Monday, December 14, 2009

"Doctors" renewed until 2012

Weigel stations pick up show for third and fourth seasons

CBS Television Distribution has renewed The Doctors for its third and fourth seasons.

CBS has also renewed the show in more than 85 percent of the country, including CBS-owned stations that currently carry the show with WCBS-TV in New york City and KCBS-TV in Los Angeles upping the show for two years.

Here in Chicago, Doctors airs on Weigel's WCIU-TV, which apparently has renewed the show, as did its sister station in Milwaukee, CBS affiliate WDJT-TV.

Currently in its second season, The Doctors has been a surprise success for CBS Television Distribution and all involved, including Dr. Phil McGraw (whose Dr. Phil talk show has already been renewed until 2014) and his son Jay, who heads Stage 29 Productions, the outfit who produces the show. The program uses a panel format to discuss medical issues and demonstrate medical procedures.The show also answers questions sent in by viewers.

The mixture is working - ratings for the show are up 18 percent from last year.


The Doctors could also be in line for some upgrades with Oprah Winfrey hanging up her mic in September 2011.

The Doctors premiered on September 8, 2008, and is seen in Canada, Finland, and Sweden. The series is not related to the former NBC daytime soap opera of the same name, which ran from 1963 to 1982. 

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