By Christopher Lisotta | Television Week

TV Week's Survey Names the MVPs of Syndication

The queen of talk is still far and away the driving force of daytime, night-time and beyond, though other names on this year’s list are playing musical chairs.

For the fifth year in a row host Oprah Winfrey is No. 1 on the annual TelevisionWeek list of the Most Bankable Stars in Syndication. The list, as chosen by our jury of television insiders, has its share of position changes, with last year's fourth-most-bankable star, "Everybody Loves Raymond's" Ray Romano, rising to No. 2 and edging out the 2005 runner-up, Phil McGraw, who now sits at No. 3.

One juror placed so much importance on off-network talent she made her top three choices the casts of veterans "Friends," "Seinfeld" and "Raymond," noting they deserve the distinction because comedies are "the backbone of syndication and in danger of extinction."

1. Oprah Winfrey

2. Ray Romano

Ray Romano, the man at the center of the traditional and immediately classic King World sitcom "Everybody Loves Raymond," continues his steady rise on the Most Bankable Stars list, up two spots from last year, up three spots from 2004 and well ahead of the No. 8 spot he held in 2003.

In a world where broadcast networks seem to be continually on the search for a convention-breaking comedy that will redefine the genre, "Raymond" and Mr. Romano's very relatable style are a throwback to the era when all a good sitcom needed was a couch, terrific scripts and a talented cast. This year Mr. Romano surpasses the comedian who once overshadowed him when they were both airing in broadcast-Jerry Seinfeld, whose "Seinfeld" is now regularly eclipsed in the syndicated ratings by "Raymond."

The comparisons between the two series still resonate, with one juror calling Mr. Romano "the 'Everyman' Seinfeld." But another juror, who voted Mr. Romano No. 1 on his list, noted that the daily foibles of the show's Barone clan and Mr. Romano's reactions to them "still proves the popularity of his family-friendly comedy in syndication and cable."

"Raymond," which ended its nine-year broadcast run on CBS last May with 32 million viewers tuning in to the series finale, was like the little engine that could. The show's growing popularity over the years helped send it into syndication, where new viewers became fans of "Raymond" and, in turn, of Mr. Romano.

Network broadcasters seem to have finally ended the comedy curse and introduced successful new half-hours in the current season, and Mr. Romano benefits from being involved with one of the relatively new off-network sitcom properties in syndication. But it would be a mistake to assume that Mr. Romano is bankable only because there is a lack of new product.

As one juror predicted, Mr. Romano will "be around for a very long time to come."

3. Phil McGraw
4. Ellen DeGeneres
5. Jerry Seinfeld
6. Cast of 'CSI'
7. Regis Philbin and Kelly Ripa
8. Cast of 'Friends'
9. Alex Trebek
10. Rachael Ray

Thanks D. for the transcript & scan.