Six of top seven talkers rack up rising ratings

Review based on a national syndicated rating report for the week ending January 31, 2021.

The session ending January 31 was a talk show ratings bonanza as every one of the top seven surged with the exception of “Ellen DeGeneres.”

Live with Kelly and Ryan (2.0 live plus same day national Nielsen, up 5% from the week before) set the pace for the tenth week in a row.

Dr. Phil (1.9, up 12%) clocked its best numbers of 2021 and finished a strong second.

Ellen DeGeneres (1.1, unchanged) landed in a tie with Maury (1.1, up 10%).

Also moving up in the rankings were sophomore hits Kelly Clarkson (1.0, up 11%) and Tamron Hall (0.9, up 13%), both of which have already been renewed. Wendy Williams (1.0, up 11%) was another top-seven chatfest in the plus column.

In access time periods Jeopardy (6.0, up 2%) ruled the quiz shows for the third week in a row with guest host Ken Jennings filling in for the late Alex Trebek. Family Feud (5.8, up 4%) and Wheel of Fortune (5.8, up 2%) were right behind.

In courtroom proceedings, Judge Judy (six-week high 5.7, up 12%) and sister show Hot Bench (six-week high 1.7, up 6%) easily topped the gavelers. “Judy,” in its 25^th and final first-run season, continues to be syndication’s overall No. 1 show for the entire television year.