Most Bankable Stars

In an industry that thrives on stability, syndication’s most bankable stars all bring a comforting sense of familiarity to the table, even the rookies. What is unfamiliar, however, is the number of “firsts” we find on the 2008 “Most Bankable Stars of Syndication” list. With the votes tallied, the panel of experts on syndication from different aspects of the industry have made their ruling.

TelevisionWeek tallies their votes using a point system that considers where the star is ranked as well as how many times that person (or persons) appears on the ballots.

1. Oprah Winfrey

2. Dr.Phil McGraw

3. Regis Philbin and Kelly Ripa

4. Judge Judy Sheindlin

5. Rachael Ray

6. Ellen DeGeneres

7. Pat Sajak and Vanna White

8. Jerry Bruckheimer

9. Meredith Vieira

10. ‘Family Guy’/’Two and a Half Men’ (tie)

TelevisionWeek asked seven industry insiders to help select syndication’s 10 most bankable stars for 2008. Here’s a glance at the panel of experts.