Compared to the other talk show competition: “Steve Harvey” debuted last week to a 1.5 rating/4 share, “Jeff Probst“ debuted yesterday to a 1 rating/3 share, “Ricki Lake“ debuted yesterday to a 0.8 rating/2 share (worth noting that Lake was affected by a retransmission dispute in the New York market, which likely affected ratings somewhat) and the second season of Anderson Cooper‘s talk show debuted to a 1.3 rating/4 share.

• Related: A review of “Katie”

“Katie” even manged to improve on its “General Hospital” lead-in by +12%.

The final ratings will likely be slightly different, but don’t expect any drastic changes in the numbers. The more important numbers for Disney and Couric — the weekly ratings — will be available next week.

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The first three segments of Couric’s Disney chatfest were devoted almost entirely to guest Jessica Simpson’s post-partum weight loss — thanks to Weight Watchers. There were so many rhapsodic plugs, I kept waiting for the 800 number and my free ginzu knife.

Simpson gushed about her new role as a Weight Watchers poster girl. Then came a sneak preview of her Weight Watchers ad, followed by a full segment joined by her Weight Watchers coach. The capper was a free two-week Weight Watchers membership, via ‘Katie’s’ website.

To be kind, Jessica Simpson was no Sarah Palin, but Couric appeared to be thoroughly enjoying the absence of heavy lifting. After her hellish tenure as anchor of ‘CBS Evening News,’ ‘Katie’ must feel like a fabulous, all-expenses paid vacation. Hey, if Anderson Cooper did it, why not Couric?

Call it ‘Today Extra Lite.’

As has become the fashion, ‘Katie’ opened with a cutesy taped bit. More than a little derivative, given that she did the same thing for her guest-hosting stint on ‘Good Morning America’ in April.

She wakes up from a weird dream and proceeds to tell it to a mystery person in the other twin bed. (An homage to ‘I Love Lucy?’) “I dreamed I left ‘Today’ to anchor the evening news, and I did it for five years, and then I dreamed I was going to be hosting my own daytime talk show!”

Peeling back the covers, a jammies-clad Matt Lauer says: “That wasn’t a dream, and the talk show starts right now!” Cue hilarity.

After almost a full half-hour of Jessica Simpson and Weight Watchers, however, I was reeling from estrogen-induced boredom. Thankfully, the next guest, Sheryl Crow, who composed ‘Katie’s’ up-tempo theme song and is a good friend of the host, had some interesting things to say.

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Also debuting today: new talk shows hosted by “Survivor” host Jeff Probst, Steve Harvey and a return to daytime TV from Ricki Lake. That doesn’t even count the new seasons of returning shows like “Ellen” and Anderson Cooper‘s syndie show “Anderson Live.”

If last year was a slow one for syndicated daytime talk shows, this year the cup runneth over.

B&C’s ace syndication reporter Paige Albiniak breaks it down (subscription required):

After all of these months of hype, now comes the moment of truth: Which of these shows will survive to see season two? The answer is hard to predict, and each has its own factors by which to set expectations.

Katie has by far the strongest clearances and the best time slots. So while that show has the best chance to succeed, it also faces the highest expectations. That could work to the advantage of the rest of the pack, all of which have to be considered underdogs compared to Katie.

MarketWatch’s Jon Friedman argues that despite the pressure, Couric is sure to break out:
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Nightline’s Vicki Mabrey and talk show host Steve Harvey moderate a debate between
Sherri Shepherd, Jacque Reid, Hill Harper, and Jimi Izrael.

Tonight’s debate at the Porter Sanford Performing Arts Center in Decatur, Georgia will be recorded for a “Nightline” broadcast to be aired at a later date.

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His first report airs Wednesday.

Click continued to read the press release…

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