'Queen Latifah Show' averages 1.8 million viewers in first week

‘Queen Latifah Show’ averages 1.8 million viewers in first week

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Queen Latifah’s resume includes rapping, singing, acting, and now, daytime talk show host. We look back at the multi-talented entertainer’s 20-year career. (Francine Orr / Los Angeles Times)

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Latifah performed a blend of soul and jazz when she headlined the Hollywood Bowl in July. (Lawrence K. Ho / Los Angeles Times)

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Latifah, left, and fellow singers-turned-actors Jennifer Hudson and Alicia Keys appeared in the drama “The Secret Life of Bees,” based on the bestselling novel of the same name. (Sidney Baldwin / Associated Press)

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Latifah performed “Lush Life” and “Baby Get Lost” off her 2004 pop and jazz record, “The Dana Owens Album,” at the 47th Grammy Awards. (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)

By Meg James

Oct. 4, 2013 10:41 AM PT

It was a good week to be the queen.

Queen Latifah’s new talk show averaged 1.8 million viewers an episode during its premiere week, according to Nielsen ratings data.

The hour-long talk and variety show, which debuted on Sept. 16, got off to a solid start. However, it has not delivered blockbuster ratings that some had hoped for.

ON LOCATION: Where the cameras roll

Two more established talk shows attracted larger audiences during the week of Sept. 16. “Katie” with Katie Couric drew an average of 2.3 million viewers each day, according to Nielsen. “The Steve Harvey Show,” tucked in with 2.1 million viewers.

But Sony still considers “The Queen Latifah Show” a hit because it has dramatically outperformed the program that it replaced in its time slot on CBS stations last year: “The Doctors.” It was the second-highest rated talk show premiere since 2009. Sony pointed out the show was sampled by nearly 10 million viewers in its initial week.

Advertisers also want to be associated with Queen Latifah, as she is one of the most admired celebrities in daytime, according to a recent Q Score survey.

PHOTOS: Hollywood Backlot moments

Sony Pictures Television produces and distributes the show, which is shot before a live studio audience on the Sony lot in Culver City.

Queen Latifah’s ratings throttled that of another new freshman talk show, “Bethenny,” which features Bethenny Frankel, a break-out star from Bravo’s “Real Housewives of New York.”

During her first week, Queen Latifah interviewed John Travolta, Jamie Foxx, Will Smith and Jake Gyllenhaal.

[For the record: An earlier version of this story stated the show’s ratings did not achieve some expectations, including within Sony Pictures Television. A Sony spokeswoman said the studio has not been disappointed with the show’s early performance.]

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Follow Meg James on Twitter: @MegJamesLAT