Matching the best numbers put up by "Rachael Ray" when her talk show launched in 2006, Sony’s "Dr. Oz" — produced by Oprah Winfrey’s Harpo Productions — is the breakout syndication hit of 2009, reports B&C.

"Dr. Oz" drew a 2.3 live-plus-same-day Nielsen national household average rating, and has ranked third after "Oprah" and "Dr. Phil" among talk shows.

— Allison J. Waldman