CBS Television Distribution's Rachael Ray was on a ratings roll in the week ending Aug. 10, while most of syndication remained stalled in the mid-summer doldrums.

Coverage of the first day and first weekend of the Olympics as well as cable and network coverage of the PGA Golf Championship were big negatives for many shows.

Talk Shows

Rachael Ray had largest increase among talkers, jumping 13% from the week before to a 1.7, its highest household rating in four weeks. In addition, the popular sophomore was up 29% among women 18-49 and 25% among women 25-54 and was the only talk show not to decline from last year.

Other yakkers were down as much as 38% from last year.

Also moving up were Warner Bros.' Tyra Banks, which gained 11% to a 1.0 after a rerun featuring hip-hop artist Ray J. resulted in a 22% ratings spike to a 1.1 on Aug. 5, and top gabfest CBS Television Distribution's Oprah, which edged up 5% to a 4.3.

No. 2 talk show, CBS Television Distribution's Dr. Phil, in reruns all week, slipped 11% to a 3.4; Disney-ABC's Live with Regis and Kelly, NBCU's Maury and Warner Bros.' Ellen DeGeneres were all flat at a 2.7, a 1.8 and a 1.6, respectively.

Rookie Twentieth's The Morning Show with Mike and Juliet held steady at a 1.0 and moved into seventh out of a dozen talkers, tying Tyra and Springer. Springer was down 9% to a new season low.

Magazine Shows

In the magazine race, CBS Television Distribution's The Insider was the only show to improve, rallying 6% from the week before to a 1.9 and tying Warner Bros.' TMZ for third place.

The Insider's ratings increase was driven by its coverage of actor Morgan Freeman's divorce after a 24-year marriage and terrifying car crash that sent ratings up 17% to a 2.1 on Aug. 6. TMZ was down 5%.

CBS Television Distribution's Entertainment Tonight remained the highest-rated magazine with a 3.5 after dipping 3% and CBS Television Distribution's Inside Edition was second with an unchanged 2.6.

NBCU's Access Hollywood was fifth with a 1.7, down 6%, and Warner Bros.' Extra, which was heavily preempted by the Olympics on Aug. 8, was flat at a 1.6.

Game Shows

Game shows were mixed with leader CBS Television Distribution's Wheel of Fortune up 5% to a 6.7. CBS Television Distribution's Jeopardy! was next, unchanged at a 5.5.

Much further back, Disney-ABC's Who Wants to be a Millionaire gained 8% to a 2.8; and Debmar-Mercury's Family Feud was down 6% to 1.7.

Court Shows

None of the top six court shows were up. CBS Television Distribution's Judge Judy remained well ahead of the field with a 4.4, dipping 2% from the week before, while, its 6.7 GAA was the highest household rating in syndication, matching Wheel's 6.7 AA.

CBS Television Distribution's Judge Joe Brown eased 4% to a 2.3 and landed in a tie with Warner Bros.' People's Court, which was unchanged.

Warner Bros.' Judge Mathis, Twentieth's Divorce Court and Twentieth's Judge Alex were all flat at 1.8, 1.5, and 1.5, respectively.

Off-Net

Off-net sitcoms were slightly higher, although top laugher Warner Bros.' Two and a Half Men was unchanged at a 4.5; Twentieth's Family Guy was up 3% to a 3.9; Sony's Seinfeld gained 3% to a 3.4; CBS Television Distribution's Everybody Loves Raymond also added 3% to a 3.0; but Warner Bros.' George Lopez Show was down 6% to a 2.9.

Weekend

Most off-net weekly hours were either broken out by the Olympics or at least heavily preempted by the games. For example, leader CBS Television Distribution's CSI: Miami tumbled 19% to a new season low 2.9.

Among the off-net weekly half-hours, Sony's Seinfeld Weekend managed a gain of 3% to a 3.0, while Warner Bros.' Two and a Half Men Weekend slipped 4% to a 2.2; Sony's King of Queens Weekend sank 17% to a new season low 2.0, tying Warner Bros.' George Lopez Show Weekend and CBS Television Distribution's Everybody Loves Raymond Weekend. Lopez Weekend was down 17% and Raymond Weekend was flat.

Twentieth's Family Guy Weekend dropped16% to a new season low 1.6; and Warner Bros.' Sex and the City Weekend plunged 31% to a new season low 1.1.