Dr. Travis Stork
AKA: ‘The Host’
Stork’s trek to TV was an unlikely one.
The Emmy-nominated host is a magna cum laude, Phi Beta Kappa and Alpha Omega Alpha graduate of Duke and the U. of Virginia, but his TV break came when the easy-on-the-eyes doc was approached by a casting director to join ABC’s “The Bachelor.”
After that, Stork began appearing regularly on “Dr. Phil,” and was ultimately tapped by Jay McGraw as he was creating “The Doctors.”
“What I try to do on the show is teach and share with people all of the little things they can do to improve their health,” says Stork, who lives in Colorado and practices what he preaches, riding his bike to work and hiking, mountain biking and skiing in his limited free time. “I think our show has really empowered people. Viewers tell me they feel more knowledgeable and more excited about their health rather than intimidated or even terrified.”
Dr. Jim Sears
AKA: ‘The Human Guinea Pig’
Sears, the famous pediatrician son of a famous pediatrician, hadn’t done TV when he began appearing on “Dr. Phil,” but he had spent a fair amount of time in front of people, giving talks and hosting clinics.
While Sears continues to be the show’s go-to guy for all things kid-focused, he’s also surprised himself by becoming the show’s “human guinea pig.” Whether it’s bungee-jumping or shark-diving, Sears is up for it.
“I’m apparently a guy who is willing to do pretty much anything if you put a camera on me,” Sears says. “I didn’t know that about myself.”
Sears first showed his willingness to take a chance when he said he’d swallow a camera in a large pill after Stork politely declined.
“Pretty soon the producers realized they would have a hard time finding stuff I wouldn’t do. They try to come up with stuff and so far they have not been successful.”
Dr. Andrew Ordon
AKA: ‘The Generalist’
Unlike Stork or Sears, Ordon was no stranger to TV when he joined “The Doctors.” He had long been practicing plastic surgery and had appeared on such programs as ABC’s “20/20” and syndicated series such as “Montel Williams,” “Rachael Ray,” “Phil Donahue” and “Entertainment Tonight.”
“I always thought if the opportunity came up it could be something I would like to do,” Ordon says. “But I did not actively pursue it.”
Ordon’s son went to high school with Jordan McGraw — son of Phil and brother of Jay — and that connection led to a try-out and ultimately a six-year-and-counting gig.
Now, Ordon still talks about plastic surgery and makeovers, but he’s also taken several trips for charity that have been highlighted on the show, and he’ll take questions on ear, nose and throat issues — an early specialty of his — as well as skin care and surgery, since he’s the only surgeon on the panel.
“What I always hear from viewers is that we’re giving them good information, but we also seem like we are having fun with it,” he says.
