CBS Television Distribution’s Dr. Phil scored the highest ratings of its season so far with Wednesday’s episode featuring Dr. Phil McGraw’s intervention with Nick Gordon, the boyfriend of Whitney Houston’s daughter, Bobbi Kristina Brown. Brown is on life support in an Atlanta hospital, according to reports, after being found unconscious in her bathtub in January.
The episode averaged a 3.9 rating/11 share in households for its metered market primary runs, according to Nielsen Media Research, and won its time period in the top three markets. It also finished first in its time slot in 25 of the country’s top 30 markets. The show’s best performance came in Dayton, Ohio, where it hit a 14.0 rating/39 share. Dr. Phil also outperformed its year-ago time period average (March, 2014) by 39% and grew 144% from its lead-in.
In the episode, Dr. Phil offers treatment to Gordon, who is battling depression and addiction. With his mother, Michelle, by his side, Gordon discussed the pain, mental anguish and panic attacks he says he has been suffering since Brown was discovered and since her mother died three years ago.
Dr. Phil was created by Oprah Winfrey’s Harpo Productions and is produced by Peteski Productions in association with CBS Television Distribution, which also distributes the show. Carla Pennington and Dr. McGraw are executive producers.
