‘Barrymore’ Bags Big Bounce From Biden

This is no malarkey — the bombshell news that President Biden planned to give his first sitdown interview since the midterms to Drew Barrymore on her show airing Dec. 19 created a Nielsen explosion for the program, sending the three-year-old talker to highest ratings ever one week before the interview was even broadcast.

In the session ending Dec. 18 — which was a fantastic frame for a few talk shows — the breakout Barrymore broadcast mushroomed 29% from the week before and 80% from the same week last year to a new all-time high 0.9 live-plus-same-day national Nielsen rating.

Both the week-to-week and year-to-year increases for Barrymore were the largest by far of any strip in syndication. But Barrymore wasn’t the only big talker taking off. Live with Kelly and Ryan raced to a new season high 1.7 with a 6% spike to lead the talk shows for a head-spinning 30^th straight week.

Dr. Phil was also on fire, delivering a new season high with a 15% surge to a 1.5.

Kelly Clarkson joined the rising ratings chorus, climbing 11% to a 1.0, equaling its best numbers of the season.

In addition, Rachel Ray cooked up a 14% increase to a season high 0.8.

Elsewhere in daytime, court show superstar Judge Judy had the hottest gavel, growing 8% toa 4.3, while in the neighboring TV jurisdiction, Hot Bench jumped 9% to a 1.2.

Also worthy of note was newcomer Pictionary, which plowed ahead 25% to a 0.5 and matched its highest score since its September debut.

The top talk shows for the week among women 25-54 were:

• Live with Kelly and Ryan (0.7, +17% from the week before)
• Dr. Phil (0.5, +25%)

In the household rating rankings that follow, % change is from the previous week; * indicates a new season-high rating; ** indicates a new season low; NC indicates no change from the previous week; NA means not applicable.

TALK SHOWS

Live with Kelly and Ryan (Disney-ABC) 1.7* +6%

Dr. Phil (CMV) 1.5* +15%

The Kelly Clarkson Show (NBCU) 1.0 +11%

Drew Barrymore (CMV) 0.9* +29%

Rachael Ray (CMV) 0.8* +14%

Tamron Hall (Disney-ABC) 0.7 NC

Maury (NBCU) 0.5 NC

Steve Wilkos (NBCU) 0.5 NC

Jerry Springer Combo (NBCU) 0.3 NC

FRESHMAN SHOWS

Pictionary (CMV) 0.5 +25%

We the People with Judge Lauren Lake (CF Entertainment) 0.3 NC

Jennifer Hudson (WBDTD) NA

Sherri (CMV) NA

iCrime with Elizabeth Vargas (Trifecta) NA

Karamo (NBCU) NA

COURT SHOWS

Judge Judy (CMV) 4.3 +8%

Hot Bench(CMV) 1.2 +9%

People’s Court (WBDTD) 0.7 NC

Judge Mathis (WBDTD) 0.6 +20%

Relative Justice (EW Media Group) 0.3 NC

Divorce Court (Fox First Run) NA

GAME SHOWS

Jeopardy (CMV) 5.8 +2%

Wheel of Fortune (CMV) 5.4 +4%

Family Feud (Debmar-Mercury/FMNA) 4.8 +2%

Funny You Should Ask(Entertainment Studios) 0.3 NC

You Bet Your Life (Fox First Run) NA

25 Words or Less (Fox First Run) NA

MAGAZINE SHOWS

Inside Edition (CMV) 2.4 NC

Entertainment Tonight (CMV) 2.2 NC

Access Hollywood (NBCU) 0.8 NC

Extra (WBDTD) 0.6 NC

TMZ (Fox First Run) NA

Dish Nation (Fox First Run) NA

OFF-NET SITCOMS

Big Bang Theory (WBDTD) 2.0 +5%

Last Man Standing (Disney-ABC) 1.1 +10%

Young Sheldon (WBDTD) 0.7 NC

Modern Family (Disney-ABC) 0.7 NC

Two and a Half Men (WBDTD) 0.7 NC

The Goldbergs(Sony) 0.6 NC

Seinfeld (Sony) 0.6 NC

The Neighborhood (CMV) 0.6* +20%

Family Guy (Disney-ABC) 0.5 NC

Black-ish (Disney-ABC) 0.4 NC

OFF-NET WEEKLY HOURS

Dateline Weekly (NBCU) 3.4 -6%

Law & Order: SVU (NBCU) 1.9 +6%

Chicago P.D. (NBCU) 1.2* +33%

Chicago Fire (NBCU) 1.0 -9%

The Rookie (Disney-ABC) 0.7 -13%