Dr. Phil also provides on-the-spot advice and counseling to the "house guests".

Notable shows

  • In a show that aired on May 2, 2005, twin sisters Crystal and Jocelyn Potter appeared. Crystal claimed to want to "work" in the adult industry together with Jocelyn, who rejected the idea as repulsive. Brothel owner Dennis Hof was interviewed and stated that the two could make half a million dollars per year in his establishment. It turns out that the sisters' testimony was less than truthful: since 2002 they have appeared as the "Potter sisters" in numerous pornographic movies together, and in 2003 they even appeared together with Hof in the porn movie "Goin' down at the Bunny Ranch".[1][2]
  • The Dr. Phil House was set in an actual house within the Wilshire Park neighborhood in Los Angeles. It received numerous complaints from neighbors about the disruption caused by filming crews,the guests, cables and production trucks clogging the neighborhood and the constant traffic caused by filming. After the Los Angeles City Council revoked film permits, in September 2006, the Dr. Phil show stopped filming there. However, Peteski Productions, Dr. Phil's production company, still owns the house. The Dr. Phil House has since moved to a studio back lot, and the interior of the house shown in the program is that of a sound stage and not that of the actual house. [3]
  • There was a scam involving Miss Cleo, who lied saying that they knew Dr. Phil. She was initially shut down for her fraudulent "psychic" ability hotline. The woman set up a phone line that they claimed to be run by the director of the Dr. Phil show. By telling customers that they could have a phone conversation with Dr. Phil for $750 an hour, they scammed Dr. Phil's viewers out of thousands of dollars. [4]
  • On December 12, 2006, the show featured a segment on bumfights and attacks on the homeless across America. Dr. Phil discontinued an interview with the creator and distributor of the video series in disgust and forced him off the set by order of Paramount Studios security guards, after already inviting him. [citation needed]

Spoofs

File:Drsfeelandphil.jpg
Dr. Phil with Dr. Feel
  • Sesame Street occasionally features a segment starring a Muppet as "Dr. Feel," who hosts a talk show and asks guests about their feelings. Dr. Phil has even appeared as a guest on one episode.
  • In the Nickelodeon teen comedy Drake and Josh, a female psychiatrist hosts Dr. Phyllis (played by Gabrielle Carteris). One episode centers on this show, when Drake and Josh appear on the show and talk about their problems as brothers.
  • A character named "Dr. Phyllis" also appears in the Brandy & Mr. Whiskers episode "Freaky Tuesday".
  • Phil McGraw stars as himself in a minor role in Scary Movie 4, in which he is kidnapped along with Shaquille O'Neal. Their captor, a parody of the Jigsaw Killer from the Saw series, pumps a deadly nerve agent into the room in which the two are chained, and Dr. Phil is forced to cut off his own foot to escape from his shackles. He cuts off the wrong foot and therefore does not live through the movie. He also reveals that he isn't really a psychiatrist, but an electrician.
  • Dr. Phil starred on a Frasier episode entitled "The Devil & Dr. Phil", where he has Bebe as his agent.
  • The show was spoofed a few times on MADtv with Michael McDonald playing Dr. McGraw. Often, Debra Wilson would appear on these spoofs as well, playing the character of Oprah Winfrey.
  • YTV's The Zone formerly did spoofs of Dr. Phil that were also called Dr. Phyllis.
  • Cyberchase's "Dr. Bill" was a parody of Dr. Phil.
  • On SNL, Dr. Phil was the subject of a few sketches, one where he was portrayed by Will Ferrell.
  • Ex-MADtv regular Frank Caliendo also plays Dr. Phil on his own show, Frank TV, and in commercials for Dish Network.
  • On Hannah Montana, Robby Ray portrays Dr. Phil as Dr. Philbilly to teach his children to get along.
  • Canadian sketch comedy show Royal Canadian Air Farce featured cast member Roger Abbott as Dr. Phil in a few sketches.
  • An episode of Phineas and Ferb spoofs Dr. Phil as Dr. Feelbetter.
  • The episode of The Mighty B! parodies Dr. Phil as Dr. Feelbetter. When Bessie tunes in the television, the announcer replies "Broadcast from the Animation Cartoon Channel! Today... "I want to be your best friend... again". And now, here's your host, Dr. Feelbetter.".
  • Dr. Phil's show has been spoofed on an episode of an Adult Swim series Sealab 2021 entitled "ASHDTV". In this case it was retitled as "The 'Dr.' Phrill Show"

