0/5

Staff turmoil behind the scenes of Dr. Phil

Staff lay-offs and cut-backs rankle employees on Dr. Phil, despite it rating #1.

2015-10-05_1205

There’s trouble a-brewin’ backstage at Dr. Phil, according to one media report.

There have been staff lay-offs and cut-backs on production of the CBS talk show, despite it being the
#1 rated syndicated talk show and host Phil McGraw reportedly earning $70 million a year (including books).

The Wrap reports just days after employees settled in from their summer hiatus, executives axed the entire transcription department.

“It was heartless to cut those people after we returned from hiatus,” an insider said. “They could have notified them while we were on break and given them time over the summer to look for other jobs. Instead they let them go right after we got back.”

Producers already working 60-plus hours a week must now transcribe episodes themselves.

The show has also laid off its head of public relations. Further cost-cutting measures were implemented in September, including letting go of two producers.

It has also scaled back medical benefits, prompting several union employees to file a formal complaint with the Directors Guild of America.

According to the insider, things are so bad that “there’s about to be a mutiny.”

A CBS Television Distribution spokesperson declined to comment.

Dr. Phil screens in Australia on TEN.

4 Responses

  1. Some working conditions in TV are appalling. These days, in TV, most experienced people walk right out the door, and avoid working for a company again, if they’re not happy to work gruelling hours or at least get paid for the overtime No one should have to endure poor working conditions. Especially when talent and Execs are getting paid ridiculous amounts of money.

Leave a Reply