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I cannot stand Dr. Phil. I think he’s a dangerous idiot and I genuinely have no idea how or why there’s anyone out there who still takes him seriously or pays attention to him at all. As far as I know, he’s laid pretty low since he went on Fox News in April 2020 and waxed poetic about why the US needed to reopen the economy, deadly virus be damned. In addition to his problematic views, he’s also done some pretty questionable interviews through the years. I guess we should all be grateful that he didn’t run for US Senate like Dr. Oz did. (#Crudités4Eva)
After 21 long years, Dr. Phil’s talk show finally ended back in May. If you’re thinking to yourself, “That douchebag was still on air?” you aren’t alone. He was! I was hoping that the end of his talk show meant that he was going to sail off into the distance with his nest egg, never to be heard from again, but alas. Not only is Dr. Phil returning to our screens, he’s also launching a new news and entertainment cable TV network called Merit Street Media. The network’s flagship show will be Dr. Phil Primetime, which will premiere at 8:00 p.m. ET, beginning on February 26, 2024.
Following the end of his long-running daytime syndicated talk show, Dr. Phil McGraw is launching Merit Street Media, a new news and entertainment cable TV network. It will be anchored by Dr. Phil Primetime, which will premiere Feb. 26, 2024 and will air nightly at 8 PM ET. No details have been revealed yet about the new network’s distribution. It is expected to have nationwide carriage, which would be no small feat in the current challenging business environment of declining linear ratings and cord-cutting.
Merit Street will be based in the heart of the Dallas-Fort Worth area, where a new state-of-the-art broadcast center, spanning over 5 acres, is completing construction. Dozens of longtime Dr. Phil staffers have relocated their families to Texas to continue working alongside McGraw.
In the coming months, Merit Street will announce its full primetime lineup; the network is expected to initially offer multiple hours of original daily programming, including live news broadcasts. Dr. Phil Primetime will stay close to the format of McGraw’s daytime show, with him continuing to offer no-nonsense advice in addition to conducting interviews with headline makers.
“I absolutely love talking to real people about real problems. People who aren’t just complaining but are actively looking for real solutions to better their lives,” McGraw said. “It all begins and ends with real people dealing with these issues for real, using common sense, fact-based information, and action plans to create results.
The new show also is expected to feature some of McGraw’s conservative views on family values, immigration and education curriculum which he shared in the final years of his daytime talker. He hinted at that in his official comments about the launch of Merit Street.
“American families and our core values are under attack,” he said. “I love this country, and I believe family is the backbone of our society. Together we are going to stand strong and fight for the very soul and sanity of America and get things that matter back on track.”
Meh. Honestly, I cannot think of anything I’d want to watch less than a new Dr. Phil show, let alone a whole network from him. Does anyone plan on watching anything he puts out? What does “no-nonsense advice” look like from a self-professed conservative who believes that our core family values are “under attack?” Did he see Tuesday’s election results? His advice should be something along the lines of, “Hey y’all, women want bodily autonomy and parents want you to leave teachers, librarians, and LGBTQ+ kids alone. You should do that.” I’m sure it won’t be, though, because people like that never learn. I probably won’t pay attention when Dr. Phil Primetime and Merit Street TV are up at bat, but it sure will be fun to hear about when they swing, miss, and strike out. It’s also kinda funny in a terrifying way that all of these little baby conservative networks keep popping up, like they’re trying to dethrone Fox News. Good luck!
Photos credit Getty and via Instagram
He’s so gross. He worked so hard to launch his wife and kids and they all came across as entitled and dull. He and his wife need to lay off the plastic surgery – they look like creepy siblings that are way, way older than they are.
They’re both pulled tighter than a drum and the filter… lol. Bye clowns.
I didn’t even recognize his wife
Ain’t nobody coming to see you, Otis.
@crowhood 😂 I’m gonna watch this movie PLUS the 5 heartbeats tonight
I love Oprah…. But I really can’t get over how many unhinged idiots she introduced us too… go away Dr Phil..
Oh no thank you! I despise Dr Phil with my whole chest. Nope pass!
From day one I haven’t been able to stand this smug, self satisfied man. Also hard agree when men start whining their family values are under attack it’s time to pay attention because it’s code to take away rights of others.
I can do without him and will won’t be watching.
I’ve never watched him before – don’t see why I should now.
