Dr Phil McGraw rose to fame on American television after Oprah Winfrey invited him as a guest and later as a panelist on her hit daytime talk show, The Oprah Winfrey Show. This led to the psychologist landing his own self-titled show, which ended in 2023 after 21 years amid reports of a toxic workplace and a declining daytime TV market. At its peak, the programme earned 31 Daytime Emmy nominations over its 21-season run, though it never won the awards.
Retirement and New Ventures
"I have been blessed with over 25 wonderful years in daytime television," McGraw said in a statement via Deadline. "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." While McGraw expressed gratitude, he felt a higher calling and shifted focus to primetime programming. He launched his own broadcast cable television network, Merit Street Media, with its cornerstone Dr. Phil Primetime airing from April 2024 to April 2025. In 2020, he received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.
Controversies
Since stepping back from daytime TV, McGraw has faced controversies. In 2020, he criticized Covid-19 pandemic measures, comparing death rates to fatalities from smoking and drowning. After social media backlash, he issued a video apology, saying his comments were motivated by concern over restrictions' impact on mental health. Additionally, McGraw was a licensed psychologist from 1979 to 2006 but chose not to renew his license four years into his talk show. Journalist Evan Allen, after investigating the show, noted a deception: "He presents himself as this trustworthy, straight-talking doctor. That's his whole brand. But the reality is so at odds with the thing they are pretending to be."
Health Battle
McGraw has been open about his health struggles, particularly living with type 2 diabetes for over two decades. To manage his condition, he focuses on lifestyle changes, works with a healthcare team, and maintains a solid support system.
