Daytime television psychologist “Dr. Phil” McGraw says he plans to end his talk show after 21 years in the coming months, but viewers haven’t seen the last of him.
Dr. Phil was the most prominent spinoff from Oprah Winfrey’s show, which once dominated daytime TV. The Texan’s program debuted in September 2002 after he had been featured as a regular guest on Winfrey’s.
“With this show, we have helped thousands of guest and millions of viewers through everything from addiction and marriage to mental wellness and raising children,” McGraw said in a statement on Wednesday.
“This has been an incredible chapter of my life and career, but while I’m moving on from daytime, there is so much more I wish to do.”
The traditional US broadcast TV season ends in the northern spring. There was no date given for Dr Phil’s final show.
McGraw, 72, said he wants to focus on prime-time programming and is planning an unspecified project for early next year.
In the meantime, while new episodes won’t be made, the show won’t disappear from TV. CBS Media Ventures, which syndicates his program, said it will offer stations a package of reruns with occasional new wraparound content for future seasons.
© AP 2023
