History Series / DoctorPhil

* GrammarNazi: Whatever you do, don't use the word 'but' in a sentence. You'll get an earful for it.

* JerkassHasAPoint: Regardless of their misdeeds, some guests have pointed out that Dr. Phil exploits them far more for ratings ("good television", as one guest said) than helping them, and a few former guests of both this show and ''The Doctors'' have come forward accusing them of later going back on the help they promised after the show aired.

* FollowTheLeader: After the unexpected success that Danielle (see above) received after appearing on the show, others have since tried to do the same with their own out-of-control or odd behavior. You would think that Dr. Phil would not keep drawing attention to these kinds of people, but he still does because [[RatingsStint it works both ways]].

* JerkassHasAPoint: Regardless of their misdeeds, some guests have pointed out that Dr. Phil exploits them far more for ratings ("good television", as one guest said) than actually helping them, and a few former guests of both this show and ''The Doctors'' have come forward accusing them of going back on the help they promised after the show aired.

** One such example is Danielle, a 13-year-old guest who appeared in the September 2016 episode "I'm Done with My Car-Stealing, Knife-Wielding, Twerking 13-Year-Old". Danielle differs from many of the out-of-control teenagers who have appeared on ''Dr. Phil'' in her mannerisms, acting similarly to the out-of-control teens who have appeared on ''Series/{{Maury}}'' (dressing provocatively, talking in a "street" accent, excessive smack-talk to the extent of cursing at her mom and grandmother on-stage). Among other thing, she has assaulted her mother, Barbara Ann, in the breast despite her having had breast cancer twice, has stolen cars (even absconding with $3 and car keys of a show make-up artist who was present during filming at their family's home, who expressed that she felt violated by being robbed by Danielle), has recreationally taken Xanax and smoked marijuana, stolen her mother's credit cards with balances totaling $6,000 (even buying a stripper pole at one point), threatened her mother with knives, was accused of framing Barbara Ann on a drug possession charge and even taunted her mother one time after coming home after stealing her mom's car by twerking in front of her face[[note]]For obvious reasons, Danielle's backside is blurred in the video of said incident shown, since she was wearing only a thong on that area of her body at the time it was recorded[[/note]]. It doesn't help matters that her mother, Barbara Ann, [[NotSoAboveItAll often reacts to Danielle's similar threats by engaging in verbal altercations and physically threatening her]]. Dr. Phil points out that she's not as "street smart" as she lets on, as Danielle single-handedly admitted on-camera to premeditated grand theft auto, leaving the scene of an accident after crashing the make-up artist's car, theft and even implicating a friend in the possession of stolen goods, and surmises that Danielle puts up a tough veneer because she's been hurt many time in life. To get Danielle to go the rehab ranch they plan to send her to, Dr. Phil gives her a choice: either go to the ranch or the make-up artist will file charges against her for the crimes she committed during the week of the video shoot. She ultimately does go, but briefly puts up a fight backstage before she decides to head to the ranch.

* TheUnfavorite: This sometimes happens in episodes featuring broken families. Often, one child will be labeled as out of control or destructive, even "a devil." While the minor in question does have serious behavior issues, it's often the case that the parents favor siblings over that minor. Skylar is one example from Season 16; she had uploaded a profile to a sugar baby website, gotten three [=DUIs=], and been in a boatload of other trouble while her twin sister Shaylen was an honor student with a good reputation. Yet her parents felt it was okay to constantly belittle Skylar, invade her privacy, and ridicule her attempts at getting treatment.

Since September 8, 2008, Dr. Phil has been broadcast in HDTV with a revamped look and a new theme written and performed by [=McGraw=]'s son, Jordan. He also produces another show with Jordan, ''The Doctors'', a medical talk show [[DuelingShows competing with]] TheDoctorOzShow. As with ''Oprah'', both shows are contracted so that they can't air at the same time if on different networks.

** '''[[[ShamelessSelfPromoter Robin [=McGraw=] Revelation!]]'''

** '''Robin [=McGraw=] Revelation!'''

** One such example is Danielle, a 13-year-old guest who appeared in the September 2016 episode "I'm Done with My Car-Stealing, Knife-Wielding, Twerking 13-Year-Old". Danielle differs from many of the out-of-control teenagers who have appeared on ''Dr. Phil'' in her mannerisms, acting similarly to the out-of-control teens who have appeared on ''Series/{{Maury}}'' (dressing provocatively, talking in a "street" accent, excessive smack-talk to the extent of cursing at her mom and grandmother on-stage). Among other thing, she has assaulted her mother, Barbara Ann, in the breast despite her having had breast cancer twice, has stolen cars (even absconding with $3 and car keys of a show make-up artist who was present during filming at their family's home, who expressed that she felt violated by being robbed by Danielle), has recreationally taken Xanax and smoked marijuana, stolen her mother's credit cards with balances totaling $6,000 (even buying a stripper pole at one point), threatened her mother with knives, was accused of framing Barbara Ann on a drug possession charge and even taunted her mother one time after coming home after stealing her mom's car by twerking in front of her face[[note]]For obvious reasons, Danielle's backside is blurred in the video of said incident shown, since she was wearing only a thong on that area of her body at the time it was recorded[[/note]]. It doesn't help matters that her mother, Barbara Ann, often reacts to Danielle's similar threats by engaging in verbal altercations and physically threatening her. Dr. Phil points out that she's [[NotSoAboveItAll not as "street smart" as she lets on, as Danielle single-handedly admitted on-camera to premeditated grand theft auto, leaving the scene of an accident after crashing the make-up artist's car, theft and even implicating a friend in the possession of stolen goods, and surmises that Danielle puts up a tough veneer because she's been hurt many time in life. To get Danielle to go the rehab ranch they plan to send her to, Dr. Phil gives her a choice: either go to the ranch or the make-up artist will file charges against her for the crimes she committed during the week of the video shoot. She ultimately does go, but briefly puts up a fight backstage before she decides to head to the ranch.

* BrattyTeenageDaughter: At least twice. As per the norm, they were extreme versions of the trope.

* TheUnfavorite: This sometimes happens in episodes featuring broken families. Often, one child will be labeled as out of control or destructive, even "a devil." While the minor in question does have serious behavior issues, it's often the case that the parents favor siblings over that minor. Skylar is one example from Season 16; she had uploaded a profile to a sugar baby website, gotten three DUIs, and been in a boatload of other trouble while her twin sister Shaylen was an honor student with a good reputation. Yet her parents felt it was okay to constantly belittle Skylar, invade her privacy, and ridicule her attempts at getting treatment.

** "That's not okay" is semi-frequent, sometimes said with an air of YouveGotToBeKiddingMe.
* CaptainObvious: At times. It should be obvious to anyone that it's not okay to beat your children daily.

** When a guest gets angry at the audience for laughing at them, Dr. Phil always replies that "[[BlatantLies they're laughing at the ridiculous of the situation]]", and never berates the audience for doing so.

* OnceAnEpisode: Recent seasons have made sure that every show he puts in a word for his newest book at the time, like the ''Life Code'' or ''The 20/20 Diet''. [[InsistentTerminology Published by his son Jay's publishing company]]. Also, not one episode goes by without him mentioning "my and my son Jay's company" Doctor on Demand, or his wife Robin's latest business venture.

* OnceAnEpisode: Recent seasons have made sure that every show he puts in a word for his book ''Life Code''. [[InsistentTerminology Published by his son Jay's publishing company]].