For Second Year, Mark Harmon is America's Favorite TV Star

NEW YORK, Jan. 18, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- NCIS is one of the top ten most watched shows for the 2010-2011 season and it's consistently in the top ten each week so far this year. And, again this year, its star Mark Harmon, and his piercing blue eyes, is America's Favorite TV Star.  In many media markets she moved into Oprah's timeslot and she also moves into the spot Oprah occupied last year as Ellen DeGeneres moves from the number seven spot to number two. It's another election year, so The Daily Show becomes must see television again and Jon Stewart moves from a tie for number 5 to number three on the America's Favorite TV Star list.

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These are some of the results of The Harris Poll® of 2,237 adults surveyed online between December 5 and 12, 2011 by Harris Interactive®.

A Full House of TV Personalities

Rounding out the top five are two talk show hosts – Fox News host Bill O'Reilly is number 4, up from number 8 last year and after a one year absence, Jay Leno is back on the list at number five.  The next two on the list have had an "interesting" relationship since one hosted the Oscars in 2005. At number six, up from number nine, is late night talk show host David Letterman and at number seven, down from a tie for number two, is former daytime host, Oprah Winfrey. Dr. House or Hugh Laurie, who was tied with Oprah for the number two spot, is now at number eight.

Debuting on the list at the square root of 81 spot, or rather number 9, is The Big Bang Theory's slightly annoying physicist, Dr. Sheldon Cooper or rather Jim Parsons. Finishing off the top ten is a returnee to the list, also appropriate for an election year where he is polling higher than some actual candidates in South Carolina, The Colbert Report's Stephen Colbert.

Two and a Half Men no more

Since three people moved back to the list this means three television personalities moved off the list. Last year he debuted his new show on TBS, but that didn't manage to keep Conan O'Brien from dropping from number 4 to out of the top ten. Two others left their respective television shows and dropped off the top ten. Steve Carrell left The Office as Michael Scott moved on from Scranton. Charlie Sheen may have been "winning" in real life, but he was killed off of his show after a few issues with the creator and producers.

Numb3rs

There are different number ones for different groups. Men say Bill O'Reilly is their favorite, while for women it is Ellen DeGeneres.  Generations also have their favorites. Echo Boomers (those aged 18-34) say Ellen is their favorite, while for Baby Boomers (aged 47-65) and Matures (aged 66 and older) Mark Harmon is their favorite. Now, when it comes to Gen Xers (aged 35-46), there is a joke about gathering a group of folks this age together and seeing how long it takes them to start discussing television shows (Remember that one Love Boat when Charo was a guest star and made life difficult for Captain Stubing?). Since there is always a kernel of truth to many jokes, maybe that is why four stars tie for their favorite – Mark Harmon, Ellen DeGeneres, David Letterman and Oprah Winfrey.

There are definitely some partisan differences. Bill O'Reilly is the favorite for Conservatives but for Republicans it is Mark Harmon. For Independents and Moderates, Mark Harmon is number one. Democrats and Liberals also have the same favorite – Ellen DeGeneres.

Each region also has their favorite. For the East it is Jon Stewart, while Midwesterners and Westerners say Ellen DeGeneres is their favorite. Mark Harmon is tops for Southerners. 

DROPPED OFF OF LIST IN 2010
Conan O'Brien (was No. 4), Charlie Sheen (was tied for #5) and Steve Carrell (was No. 10)
 

Methodology

This Harris Poll was conducted online within the United States December 5 and 12, 2011 among 2,237 adults (aged 18 and over). Figures for age, sex, race/ethnicity, education, region and household income were weighted where necessary to bring them into line with their actual proportions in the population. Propensity score weighting was also used to adjust for respondents' propensity to be online.

All sample surveys and polls, whether or not they use probability sampling, are subject to multiple sources of error which are most often not possible to quantify or estimate, including sampling error, coverage error, error associated with nonresponse, error associated with question wording and response options, and post-survey weighting and adjustments. Therefore, Harris Interactive avoids the words "margin of error" as they are misleading. All that can be calculated are different possible sampling errors with different probabilities for pure, unweighted, random samples with 100% response rates. These are only theoretical because no published polls come close to this ideal.

Respondents for this survey were selected from among those who have agreed to participate in Harris Interactive surveys. The data have been weighted to reflect the composition of the adult population. Because the sample is based on those who agreed to participate in the Harris Interactive panel, no estimates of theoretical sampling error can be calculated.

These statements conform to the principles of disclosure of the National Council on Public Polls.

The results of this Harris Poll may not be used in advertising, marketing or promotion without the prior written permission of Harris Interactive.

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The Harris Poll® #7, January 18, 2012
By Regina A. Corso, SVP, Harris Poll, Public Relations and Youth Research, Harris Interactive

About Harris Interactive

Harris Interactive is one of the world's leading custom market research firms, leveraging research, technology, and business acumen to transform relevant insight into actionable foresight. Known widely for the Harris Poll and for pioneering innovative research methodologies, Harris offers expertise in a wide range of industries including healthcare, technology, public affairs, energy, telecommunications, financial services, insurance, media, retail, restaurant, and consumer package goods. Serving clients in over 215 countries and territories through our North American and European offices and a network of independent market research firms, Harris specializes in delivering research solutions that help us – and our clients – stay ahead of what's next. For more information, please visit www.harrisinteractive.com.

Press Contact:
Corporate Communications
Harris Interactive, Inc.
212-539-9600
[email protected]

SOURCE Harris Interactive

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