From “Spoiled and Entitled” to “Cancelled and Liquidated”
By Josie Goldberg
Los Angeles CA (The Hollywood Times) – 11/11/2025
DR PHIL UPDATE: “6 YEARS LATER” What happened to his dreams of becoming OPRAH/OWN 2.0
I woke up to the news of Dr. Phil losing trial over his media bankruptcy company and immediately thought of when I had my small claims court case with him back in 2019 which I lost fair and square.
Since I am an Entertainment Reporter I decided, to follow my former Mentor (Dr. Phil) and give an update six years later if his dreams came true on becoming the next Oprah. He launched his own Texas based Network, Merit Street Media, promising a mix of faith, family, true crime and “Common Sense” commentary. The branding leaned conservative, the tone leaned political, and the VIBE screamed rebrand by rebellion. Does this sound familiar, when I was on his show, I talked about what I am facing as young single Jewish woman PURSUING her dreams of making it in the Entertainment Industry, with no nepotism and not accepting the Casting Couch.
BUT INSTEAD OF TURNING INTO OWN 2.0, IT TURED INTO OOPS 2.0
In all honestly, I wish Dr Phil, still had his hit show “The Dr. Phil Show” on the air. That show truly transformed my life and served as a springboard for everything I have achieved today. I had the highest level of success in all my projects in my career this far. Plus, I had so much fun, and Dr. Phil & staff were incredible in their craft. The fact that I was on the show from 2010 -2017 and my episodes were running on network tv (CBS and worldwide until the final episode airing on May 25, 2023) was a little crutch for my relevancy. Most do script tv to stay relevant, who knew mine would come from a talk show…(Dr. Phil)
When I sued Dr. Phil and his wife Robin McGraw, in 2019, all I wanted was to be processed under my SAG/AFTRA Bargaining Agreement which the show “The Dr. Phil Show “was. I believed it was not fair that Dr Phil took his Union Fees, as well as his Wife (Robin McGraw) who would just walk him on & off his show and smirk from time to time and parrot Dr. Phil’s commentary. I could not understand why Dr. Phil would not pay me what I deserve as a Union PERFORMER. I started the show in 2010 (the first episode) as a Non-Union performer. Episodes 2-4, I was accepted into the SAG/AFTRA Union and my status changed. When I called the Union (SAG/AFTRA) the Lawyer called me and said “Josie, unfortunately we can’t do anything for you even though you deserve to be paid under our SAG/AFTRA bargaining agreement, however things have a way of working themselves out and you will get your pay day in the future on another network union show. I told her, getting on a network tv show is like hitting “THE GRAND” on a slot machine, and I doubt this will ever happen again.
I mean my series “Spoiled and Entitled” was played weekly all over the world. Basically, I was told indirectly to just move forward and that’s part of this business.
I tried to get over it, but I could not. I filed in small claims court. The only victory I had was serving Dr. Phil’s wife as her production office was in my building where I went to work as a Real Estate Agent. I asked Security to serve her, and you won’t believe it, she was BLIND SIDED and you could hear the screams when it happened. I sued Robin McGraw for laughing at me when Kelly Cutrone (PR MOGUL) said your Union, go get help at the Bob Hope Center for your mental disorders, and Robin did a thumbs up and smirked. First, they acknowledged I’m Union and not only was I casted to portray a character in demand, who laughs at someone who says they are mentally or physically sick. It was sad but my Co-Star ended up in one of those facilities, and I don’t think her parents were laughing, as when they all laughed at me live on national tv. That impacted me because I was cast to accentuate the character. Some of the character was me, but I added a different dimension to “Spoiled and Entitled”. I’m a PROFESSIONAL PERFORMER.
Dr. Phil had to show up in Court as his Wife was formally served. Dr. Phil sent two of his top lawyers and assistant to the hearing. Technically in small claims court the defendant must appear in person, the lawyer cannot represent his client. Dr. Phil did not appear, and his assistant represented him with two lawyers next him and guiding him. One of the lawyers was Chip Babcock (Oprah’s Lawyer)
Charles L. “Chip” Babcock is an American attorney with the Texas-based law firm Jackson Walker L.L.P. He is best known for serving as lead litigator for Oprah Winfrey in several cases, including a 1998 lawsuit regarding an episode of The Oprah Winfrey Show about mad cow disease. Wikipedia.
The Judge was star struck and I attest it was a fair hearing. The Judge asked us to go to mediation and see if we could meet halfway. Barrister Chip Babcock said Josie, if Dr. Phil pays you than he has to pay everyone and Dr. Phil would bankrupt. It was in his future coming so I wanted to get mine before all the wheels fell of the bus(I had a gut feeling) …. I said most of his guests are not SAG/AFTRA, and he looked at me and said you will not receive a dime!!!!
I have to say Dr. Phil is a big winner and I think that’s why I loved being on his show. He kicked my ass, fair and square. In honesty I respected him, his hard work and everything he has achieved. I gave it an old college try. Unfortunately, that’s life like the French say “CEST la vie”. I learned one lesson in life and that is just because Dr. Phil can make millions, it does not mean I can make millions with him. He is that kind of man… I did try to do business with Dr. Phil, by licensing the brand, and seeing if I could get a deal with his team. Even when one of his main producers offered me a show opportunity but the contract was the same as me working nonunion.
For some reason, I felt like I had a divorce with Dr. Phil after the lawsuit. Dr. Phil even gave my brand a shout out on his show which was very nice of him and that made me very happy. Some of his producers would call me time to time to see if I can write a Spoiled and Entitled segment for his show, but it was not their vision.
I feel bad for Dr. Phil and for myself, I don’t know what mental disorder this is. I feel that I started to believe and accept everything Dr. Phil tried to put on me and through. I started from ground zero and rebuilt my career and owned what I did wrong in the past and started over or SO I THOUGHT. Now I read what Dr. Phil is facing and see it was not me and or my stupidity, nativity, it’s Dr. Phil who is an amazing “GASLIGHTER”. I always played back in my mind, “WHAT IF” I was smart with my contracts, acted craftier, would I have been able to develop a relationship where I can monetize my amazing run with SPOILED AND ENTITLED ON THE DR. PHIL SHOW NETWORK CBS SHOW? Now I understand I’m lucky with what I got, I don’t see anyone WINNING BIG WITH DR. PHIL. I am lucky I did not LOOSE BIG like “TRINITY BROADCAST NETWORK”. I walked away with some huge exposure the Brand Spoiled and Entitled which Dr. Phil & Team, created the concept, WINNING Thoroughbred Racehorses, Male sponsor, placements in Major Media Page Six, New YORK Post, Star Magazine and some tough love with NETWORK TV execs that paved my way for a possibility for bigger projects in the future as a tv personality and or Reporter.
I have to be honest my viewers, I would not change my time on Dr. Phil. It was one of the best projects and learning experiences of my life. I just would like to get paid accordingly. I strive and Pray to GOD that one day I can get back to NETWORK TV.
I still hold a special place in my heart for Dr. Phil and the success of the amazing run of Spoiled and Entitled series. If I ever have my own talk show, I hope to invite Dr Phil & Wife and I will pay them a SAG/AFTRA FEE. I do hope one day Dr. Phil will send me the money I deserve (wishful thinking) but sometimes with aged people have a change in heart, plus the interest. Also, I would LOVE TO WORK WITH HIM AGAIN as he is a very talented person as we made history with our content and NETWORK RANKINGs WORLDWIDE
Let’s see what the future holds…
Do you think he would come on my show, or let m interview him ONE DAY?