My teenager loves his show and I’ve let her watch it since grade school. We are democrats as most of his viewers historically have been. Who knows, he might currently be a moderate republican but he regularly chewed out biblethumpers, wifebeaters, cheaters, and self-entitled white men on his show for his his entire career. In fact I always had the impression Oprah promoted him to expose the screwed up mentality of southern conservative white folk, particularly males -but that it was only democrats watching. And in one of his final episodes he repeatedly shut down right wing males attacking his LGBTQ panel and will likely do the same on his new show. It’s ok to be a moderate but if he suddenly comes out promoting Trump he’s mud in my house.
Look on the bright side – he’s going to employ some tradesfolk in the DFW area for as long as this lasts, anyway. Make hay while the sun shines, kids!
Unlicensed doctor, giving out 5 cent advice. Steer clear!
Unlicensed?! Fracking crackpot
Technically, he’s a Dr because he has a PhD.
I believe he “surrendered” his license in Texas in 2006 (which no one willingly does – they cost like $150 to renew every year and enable you to bill insurance, etc…sounds like it was “You can either quit or you can be fired” situation).
He has prior disciplinary action:
https://www.scribd.com/document/318570481/Dr-Phil-s-Texas-Disciplinary-File-Full-version-produced-to-LawNewz
He was never licensed in California, where he show was taped.
I also work in a clinical practice and there is a HUGE difference between getting a PhD and being licensed – in Virginia, you have to pass a strenuous test and put in 3,400 supervised practicum hours in order to get your license to practice. You can get a PhD without a single hour of supervised clinical services.
@nutella toast: I’m hardly an apologist for the odious Dr Phil, but I’m trying to understand your last point, and I’m confused by your comment that “you can get a PhD without a single hour of supervised clinical services “ — since, of course PhDs are offered in many fields and even in many areas of psychology that don’t have clinical components or state licensing requirements.
Wouldn’t all /most people with a PhD in Clinical Psychology have had multiple hours of supervised practicum experience as well as an approved clinical internship before being awarded a PhD? In at least some states, while a license is required for independent practice, it’s also possible for trained clinicians to provide clinical services under the supervision of a licensed psychologist— as “psychology associates”. I do agree with you: that there is a huge difference between getting a PhD and being licensed by a state to practice independently in that state. I’m just confused by your last sentence.
Why do they look like siblings.
Thanks Oprah!
His daughter in law is Morgan Stewart from Rich Kids of something something. I watched that show ages ago and liked it because those people were so entertaining in their lack of self awareness and shallowness. She fits right in to this family it seems.
Thanks Oprah!
Sadly, unfortunately, and inaccurately: when many people rail on about “therapy” and “psychologists” it’s usually because they’re envisioning a whole profession of people like Dr Phil.
Can’t stand him or his Stepford wife! I’m surprised he doesn’t make her walk behind him.
Ew & ew. He is an unlicensed exploitative accident chaser. Hard pass.
Just what the world doesn’t need. More right wing propaganda.
“ The new show also is expected to feature some of McGraw’s conservative views on family values, immigration and education curriculum which he shared in the final years of his daytime talker. He hinted at that in his official comments about the launch of Merit Street.
“American families and our core values are under attack,” he said. “I love this country, and I believe family is the backbone of our society. Together we are going to stand strong and fight for the very soul and sanity of America and get things that matter back on track.”
So….bigotry. He’s spending all this money and creating a network to spread bigotry. I mean, I know he’s hoping to make a boatload of money off the suckers who fall for his grift (and he will definitely do that) but still, you’d think someone who pretends to care about people’s well being would want them to not be filled with hate and bigotry.
How many other clowns does the right wing maga space have room for? They all spout the exact same talking points, it’s a grift for 99% of them. Also if anyone is attacking families it’s republicans that want to strip away the last remaining social safety nets that we have in this country and they aren’t great to begin with. And workers rights? Guess who hates those as well? It’s so depressing to me that these people can get the average American thinking that some hypothetical scenario involving a drag queen is more harmful to their family than what’s actually being done to them, like tax hikes, voter suppression, bodily autonomy being taken away, etc.
He wants people to write in and tell them what we’re interested in? I’m interested in Dr Phil staying off the air. I’m interested in girls and women having reproductive freedom in all 50 states.
Dr Phil is 73 years old; doesn’t anyone want to retire anymore? How much more fame and money do you need? I am in my early 50’s and if I could live in a nursing home now, I would jump at it. I just want a life of bingo, Taco Tuesdays and watching my daytime stories in peace.
There’s never ever enough fame and money for snake-oilers like this guy. It’s all they live for really.
Yuck! He needs to go away.
And what’s up with his tagalong wife? Talk about living in someone’s reflection!!