Is Dr. Phil Now Good Television?

It is tough to come up with daily content for a show, be it radio or TV. Yes, there are plenty out there looking for their fifteen minutes fame, but most of them are unworthy of such a platform.

On my show, I find it challenging to get my listeners great guests and write several articles each week at BizPlusBlog.com and at HoustonBusinessShow.com.

Dr. Phil normally has guests on in some form of crisis. Pregnant too young, angry too often, drunk most of the time, etc. On these shows, McGraw works with these guests and helps them "sort through" their issues. Often, he will have additional experts on to throw in their opinions and provide opportunities for future assistance once they leave the show. However, there are only so many stories that can be done on issues such as these before they get old, regardless of how sick people are capable of being. Eventually, all the stories seem the same.

This leads to the new "Dr. Phil Now" segments, in which the psychologist has a different set, a different seating arrangement, and a different approach to the stories. On such segments, Dr. Phil takes a story pulled from the headlines of newspapers, (such as today's where he interviewed the girls that were "too cute" to fly on Southwest Airlines) and interviews the major players in the incident. Instead of the counseling approach he's noted for, it is more of a platform for social commentary.

The set lacks the crowd of the normal Dr. Phil show and has a decidedly different feel. The mob scene doesn't make sense for such a format. I'm not sure if it is to fill a content void or because he sees a need for a serious review of social issues. We will have to see how the show performs with this new platform.

Kevin Price is Host of the Houston Business Show (M-F at 11 AM on CNN 650) and Publisher of the Houston Business Review. Hear the show live and online at HoustonBusinessShow.com. Visit the archive of past shows here.

Dr. Phil Reaches 1000

Everyone knows I am something of a fan of Oprah, in spite of her politics. I'm equally -- and maybe even more impressed -- by Dr. Phil. Today, I am watching Dr. Phil's 1,000th show. Dr Phil is extremely real and, unlike most of the crazy people who have a daytime TV show, he actually seems to be helpful. He requires guest to take ownership over their issues -- or take a walk.

Dr. Phil is, of course, "his own man." However, he was discovered by Oprah whom he worked for as a consultant during her trial in Amarillo with the beef producers. She discovered his home grown wisdom that was tempered by a PhD.

What started as a weekly segment on the Oprah show evolved into a daily program of his own and it became the second highest daytime show (after his mentors) in no time. Phil McGraw is tough, yet has a great sense of humor (as seen from his antics on The Simpsons, Scary Movie 4, his banter with Dr. Phil, and other appearances).

I congratulate Dr. Phil for making common sense into interesting television.

Kevin Price is Host of the Houston Business Show (M-F at 11 AM on CNN 650) and Publisher of the Houston Business Review. Hear the show live and online at HoustonBusinessShow.com. Visit the archive of past shows here.