Phil McGraw popularly known as Dr Phil, has had a long and successful run as a chat show host on American television. A clinical psychologist by profession, his show included examining cases, psychologically analyzing his guests, and offering solutions to their problems. The Dr Phil show which began in 2002, finally ended in 2023.
The TV host though, has also had the reputation of conducting some controversial interviews with guests, some of whom have revealed that the show did nothing positive for their well-being. In an episode in 2006, Dr Phil had no patience for the creator of the infamous Bum Fights, and stopped the interview before it began to order his guest to leave.
Dr Phil Showed The Door To A Controversial Guest
Dr Phil has never shied away from creating major talking points through many of his guests in his popular chat show. The television host who has conducted quite a few interviews that have raised eyebrows, was pushed to his limit with a particular guest in 2006. The interviewee happened to be the creator of the controversial video series Bum Fights, Ty Beeson. The series dealt with the concept of homeless people getting paid and filmed to street fight.
Right at the outset, Bum Fights turned out to be a very problematic premise that received a ton of criticism from all corners for its voyeuristic approach and the brutal manipulation of the underprivileged that forced them to hurt each other in crude, inhuman ways. Dr Phil though, began his show with positivity as he praised Beeson’s magnanimity towards providing opportunities to the poor in the video package.
Suddenly and unexpectedly, the psychologist changed gears and ordered the video to be stopped immediately. In a shocking move, he confronted Beeson in a curt manner and dismissed him from the interview in a video from the Dr Phil Show on CBS that went viral.
“I don’t want to talk to you. That’s despicable. You can go.”
While a few members of the crowd applauded Dr Phil for taking this stance, this sudden shift in opinion led to speculations about the possibility that the host had purposely manufactured the whole incident and staged the event. Many viewers believed that this was completely ironic as Dr Phil who had criticized Beeson’s manipulative ways, revealed his own exploitative attitude in the process.
Why Dr Phil Finally Called It A Day
Despite infamous guests creating a stir and controversial incidents marking the show, Dr Phil has proved that he is a bonafide veteran of daytime American television. Over 21 seasons, the host has entered the living rooms of many viewers across the country, and has had them hooked to his show and clinging to his advice.
In the spring of 2023, the psychologist finally decided to hang up his boots. CBS which was the home for the Dr Phil show, made the confirmation following the host’s desire to call it a day. In an interview with Variety post the announcement, Dr Phil looked back at a fruitful 21 years and detailed his plans for the future.
“I have been blessed with over 25 wonderful years in daytime television. 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, but while I’m moving on from daytime, there is so much more I wish to do.”
True to his words, the psychologist began a new innings in November 2023 by launching his own channel called Merit Street Media which would be dedicated to bringing viewers essential news and entertainment.The network based in Forth Worth, is reported to have a state-of-the-art broadcast center spanning over 5 acres which is still under construction.
