• by Wayne Friedman , January 19, 2009

Against the backdrop of syndication's mainstay daytime talk shows in decline, Katz Television Group, the TV station sales rep, has made three recommendations for the coming season. 

Katz, which represents some 450 TV stations, has given the thumbs-up for new talkers "Dr. Oz," from Oprah Winfrey's Harpo Productions, Debmar-Mercury's "Wendy Williams" and Program Partners' "Marie Osmond".

Bill Carroll, vice president and director of programming for Katz, writes about what many experts believe is the leader of this group: "Dr. Oz." Dr. Mehmet Oz is an ongoing guest on Oprah Winfrey's show. "The training and honing of his style and approach, along with the belief that if you are going to roll the dice, you have no better croupier than Oprah. So realizing that cost always has to be considered, we recommend 'Dr. Oz' in markets where the show is still available."

But Carroll noted that two talkers from growing TV distributors should also be considered. The first is Debmar-Mercury's "Wendy Williams," the syndicated radio host, although he warns it "may not be for every station." With the departure of Warner Bros.' "Tyra Banks Show" to the CW Network, Williams--as an urban, edgy program--would make a good replacement.

With regard to "Marie Osmond" from Program Partners, Carroll noted that the show continues to have clearance problems. But "if stations are having success with Rosie, Ellen or the Bonnie Hunt shows, Marie could be a solid addition to talk/variety stations or to extend talk/variety programming blocks."

In the off-network arena, Katz says "The Office" and "My Name is Earl" are already set with fall clearances. Katz looks to 2010 and recommends Twentieth Television's "How I Met Your Mother"--which has already been sold to cable network Lifetime--for stations. That's part of a continuing strategy of off-net programs being sold either in concurrent cable and local stations' windows or in an exclusive cable window. Beyond that, Katz says stations could go for a third or fourth cycle of "Seinfeld" and "Friends" in 2011.

In the multicast arena of growing local digital signals, Katz says that some of the strongest network players here are Spanish-language Mexicanal and LATV. Other networks to consider are MGM and Wiegel Broadcasting's This TV and Equity Broadcasting's Retro Television Network, a channel of retro TV shows.

For game shows, Katz would give the go-ahead for the Fox network's "Are You Smarter Than a 5th Grader?" It is also in favor of the renewal of "Deal or No Deal," "Family Feud" and "Who Wants to be a Millionaire?"

With court shows continuing to deliver steady performances, Katz says that Litton TV's "Street Court" and the possibility of Warner Bros. "Judge Jeanine Pirro" coming to syndication should be considered.

Most magazine shows have declined this past season, with only Warner Bros.' "TMZ" growing among women 25-54. Only one is planned for 2009, per Katz, due to high production costs. Debmar-Mercury will have a go with a new show, "True Hollywood Stories" from E! Network.