The Doctors (2008 TV series)

Not to be confused with The Doctors (1963 TV series).
The Doctors
Created by Phil McGraw
Directed by Lynn Hermstad
Starring
Theme music composer Moon Martin
Country of origin United States
Original language(s) English
No. of seasons 6[1]
No. of episodes 1,041[2] (list of episodes)
Production
Executive producer(s)
Producer(s)
  • Veronica Torres
  • Lisa Williams
  • Michelle Wendt
Camera setup Multiple
Running time 42 minutes
Production company(s) Stage 29 Productions[1]
Distributor CBS Television Distribution[1]
Broadcast
Original channel Syndication
Picture format 1080i (HDTV)
Audio format stereophonic
Original run September 8, 2008 – present
Chronology
Related shows Dr. Phil
External links
Website

The Doctors (alternatively The Drs as seen on logo bugs and background graphics)[3] is an American syndicated talk show airing daily in the U.S., Canada, Mexico, Australia, Ireland, Sweden and Finland. It debuted on September 8, 2008.[4][5] The hour-long daytime program is produced by Phil McGraw and his son Jay McGraw and is distributed domestically and globally by CBS Television Distribution. The series is a spin-off of Dr. Phil and is the first talk show to be a third generation talk show spin-off, as Dr. Phil itself spun off of The Oprah Winfrey Show.[6]

It was announced in December 2009, during its second season, that The Doctors was cleared through the 2011-2012 season. The third season premiered September 13, 2010, in high definition.[7] In late August 2012, The Doctors was renewed through the 2015-2016 season. The fifth season started on September 10, 2012. The series' sixth season premiered on September 9, 2013.[1] Dr. Lisa Masterson did not return for the sixth season. Urologist Dr. Jennifer Berman and family medicine physician and sexologist Dr. Rachael Ross joined the series.[1]

Details

The concept, which originated on Dr. Phil, mostly focuses on health and medical issues, as a team of medical professionals (and sometimes celebrity guests/speakers) discuss a range of various health-related topics and answer questions from viewers who are too embarrassed to ask their own doctors.

The series is hosted by emergency room physician and former The Bachelor participant Travis Stork, a University of Virginia trained physician, who has appeared frequently on Dr. Phil, with pediatrician Jim Sears,[8] obstetrician/gynecologist Lisa Masterson, and plastic surgeon Andrew Ordon rounding out the discussion panel.[9]

On May 6, 2011, it was announced that Jillian Michaels had been added to the cast of The Doctors doing mainly segments outside the studio, along with serving as a "special correspondent" on Dr. Phil."[10] Dr. Wendy Walsh, a psychotherapist and relationship expert seen usually in pundit panels on CNN and HLN, was announced as a fifth regular panelist to the show on September 1, 2011, to start as of September 12.[11]

During the holiday break at the end of 2011, Michaels left the show to return to The Biggest Loser, with Walsh also departing the series and returning it to the original four-doctor format for the 2012 season.

Reception

Ratings

The show had not ranked in the top 20 syndicated programs at all during the beginning of its first season, coming in behind the syndicated version of the game show Deal or No Deal among new syndicated programs, garnering a 1.3 rating at the time of its launch.[12] Since then, it has been the only talk show to gain viewers this season, registering a 1.5 rating by the end of October, up to 1.9 by December, and 2.3 by January, surpassing Deal or No Deal; the show remains the top new talk show of the season.[13]

There is also evidence in individual markets of the show's success: for instance, in Buffalo, New York, the show is credited with increasing the lead-in for WKBW-TV's 5:00 newscasts, to the point that the station is once again competitive with other stations in the market.[14]

Quality of advice

A 2014 study in the British Medical Journal determined that 38% of medical advice offered on The Doctors was not supported by scientific research. The study warned that conflicts of interest were rarely addressed and that viewers should be skeptical of claims made on the show.[15]

Non-US Versions

In Canada, a French version called Les Docteurs airs on Radio-Canada (simultaneously with The Doctors, which airs on a different channel at that time). The show, whose format is identical to the previous seasons of the English version, features French-Canadian doctors in a similar-looking set with the same color scheme. Despite these similarities, Les Docteurs uses different music and sound effects. However, the show's logo is the same as the English version, except the English wording has been replaced with French.[16] In Mexico began on September 10, 2012 called Los Doctores (Latin American version), who is broadcast for Televisa and is based on this TV Series. [17]

In Lebanon, an Arabic version of the doctors is aired by MTV channel.

In Vietnam, the program is called Các Bác sĩ nói gì ? (lit Vietnamese What did the Doctors say ? )

In Portugal, is transmitted in a format rubric, inserted an afternoon talk show on channel SIC.

In Egypt, after the end of Al-Bernameg, rumors surfaced on the internet that Egyptian satirist Bassem Youssef will return with a new program on Egyptian television that has no relation with satire and politics. Bassem denied the rumors. However, it was revealed in 2014 on the fifth of September that Bassem Youssef will return to television with an Egyptian version of The Doctors.

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 1.6 1.7 1.8 1.9 1.10 ""The Doctors" Kicks Off Its Sixth Season This Monday, September 9 with New Additions to the Team". The Futon Critic (Press release). Retrieved September 6, 2013.
  2. ↑ "The Doctors Episodes". TV Guide. Retrieved August 3, 2014.
  3. ↑
  4. ↑ "From The Futon Critic". Thefutoncritic.com. Retrieved March 19, 2013.
  5. ↑ from Variety (October 24, 2007)
  6. ↑ "From TV Week (December 9, 2007)". Tvweek.com. December 9, 2007. Retrieved March 19, 2013.
  7. ↑ "The Doctors' Renewed Through 2012 - December 14, 2009 06:00:00 | Broadcasting & Cable". Broadcastingcable.com. Retrieved August 31, 2012.
  8. ↑ "Urine as a health elixir? 'The Doctors' hosts put urine facials, drinks to the test". NY Daily News. May 27, 2010. Retrieved August 31, 2012.
  9. ↑ "From The Futon Critic". Thefutoncritic.com. October 24, 2007. Retrieved March 19, 2013.
  10. ↑ "Jillian Michaels to join 'The Doctors' - May 6, 2011 18:46:39 | Broadcasting & Cable". Broadcastingcable.com. Retrieved August 31, 2012.
  11. ↑ "Dr.Wendy Walsh Joins 'The Doctors' - September 1, 2011 18:54:50 | Broadcasting & Cable". Broadcastingcable.com. Retrieved August 31, 2012.
  12. ↑ Fitzgerald, Toni. Hot thing in syndie 'Deal or No Deal'. Media Life. October 17, 2008.
  13. ↑ "Travolta Tragedy Affects Syndie Mags - January 21, 2009 19:58:45 | Broadcasting & Cable". Broadcastingcable.com. Retrieved August 31, 2012.
  14. ↑ Pergament, Alan. Channel 4 returns to the lead, but cable quarrel boosts Channel 7. The Buffalo News. November 18, 2008.
  15. ↑ Koronyk, C. et al. (December 17, 2014). "Televised medical talk shows—what they recommend and the evidence to support their recommendations: a prospective observational study". The British Medical Journal. doi:10.1136/bmj.g7346. Retrieved December 17, 2014.
  16. ↑ "Les docteurs". Radio-Canada.ca. August 29, 2011. Retrieved August 31, 2012.
  17. ↑ "Carla Estrada lista para Los Doctores". Televisa.com. August 13, 2012. Retrieved August 31, 2012.

External links