That’s TV host Phil McGraw aka Dr. Phil talking to AARP The Magazine current issue about his shyness, his childhood, his transition at 50 to start in television, how he’s a real homebody and much more. Here’s some:
On his childhood
“When I moved with my dad to Kansas City after ninth grade, we wound up virtually homeless. Eventually we got a one-bedroom, but we didn’t have money for electricity. That little cracker-box apartment got cold in December. Today, when someone comes on the show and says, ‘We don’t know if we can make rent next month,’ well, don’t let the suit fool you – I’ve been there.
On being a homebody
“To tell you the truth, I’m very shy. When we take commercial breaks on the show, they last about five seconds. The producers fill in the commercials later because I am uncomfortable standing there for three and a half minutes with nothing to do. Put me in front of an audience and I don’t get nervous at all. But a cocktail party is my hell.”
On being a yes-man
“You always hear that Hollywood is a bunch of stars surrounded by yes-men, but I hire people who argue with me. I have 300 staffers. About 290 are women. They know my audience better than I do. I’m not my demographic. I’ll say, ‘I don’t want to do this episode.’ They’ll say, ‘Oh, yes, you do,’ and they’re always right. I’ve turned into the yes-man.”