“Kelly and Ryan” tops talk in otherwise quiet Christmas week

Review based on a national syndicated rating report for the week ending December 27, 2020.

While most syndicated shows found their Christmas ratings stockings filled with lumps of coal in the session ending December 27, Live with Kelly and Ryan (2.1 live plus same day national Nielsen rating, steady with the week before) shrugged off the downdraft, unwrapping season-high numbers for a second consecutive week and topping the talkers by a wide margin.

Every other strip on first-run syndication’s top ten list lost ground as most of the heavy hitters served up repeat episodes in the face of widespread sports and political news preemptions.

Live with Kelly and Ryan, with appearances by Mariah Carey and Alanis Morissette on its featured “Home for the Holidays” episode December 22, has now finished first in talk for five weeks in a row.

Dr. Phil (1.5, down 21%) and Kelly Clarkson (1.0, down 17%) were both heavily preempted but still were the second and third highest talkers, respectively.

Judge Judy (5.4, down 5%) continued to dominate the entire syndication chart for the 15^th time in 19 weeks.

In access time periods, game shows sagged. Family Feud (5.2, down 2%) easily led the category. Jeopardy (4.6, down 16%) and Wheel of Fortune (4.6, down 12%) tied for second place in the genre. Elsewhere tabmag Inside Edition (2.1, down 13%) also softened.