“Dr. Phil” Tops Talkers

Review based on a national syndicated rating report for the week ending May 15, 2022.

In a week where almost every major strip in syndication slipped Dr. Phil (1.6 live plus same day national Nielsen, steady with the week before) bucked the downtrend and emerged as the highest rated and most-watched (2,300,000 daily viewers) talk show in the session ending May 15.

For the prior three weeks, “Phil” had battled to first place ties with Live with Kelly and Ryan (1.5, down 6%).

Also in the top three was the fastest-growing Kelly Clarkson (0.9, steady), which avoided declines and pulled even with Ellen DeGeneres (0.9, down 10%). Compared to the same week last year “Clarkson” (up 13% YOY), which is in line for numerous key upgrades next season, had the best performance of any strip currently in production.

Finishing first among magazines, Entertainment Tonight (2.1, down 5%) fought Inside Edition (2.1, down 5%) to a draw for a second straight week.

The game show leader for a seventh consecutive session was Jeopardy (5.2, down 10%) despite 23-day champion Mattea Roach being knocked out in the previous frame. Family Feud (5.1, down 4%) was next, followed by Wheel of Fortune (4.6, down 8%).