Newcomer “Drew Barrymore” gains traction, climbing 25% as new year begins

Review based on a national syndicated rating report for the week ending January 3, 2021.

Rookie Drew Barrymore (0.5 live plus same day national Nielsen rating, up 25% from the week before) got off to a promising start as 2021 got underway in the session ending January 3. 

Despite airing only repeats and losing its primary run at least 19 times in the metered markets alone to bowl games, NFL football and the 132^nd Rose Parade, Barrymore battled to a bigger percentage increase than any talk show in the top ten. Drew’s guests for the week included Norah O’Donnell, Neil Patrick Harris, Jimmy Fallon, Ken Jeong and Erin Brockovich.

In access time periods the top entertainment magazines also heated up. For example Extra (0.7, up 17%) matched its season high. TMZ (0.8, up 14%), Access Hollywood (1.0, up 11%) and leader Entertainment Tonight (2.1, up 11%) all clocked significant increases.

Returning to talk, Live with Kelly and Ryan (2.1, steady) remained at its season high for a third straight week and finished first in the category for the sixth week in a row. 

Dr. Phil (1.7, up 13%) was next, moving up by double digits. 

The top strip on the overall chart was Family Feud (5.3, up 2%), which finished first among game shows for the fifth time in six weeks.