Ricki Lake Delivers a Powerful Message Resulting in Powerhouse Ratings; Teen Pregnancy Episode Garners Highest Ratings in Sweep-to-Date

As part of its ongoing effort to address tough teen topics, on Friday, November 24, The Ricki Lake Show aired a special episode dealing with the critical issue of Teen Pregnancy in the United States. With Ricki by their side, terrified teens faced their fears and told their families that they have been hiding their pregnancies. The episode was the highest rated Ricki Lake Show during the November sweep-to-date. It also garnered significant ratings in many metered markets claiming the top-rated position in its time period.

Some highlights include Cleveland where Ricki Lake's 10:00 a.m. show (6.0/17) was #1 in the time period, substantially outperforming head-to-head competitors "Dr. Laura" (2.0/6) and "Martha Stewart Living" (3.5/10). Ricki Lake also grew over its "Jerry Springer" lead-in (+43% in rtg/+42% in share).

In Memphis at 9:00 a.m., Ricki Lake (5.8/13) was #1 in the time period (tied with the "Today Show"), outperforming head-to-head competitors, "Live with Regis" (2.0/4) and "The People's Court" (5.1/11). Ricki Lake also grew over its "Maury Show" lead-in (+26% in rtg/+18% in shr).

Also notable is Ricki Lake's continuous growth over its lead-in in many markets including New York (+57% in rtg/+40% in shr); Los Angeles (+33% in rtg/+20% in shr); Chicago (+52% in rtg/+40% in shr); Milwaukee (+45% in rtg/+44% in shr); Birmingham (+32% in rtg/+27% in shr); and Norfolk where it more than doubles its "Jerry Springer" lead-in.

As it has in the past, Friday's Ricki Lake featured Project Cuddle, the baby rescue program that provides 24-hour-a-day support for women contemplating abandoning their babies. Confronting this part of the teen pregnancy problem, Project Cuddle has rescued 280 babies from abandonment, and 77 of those babies were as a result of viewers finding the Project Cuddle crisis number (1-88-TO CUDDLE) on The Ricki Lake Show. Project Cuddle has recorded more than 60 new cases since the show aired, including 40 received on Friday, alone. Friday's episode also featured the premiere of Ricki's new PSA for the National Campaign to Prevent Teen Pregnancy (http://www.teenpregnancy.org/).

Ricki Lake is produced by the Garth Ancier Company in association with Columbia TriStar Television Distribution. Gail Steinberg is the Executive Producer and co-creator with Garth Ancier who also serves as executive consultant.

Columbia TriStar Television Distribution is a Sony Pictures Entertainment Company. Sony Pictures Entertainment (SPE) is a division of Sony Corporation of America (SCA), a subsidiary of Tokyo-based Sony Corporation. SPE's global operations encompass motion picture production and distribution, television production and distribution, worldwide channel investments, home video acquisition and distribution, operation of studio facilities, development of new entertainment products, services and technologies, and distribution of filmed entertainment in 67 countries. Sony Pictures Entertainment can be found on the World Wide Web (http://www.spe.sony.com/).

Ratings Source: NSI, WRAP Overnights, HH rtg/shr.; 11/24/00. Lead-in equals 1/4 hour prior to program.

SOURCE: Columbia TriStar Television Distribution

Contact: Beth Jaffe of The Ricki Lake Show, 212-352-3322 ext. 232; or
Chris Albert of Columbia TriStar Television Distribution, 310-244-6467

Website: http://www.spe.sony.com/

Website: http://www.teenpregnancy.org/