Logos and title cards

Broadcasters

  • In the Arab World the show airs on MBC 4 at 17:00KSA.
  • In Australia the show currently airs on the Network Ten at 12pm each weekday. Prior to 2006, it aired on the Nine Network. The show is also aired on the W. Channel on cable television.
  • In Belgium the show airs on VijfTV at 03:45 PM. And repeats in the night at 01:15.
  • In Belize, Great Belize Television airs it regularly at 5:30 PM Monday to Friday.
  • In Brazil the show airs on Fox Life every weekday at 20:00
  • In Canada the show airs on CTV, at varying times depending on region.
  • In Denmark the show airs on TV3 at 14:20.
  • In Estonia the show airs on Neljas every day at 18:25 on weekdays and at 18:00 on weekends.
  • In Iceland the show airs on SkjárEinn at 17:45 every day of the week, and all the week's episodes shown again at the weekend.
  • In Finland the show airs on Nelonen at 15:00.
  • In Ireland the show airs every weekday morning on RTE1.
  • In Israel the show airs on yes stars Base and HOT Family at 14:30.
  • In New Zealand the show airs on TV3 at 13:00.
  • In Norway the show airs on TV3 at 11:35, and 19:00 (re-run of 11:35)
  • In the Philippines the show airs on Q every Monday, Tuesday, and Friday at 6:10 to 7:15 pm
  • In Portugal the show airs on SIC Mulher at 4:15, 7:45 and 19:55.
  • In South Africa the show airs every weekday on SABC2 at 12:30.
  • In Sweden the show airs on TV4 Plus at 19:05.
  • In The Netherlands the show airs on RTL5 at 16:40 and on RTL 8 at 18:20.
  • In the United Kingdom the show airs on Living, throughout the week. Zone Romantica will air the show 12 noon and 5pm weekdays from September 2009.
  • In South Africa the show airs on SABC, through out the week.
  • In Poland the show airs on nTalk few times a day (irregularly, but daily you can watch it about 4 times or more, not only re-plays but also new episodes)
  • In Venezuela the show airs on Fox life, through out the week.

Dr. Phil Now

This format of the Dr.Phil show is when he helps or gives advice to people that are having big problems in the news the week the show airs. The "Now" episodes have a set with a desk like a news center, and open with another type of music ("breaking news" music.) It has the same dynamic. Themes have included rapists, criminals or Hollywood stars' issues. One episode included Britney Spears and her 2008 divorce and child custody battle. The show's slogan is If it's happening now, we're going to deal with it now.

In the 2002-2008 opening it has a "Dr.Phil Show Now" logo with Dr.Phil saying the show slogan.

Notes

  1. ^ Ben Widdicombe (2005). "Dr. Phil's Double Trouble". New York Daily News. Retrieved January 31 2008. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |accessdate= (help); Unknown parameter |dateformat= ignored (help)
  2. ^ Anon (2005). "How Dr. Phil became Dr. Phoney". OnlineHome.us. Retrieved January 31 2008. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |accessdate= (help); Unknown parameter |dateformat= ignored (help)
  3. ^ "Dr. Phil gets the heave-ho for filming abuses", Office of council member Tom Labonge, 4th Council District Newsletter[1] Last accessed 12 December 2006
  4. ^ "Dr. Phil Confronts Scammers" from Break.Com [2] Last accessed 12 December 2006

Further reading

Sophia Dembling, Lisa Gutierrez (2005). The Making of Dr. Phil: The Straight-Talking True Story of Everyone's Favorite Therapist. Wiley. ISBN 0471696595.

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