“Live with Kelly and Ryan” tops talkers with high rated Christmas week

Review based on a national syndicated rating report for the week ending December 29.

Live with Kelly and Ryan (2.2 live plus same day national Nielsen rating, steady with the week before) was one of the few programs that refused to decline in the otherwise low-rated Christmas session ending December 29. “Live” got a boost from its holiday-themed “Kelly and Ryan’s Christmas Eve” telecast and hung tough at its highest rating of the season, finishing first in the talk show race for the second time in five weeks.

Usual talk topper Dr. Phil (new season low 1.8, down 25%) was in repeats on all five days and had to include the sparsely-viewed Christmas Day in its average. Still, “Phil” snared second place among the talkers.

Ellen DeGeneres (new season low 1.6, down 27%) was third.

Among game shows Family Feud (5.6, down 2%) finished first. Jeopardy (new season low 4.8, down 25%) and Wheel of Fortune (new season low 4.8, down 23%) were next in line.

Inside Edition (new season low 2.4, down 11%) headed a magazine group in which all of the top six shows were socked with double digit losses due to the holiday schedules.