As Dr. Oz Launches Senate Campaign, Questions Arise About Daytime Show
Dr. Mehmet Oz announced on Tuesday that he is running for Pennsylvania’s open U.S. Senate seat, as a Republican — thus calling into question the future of his daytime-TV program.
In September 2020, The Dr. Oz Show was renewed for Seasons 13 and 14, taking it into Spring 2023.
Reps for Sony Pictures Television, which co-produces The Dr. Oz Show, had no comment, but sources tell us that the studio is reviewing its options and discussing with broadcast partners how to possibly move forward. This much is known, however: what used to be the daytime show’s online hub, DoctorOz.com, abruptly shifted gears on Tuesday, erasing any and all show/tune-in information and replacing it with news of Oz’s campaign launch and a “Why I’m Running” explainer.
Touting himself as “THE RIGHT MEDICINE,” Oz writes (with a full embracing of any and all medical puns), “Today, America’s heartbeat is in a code red in need of a defibrillator to shock it back to life. Many of us feel like we’re in the adjacent operating room, armed with insights and already scrubbed up but reluctant to leave our quiet, serene setting for the chaos next door. But for me, stepping into the political arena is the right thing to do.”
Many paragraphs later, he says in closing, “I’m running for U.S. Senate to reignite our divine spark, bravely fight for freedom, and will tell it like it is.”
Oz formally announced his Senate bid via an op-ed in Tuesday’s Washington Examiner, followed by a video posted to Twitter. A longtime New Jersey resident who as of late has been registered to vote in Pennsylvania, Oz and his name recognition enters what is considered to be a wide-open race now that Sean Parnell, the contender backed by former President Donald Trump, has bowed out amid some controversy.
Of course, Oz himself is no stranger to causing a commotion. In August 2020, to cite one example, he supported the idea that while “any life is a life lost,” a “2% to 3% mortality rate” resulting from the reopening of schools during the pandemic “might be a tradeoff some folks would consider.”
After several years of being a regular guest on The Oprah Winfrey Show, Oz in 2009 launched his eponymous program, which is co-produced by Winfrey’s Harpo Productions and Sony Pictures Television.
Questions should’ve arised about his daytime show long before his Senate run.
My thoughts exactly.
Isn’t he fraud?
Seems a perfect fit for the GOP, then, since snake oil cures and misinformation seem to be that party’s bread and butter nowadays.
+100
He’ll probably go far unfortunately
My thoughts exactly. He’s already a proven liar and happy to play on people’s fears and insecurities to get money and power, so he’ll fit right in with the GOP. What a creep.
Shame on the “reality” tv producers and on the networks who keep selling these guys to the public.
Sadly, his first TV campaign ad does all those things. It was hard to watch.
I thought ot was Jason Bateman
YESSS! OMG. I thought he was doing a new show.
He’s running for senate for the same reason Whatshisname ran for President in 2015: it’s a publicity stunt to attempt to approve their ratings for their declining TV programs. Oh, brother.
His voting in Pennsylvania should be considered voter fraud. He doesn’t live there and used his in-laws’ address to secure a mail in vote. And people will vote for him because of his ridiculous and oft medically unsound show. And Oprah. Because of her we have two of the biggest quacks with careers they shouldn’t have.
Also, I still can’t get over him saying 2%-3% of children dying is an acceptable loss if it meant preserving some of “our freedoms” during the pandemic. I have no doubt the people of PA will vote for this idiot.
No see, it’s only those nasty liberals who partake in voter fraud! /sarcasm
He’s a hypocrite, he fits right in with that other party
Sad but true. 😓
Is that how he’s registered to vote there?!? OMG.
Yup. In PA you have to have lived in the state and municipality you want to vote in for at least 30 days before whatever election you’re voting in. He lives in New Jersey but his in-laws live in PA. So he used their address to apply for a mail in ballot so he could vote there.
Life imitating art? Randall on This Is Us was elected to the Philadelphia City Council when he lived in New Jersey but owned an apartment building in Philly.
He’ll get hammered hard on the 2 – 3 percent comment. He’s a quack.
In politics time that comment happened 20 years ago. Also, the past 10 years have shown us you can some of the most awful things and still get elected.
*say some of…
Pennsylvania voter who can’t wait to vote for anyone but Oz.
Does he live in PA?
His government experience???
Doesn’t have to have any. He’s a media celebrity snake oil saleman. That’s enough for him to get elected nowadays.
Reminds me of the days when we got people from the porn industry, the media and from Big Brother entering politics. Oh, and let’s not forget comedians…
He’s awful and absolutely cares more about money than anything else in the world.
My Favorite Show that tough us so much about our Health. Suddenly he turned to Crime and Bloody News that we are tired of heared.Why?
This snake oil salesman
This is some kind of sick joke, right?
The GOP truly has an affinity for piling more trash upon an already monumental heap of steaming refuse. This quack has always made my skin crawl.
“2% to 3% mortality rate” resulting from the reopening of schools during the pandemic “might be a tradeoff some folks would consider.”
That’s not an opinion, he stated a fact. Some people support that kind of trade off. Some countries too. He didn’t say “that’s what we should do”. I personally don’t feel confortable stating what is best given that so many people were inpoverished by the closures. I am lucky enought not to be in that situation so I’m not making big sacrificies by staying home. I am of course 3 times vaxxed.
There’s a whole lot of salt in these comments! I’ll bet all of you have tuned into his show religiously for years, but you find out he might share political beliefs that differ from yours and suddenly he’s a fraud and liar. The tolerant left at its finest!
I have never watched his show even once because I could smell this snake oil salesman from a mile away. I wish him all the worst with his campaign.
Yeah, no, never watched his show, precisely because I’ve never liked the trend of these kinds of daytime doctor talk shows that are all pop/junk science and nothing of any substance. And scenarios like this are a perfect example of why these kinds of shows aren’t good or valuable.
.
And we don’t like him because he, y’know, lies and makes up a lot of nonsense about issues relating to people’s health, which, in the midst of a pandemic where lies and misinformation are already running rampant, is about the last thing we need. When somebody spouts off and states things that are blatantly untrue, they don’t get to hide behind “It’s just my political beliefs!” as a defense, and their lies and misinformation do not get to be respected and tolerated. People in power have a responsibility to be honest and truthful, especially when it comes to something as serious as people’s health. Any sane, logical person would and should agree with that, regardless of which side of the political aisle they fall on.
.
But hey, good job with making assumptions and defending liars and hucksters. Says a hell of a lot more about you than it does us “salty” commenters.
Much respect, Angela. I agree with everything you have so eloquently stated.
Dr. Oz is running for the Senate as a Republican?! Will wonders never cease. Some of the most likable television personalities turn out to be Republicans. And then all the people who liked them before they knew they were Republican instantly hate them. Good luck, Dr. Oz! We need more people in the Senate with common sense.
He is a QUACK…perfect for the GQP!
Hmm…kind of throws a monkey wrench into the tRumpGOP effort to oust all members of Congress with a Middle East background.
I for one think this is very refreshing. As a republican but more than that he wants to shut FAUCCI down for all his lies he’s destroyed the country. FAUCCI concocted to virus in his lab he signed off on it. People need to be held accountable and that’s what Oz will do