Ratings for rookie Drew Barrymore balloon 20% despite March Madness

Review based on a national syndicated rating report for the week ending March 21, 2021.

Brushing aside the onset of daylight saving time and the opening round of March Madness, the big annual NCAA basketball tournament, newcomer Drew Barrymore scored its second highest rating to date and clocked the biggest increase among all talkers in the session ending March 21.

Barrymore, which was just renewed for a second season, raced ahead 20% from the week before to a 0.6 live plus same day national Nielsen and registered its highest rating since February.

Other gabfests notching double digit improvement were Kelly Clarkson (0.9, up 13%), Ellen DeGeneres (1.0, up 11%) and Dr. Oz (0.7, up 17%).

Live with Kelly and Ryan (1.8, unchanged) led the category for the 16^th time in 17 weeks, including three ties. Heavily preempted Dr. Phil (1.6, down 6%) was a close second.

Judge Judy (5.2, steady) ruled the court shows for the 1,278^th straight week and easily topped all of daytime.

In access, Family Feud (5.4, unchanged) was the No. 1 game show for the first time since the week of December 28, 2020. Jeopardy (5.3, down 5%), which had finished first for the prior four weeks, slipped to second with Katie Couric hosting. Wheel of Fortune (5.0, down 11%) was third.

On the magazine rack Entertainment Tonight (2.4, steady) tied sister show Inside Edition (2.4, unchanged) for first place. Among W25-54 Extra (0.4 demo rating, up 33%) was the biggest upside mover, jumping into a tie with both Access Hollywood and TMZ in the advertiser coveted demographic.