Surprise sweeps
winner: 'Regis'
Talk show shoots to No.1 amid hoopla over longtime star's exit
By Toni Fitzgerald
Dec 8, 2011
Up until November, "Dr. Phil" and "Dr. Oz" were the only shows battling for the title of No. 1 talk show in syndication, with the rest of the pack well behind.
But during sweeps, a new No. 1 emerged, and it could hang onto that spot heading into the new year.
"Live! with Regis and Kelly" finished first among the talkers with a 3.3 household rating, according to Nielsen, 0.1 ahead of "Dr. Phil."
"Live" shot up 32 percent over last year's sweeps average, just enough to lift it past "Phil," which was up 7 percent for the month.
"Live" also placed a close second to "Phil" among the key syndication demo of women 18-49 during the month-long period used by stations to set local ad rates, averaging a 1.3 to "Phil's" 1.4.
It marked the first time any talk show besides "The Oprah Winfrey Show" had won a November sweeps period in more than two decades.
The reason, of course, was Regis Philbin's exit after 28 years on the show.
Disney ABC Domestic Television wisely chose to turn Philbin's final month into one big party, building anticipation for his final show, which aired Nov. 18, with a parade of A-list celebrity guests who paid tribute to the 80-year-old broadcaster.
Apparently those new viewers who tuned in to see Philbin's farewell liked what they saw. Even the week after Philbin had gone, "Live's" ratings remained 8 percent above the 2.6 rating the show averaged during September and October, before Philbin's tributes began, though it did fall behind "Phil."
And producers seem intent on milking the highly scrutinized search for a new co-host for as long as they can to ensure strong viewer tune-in.
They have said that Kelly Ripa won't get a new co-host until next year, and in the meantime guest hosts such as Jerry Seinfeld and Neil Patrick Harris are filling in.
"Live" and "Phil" weren't the only talk shows to see year-to-year increases during the sweeps.
"Oz" (up 17 percent) and "Ellen" (up 9 percent) also grew, likely benefitting from new timeslots in key markets where they inherited "Oprah's" old slot, to finish third and fourth for the month.
In fact, only two returning talk shows were down year-to-year, "The Steve Wilkos Show" and "The Doctors."
Meanwhile, in other syndie sweeps results, "Judge Judy" was once again No. 1 among court shows with a 7.2 rating.
"Entertainment Tonight" was the top newsmagazine with a 4.0, though it was down from last year.
And "Wheel of Fortune" was the top game show, and top syndicated show overall, with a 7.4 rating.
|
SYNDICATED TALK SHOWS
Ranked on Households
November 2011 sweeps |
|
Rank
|
Program |
Producer |
Hhld rating |
|
1
|
LIVE WITH REGIS AND KELLY
|
DAD
|
3.3
|
|
2
|
DR. PHIL SHOW
|
CTD
|
3.2
|
|
3
|
DR. OZ SHOW
|
SPT
|
2.8
|
|
4
|
ELLEN DEGENERES SHOW
|
WB
|
2.5
|
|
5
|
MAURY
|
NBU
|
2.4
|
|
6
|
RACHAEL RAY
|
CTD
|
1.7
|
|
7
|
JERRY SPRINGER
|
NBU
|
1.5
|
|
7
|
DOCTORS
|
CTD
|
1.5
|
|
9
|
ANDERSON
|
WB
|
1.4
|
|
11
|
WENDY WILLIAMS SHOW
|
2/T
|
1.2
|
|
10
|
STEVE WILKOS SHOW
|
NBU
|
1.3
|
|
12
|
NATE BERKUS SHOW
|
SPT
|
1.1
|
|
13
|
DR DREW-LIFECHANGERS
|
CWB
|
1.0
|
|
14
|
JEREMY KYLE SHOW
|
2/T
|
0.6
|
|
Source: Nielsen data
|
|
|
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