“Dr. Phil” opens big lead in talk; rookie “Kelly Clarkson” climbs

“Dr. Phil” opens big lead in talk; rookie “Kelly Clarkson” climbs

Review based on a national syndicated rating report for the week ending August 9, 2020.

Dr. Phil (four-week high 1.9 live plus same day national Nielsen rating, up 6% from the week before) easily reclaimed first place in the talk show race in the session ending August 9, despite being in reruns on all five days.

“Phil” has dominated the top of the chart, leading the chat-fests 191 times in the past 205 weeks.

Live with Kelly and Ryan (1.6, down 16%), which had vaulted to the top in the prior frame when its ratings rocketed with heart-felt tributes to late co-host Regis Philbin, snared second.

Ellen DeGeneres (1.0, unchanged) remained at the lowest ratings in its 17-year history for a third straight week, tied with Maury (1.0, down 9%), which matched its all-time low.

First season talker Kelly Clarkson (0.8, up 14%) was a bright spot, shrugging off preemptions for pandemic news in several markets to tally the largest increase of any talker. “Clarkson” also jumped 33% in the coveted W25-54 age group to tie “Ellen” at a 0.4 demo rating.

Outperforming all daytime shows for a ninth straight week was the dynamic courtroom duo of Judge Judy (5.4, down 4%) and Hot Bench (2.0, up 5%) even though both programs were in repeats all week.

Elsewhere an unusual triple dead heat for fourth place occurred in the hotly contested magazine race when the new and vastly improved Extra (0.8, up 14%) climbed into a tie with both TMZ (0.8, down 11%) and the resurgent Daily Mail TV (0.8, up 14%). “Daily Mail” is beefing up its team with highly regarded former NBC network anchor Thomas Roberts coming on board as host of season four in September.

By Magid | 08/18/20