Ellen DeGeneres and Sharon Osbourne queens of the talk-show newbies (10038)

It's the Sharon and Ellen show! Well, it is as far as debut national numbers are concerned for syndication's new celebrity talk show hosts Ellen DeGeneres and Sharon Osbourne. The Sharon Osbourne Show bowed with a 1.5 national rating in 97% of U.S. households during the week ending September 21. So far this season, Sharon and The Ellen DeGeneres Show are the two highest-rated new first-run strips, with Ellen moving up 7% in its second week to a 1.5 rating to tie with Sharon in national household numbers. Talk and entertainment daytime series Living It Up! With Ali & Jack premiered with a 1.0 on stations covering 93% of the country in the same frame, according to Nielsen Media Research data. The Wayne Brady Show was up 22% to a 1.1 in its third week in national syndication, and the new reality show that looks to give women a fresh start in life, Starting Over (0.9), was up 13% in its second week.

A number of high-profile veteran shows made their season premieres during the frame, including The Oprah Winfrey Show (7.1), up 18% from last year's season debut. Arnold Schwarzenegger and his wife, Maria Shriver, were Winfrey's guests on day 1. Dr. Phil (5.2) opened the season up 18% compared with last year's series premiere.