Rachael Ray debuts on top of syndication pack

The talk show Rachael Ray got off to a good start in its national syndication debut Monday.

Rachael Ray earned a weighted average of a 2.8 household rating/9 share in 55 top overnight "metered" markets, according to Nielsen Media Research. That figure was an improvement over both its lead-in and year-ago time period averages, jumping 17 percent from the lead-in average of a 2.4/8 and rising 33 percent from the September 2005 time period average of a 2.1/7.

The show's debut also marked the highest for any first-run syndicated show premiere since Dr. Phil launched in September 2002 with a 5.3/14 in 53 overnight metered markets.

Talk-variety entrant The Megan Mullally Show also debuted Monday, averaging a 1.2/4 in 45 metered markets. That figure was off 8 percent from its lead-in average of a 1.3/4 and down 14 percent from its year-ago time period average of a 1.4/5.

Of the four talkers that debuted in syndication this month--the others are The Dr. Keith Ablow Show and The Greg Behrendt Show, which debuted last week--Rachael Ray and Megan Mullally notched the top two starts.

Meanwhile, Dr. Keith Ablow posted a first-week average of a 1.0/3, off 17 percent from both its lead-in and year-ago time period averages of a 1.2/4. Greg Behrendt averaged a 0.7/2 over four days (the show premiered September 12), off 42 percent from both its lead-in and September 2005 time period averages of a 1.2/4.

Elsewhere among the syndicated newcomers that debuted last week, Christina's Court averaged a 1.1/4. The show's performance was down 8 percent from its lead-in and year-ago time period averages, which were both at a 1.2/4.

Judge Maria Lopez, another newcomer in the court genre, averaged a 0.9/3 last week, which was flat with its lead-in average. However, the show posted a 13 percent increase from the September 2005 time period average of a 0.8/2.

Two sitcoms entered off-network broadcast syndication Monday. According to Jim debuted to a 1.4/3 weighted average in 52 metered markets, making it the highest debut of the four comedy reruns this season. That figure was down 13 percent from its lead-in average of a 1.6/3 and off 26 percent from its year-ago time period average of a 1.9/4.

Scrubs also debuted Monday, averaging a 1.0/2 in 53 metered markets, flat with its lead-in and down 17 percent from its September 2005 time period average of a 1.2/3.

Meanwhile, veteran talkers The Oprah Winfrey Show and Dr. Phil also had their new-season bows Monday. Oprah averaged a 7.6/19 in 55 metered markets, improving by 90 percent on its lead-in average of a 4.0/11 and jumping 19 percent from its September 2005 time period average of a 6.4/15.

Dr. Phil had its fifth-season premiere Monday, earning a 4.9/12 average in 54 overnight metered markets. That figure represents a 96 percent increase from the lead-in average of a 2.5/7 and an 11 percent improvement over its year-ago time period average of a 4.4/11.

Geraldo at Large, which last week marked its first seven-day frame of airing in national syndication after having aired in select markets for several months, averaged a 2.2/5. The show, which airs in primarily late-night slots, was off 19 percent from its lead-in average of a 2.7/6 but up 5 percent from the year-ago time period average of a 2.1/5.