Steve Harvey's entry into the talk-show arena isn't just a bunch of hot air after all.
"Steve Harvey," the "Madea Goes to Jail" actor's syndicated gab-fest, premiered Tuesday to solid numbers, averaging a 1.49 rating/4.1 share in households and a 0.95 rating in the key women 25-54 demographic.
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Tuesday's premiere represented a 59 percent jump in the household rating in the time period, and a 98 percent boost in the time period for the key demo versus a year ago.
"Steve Harvey" also showed lead-in improvement, jumping 23 percent in households versus its average lead-in, and a 70 percent boost in the key demo versus its average lead-in.
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The show, which is produced by Endemol USA and distributed by NBCUniversal Domestic Television Distribution, also took first place in its time period in Washington, D.C., and came in second in New York, Chicago and Philadelphia.
It remains to be seen whether "Steve Harvey" can retain its momentum; the show got an early jump on what promises to be a crowded talk-show field. Sept. 10 will see the premieres of Katie Couric's new offering "Katie," along with the bow of "The Ricki Lake Show" and the Season 2 premiere of Anderson Cooper's revamped talk show "Anderson Live."