The competition gets red hot as Wheel of Fortune, Family Feud and Jeopardy all turn in 5.9 live-plus-same-day national Nielsen ratings in the week ending Oct. 7.

Family Feud had been all alone at the top of the games for the prior 27 weeks, but this time Wheel of Fortune rose 7% from the previous round to a 5.9 live-plus-same-day national Nielsen rating, while Feud fell 5% to a 5.8, landing in a tie for the runner-up spot in the genre with Jeopardy, which added 4% to a 5.8.

In the week ending Sept. 23, many chat fests reported ratings gains. With a few exceptions, the rest of first-run was mostly flat or down.

In addition, ratings for many access shows were penalized by preemptions for Thursday Night Football. However, coverage of the life and death of charismatic movie star Burt Reynolds lifted several entertainment magazines in the key women 25-54 demo.

It surges 12% from the prior week to a nearly two-month high 2.8 live-plus-same-day national Nielsen rating and topped the chat pack for the 104^th straight week.

While almost every first-run syndicated show was flat or down in the week ending Aug. 26, four of the top 10 sitcoms (including Last Man Standing) reported weekly ratings increases.

Coverage of the life and career of Aretha Franklin rescued most of the entertainment magazines from sluggish syndicated ratings in the week ending Aug. 19.

Despite being in repeats on all five days, in the week ended Aug. 5, Phil still widened its lead over the genre, climbing 4% to a three-week high 2.7 live-plus-same-day national Nielsen rating.