Final “Ellen” Hits New High

Review based on a national syndicated rating report for the week ending May 29, 2022.

Ellen DeGeneres (new season high 1.3 live plus same day national Nielsen rating, up 18% from the week before) went out on a high note in the session ending May 29. The most-honored talk show was the only program anywhere in syndication to set a new season record, ending its 19-year run up 30% from last year at this time. Over the prior two weeks, the show’s rating rose 44% and its daily audience grew by 568,000 viewers on average.

Ellen’s emotional farewell episode on May 26^th went right through the roof, rocketing 64% from one week earlier to a sensational single-day 1.8 rating.

Of the 15 talkers, only two finished ahead of Ellen’s final frame: heavy hitters Live with Kelly and Ryan (1.6, up 7%) which was the top talker for the 39^th time in 54 weeks, and Dr. Phil (1.5, down 6%) which was a close second despite being in reruns on two of the five days.

Access Hollywood (0.8, up 14%) had the most moxie among magazines, moving into uncontested control of the No. 3 spot in the genre.  Entertainment Tonight (2.0, steady) jumped into a dead heat for first place with Inside Edition (2.0, down 5%).

In other access time period happenings Jeopardy (5.2, down 2%) held on to the game show lead with Family Feud (5.0, down 2%) and Wheel of Fortune (4.6, down 2%) not far behind.