'Dr. Phil' Plays the Ultimate Santa When Deserving Families Receive a Bounty of Gifts on the 'Dr. Phil & Robin's Holiday Show' to Air Monday, December 11

'Dr. Phil' Plays the Ultimate Santa When Deserving Families Receive a Bounty of Gifts on the 'Dr. Phil & Robin's Holiday Show' to Air Monday, December 11

Jay Leno; 'Entertainment Tonight's' Steve Cojocaru; Michael Bolton; and Stars from the CBS Comedy, 'How I Met Your Mother;' 'Ugly Betty' and 'Dancing With the Stars,' Join the McGraw Family, the U.S. Marine Corps and Toys for Tots to Honor an Audience of Underprivileged Families

HOLLYWOOD, Calif., Dec. 8 /PRNewswire/ -- The annual "Dr. Phil & Robin's Holiday Show," featuring Dr. Phil, Robin and the McGraw family, as well as celebrity guests Jay Leno; Steven Cojocaru ("Entertainment Tonight"); Michael Bolton; the entire cast of "How I Met Your Mother," Vanessa Williams and Michael Urie ("Ugly Betty"); Lisa Rinna ("Dancing with the Stars") and Olympic speed skater Apolo Ohno airs on Monday, December 11 (Check local listings for time and channel).

The U.S. Marines Corps will be on hand to assist in the distribution of toys and other goods -- including computers, MP3 players, gas and food gift certificates, vacuum cleaners, guitars, clothing and airline tickets -- that are being given to honor the audience of underprivileged and deserving families. These people were culled from Southern California's local churches, schools and agencies serviced by The Marines Toys for Tots Foundation, for which Dr. Phil and Robin McGraw are this year's National Spokespersons.

Since 1947, the Marine Corps has been collecting new, unwrapped toys for distribution to millions of underprivileged children across the nation.

Highlights of the show include famed car collector Jay Leno driving a life-size, toy-filled Tonka dump truck, an exact replica of the classic Hasbro toy, through Paramount studios and a performance by Michael Bolton from his new album, "Swingin' Christmas." Also featured is a segment on Dr. Phil and Robin's trip to Gulfport, Mississippi, where they personally handed out toys on behalf of Toys for Tots to a community of children and parents still displaced after the devastation of Hurricane Katrina 15 months ago.

Dr. Phil and Robin announced their association with the non-profit organization on the Nov. 1 broadcast of "Dr. Phil." The 2006 Toys for Tots campaign has been highlighted on shows since, with audience members being encouraged to bring in a toy or donate funds via the show's website, www.drphil.com. In addition to the Dr. Phil Foundation has helped raise nearly $94,000 for the national drive.

On November 5, Dr. Phil and Robin McGraw made their first public appearance on behalf of Toys for Tots at the Texas Motor Speedway, where the 180,000 fans attending the Dickies 500 NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Race were asked to bring in toys for donation. Additionally, they were given official, custom-made Dale Jarrett pit crew racing suits, with their names embroidered on the waistbands, which were put up for auction on E-Bay with the intent that all the proceedings would go to Toys for Tots. Dr. Phil and Robin's suits brought in a total of almost $50,000.

With Toys for Tots, Dr. Phil and Robin McGraw continue their efforts on behalf of disadvantaged children, having previously joined forces with the Alliance for Children's Rights, the J.C. Penney After-School Fund, Mr. Holland's Opus Foundation, the Children's Defense Fund "Beat the Odds," Lutheran Family Services of Colorado and the Detroit Youth Foundation.

The Marine Toys for Tots Foundation, an IRS recognized 501 (c) (3) not-for-profit public charity, is the authorized fund raising and support organization for the Marine Corps Reserve Toys for Tots Program.

The syndicated series, "Dr. Phil," was created by Harpo Productions, produced by Peteski Productions in association with CBS Paramount Domestic Television and distributed by King World Productions. Executive Producer Carla Pennington-Stewart has been with "Dr. Phil" since its inception, as have Supervising Producers Angie Kraus Bell, Kandi Amelon Sawyer and Kathy Giaconia and Director Paul Casey.

"Dr. Phil" is broadcast on over 212 stations representing 99.9% of the national market. Since its debut, in September 2002, the series has been ranked second among all talk shows, and consistently ranks among the Top Ten of all syndicated strips (Source: NSS Ranking Report).

Source: Dr. Phil

CONTACT: Theresa Corigliano, V.P., Media Relations, +1-323-956-3357, or
Louis DiCenzo, Manager, Media Relations, +1-323-956-3405, both for Dr. Phil

Web site: http://www.drphil.com/

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