Talkers Rise Before Independence Day

Talk shows displayed out the most ratings fireworks in the week leading into the Fourth of July.

Dr. Phil (1.4 live plus same day national Nielsen rating, up 8% from the week before) jumped into a first place tie with Live with Kelly and Ryan (1.4, steady) in the session, which ended July 3.

Kelly Clarkson (0.8, up 14%) snared third in the category and ballooned 50% in the advertiser-coveted W25-54 age group. Of note, all of the top three strips were in repeats.

Tamron Hall (0.6, up 20%) and Drew Barrymore (0.5, up 25%) scored the sharpest household rating gains among the top ten talkers.

Judge Judy (4.4, up 7%) continued to show no mercy to the court programs, crushing the category for a 1,345^th consecutive week.

In access time periods, Inside Edition (2.0, up 5%) and Entertainment Tonight (1.9, up 6%) were the magazine leaders. Access Hollywood scored in the target demo, finishing ahead 50% among W25-54.