Top TV hosts

My mom lived for her final six years at one of those big senior living buildings.  Dinner was served in the formal dining area at five in the afternoon, and on the occasions that I was around when they were ladling out the chow, I noticed that no one was there right at 5 pip emma (that's the English way to say 5 PM). Being one who would always be on time for any repast (early, to tell you the truth) I wondered why people were arriving at 5:10.

The answer: " 'Judge Judy' isn't over til 5." And people weren't budging an inch until the good judge ruled on the case of someone who borrowed his wife's sister's girlfriend's floor waxer and wound up taking a shine to his wife's sister's girlfriend.

So it should come as no surprise to anyone that Judge Judy Sheindlin raked in $147 million before taxes last year, and that puts her on top of the TV totem pole for highest-paid host.  She's been on TV for 23 years now, and draws 10 million pairs of eyes to her show. She made $47 million of that as salary for last year's show, and the other $100 mill for selling rights to her old shows, because really, who wouldn't want to watch a JJ rerun from 20 years ago??

I happen to have spent a lot of time in courtrooms, having worked in the courthouse, and I know that trials are usually conducted with probity and high standards, not the schoolyard insults and sneers that are Judy's stock in trade. And social workers and counselors (I worked with them, too!) will tell you that for a person in need of emotional therapy, the last thing they need is to be belittled and scorned on national TV by a balding Texan, but that's none of my business, because I don't watch Dr Phil (whose cornpone handling of issues requiring serious consultation brought him $77.5 million last year).  Someone sure watches, though;  he came in at #3 on the rich host list.

We jumped over Ellen De Generes, whose show I do like. She came in in second place by making $87.5 million in 2017.

In fourth place, say hi to Ryan Seacrest, who appears on "Live with Kelly and Ryan" and "American Idol" and, with one more show to his credit, will have his own channel on Comcast. He brought home $74 million.

Who came in fifth? Survey said...Steve Harvey, another guy with a lot going on.  And $44 million in paychecks for all his hard work.

Judge Judy was quoted as saying this at the Forbes Women's Summit last year:

"Many people, as I did in the beginning, get stuck with a job they don’t really like. … If you’re not doing something that you love to do, find something that you love to do, because it will make your whole life different.” 

I recommend to anyone seeking greater happiness on the job that they seek first a new place to work. That will make things different.

As will having an estimated net worth of $400 million. That would make most of our lives really different!