Syndies Enter Sweeps With Strong Numbers

Dr. Phil (CTD) came roaring out of the gate as the February sweep got underway in the week ending Feb. 6. Phil had syndication’s largest increase and was the ratings standout in a mostly red-hot talk show group.

In the session that included the first two weekdays of the sweep, Phil surged 26% from the week before to a 3.4 in households, and 57% among women 18-34.

Also scoring double-digit gains was Live with Regis and Kelly (Disney-ABC), which perked up 11% to a new season high 3.1; The Doctors (CTD), which jumped 17% to a new season high 2.1, its strongest performance in 56 weeks; and Rachael Ray (CTD), which grew 18% to a new season high 2.0, its best rating since February 2010.

The soon-to-conclude Oprah (CTD) continued to hold on to the  chat show lead, however it suffered the biggest decline of any strip in first-run syndication, sinking 16% from the prior frame — which had been boosted by the unveiling of her long-lost half-sister — to a 5.4.

Ellen DeGeneres (WBDTD) added 8% to a 2.7; Dr. Oz (Sony) upticked 4% to a 2.7; while Maury (NBCU) slipped 5% to a 2.1.

First-Run Freshmen

Elsewhere, newcomer Swift Justice with Nancy Grace (CTD) clocked its highest ratings ever, leaping 15% from the prior week to a 1.5. Nate Berkus (Sony) followed with a 1.2, which was up 20% to a new series high. Don’t Forget the Lyrics (Twentieth), Judge Karen’s Court (Litton) and America’s Court with Judge Ross (Entertainment Studios) were all flat at 0.9, 0.6 and 0.3, respectively.

Access Hollywood Live (NBCU), which is cleared in 13 metered markets and not yet nationally rated, reached a 1.1 rating/4 share in households, up 10 over its year-ago time periods, and a 0.6/4 among women 18-49, up 50% from last year, for the first full week of the February sweep.

Court Shows

Judge Judy (CTD) ruled the court shows, climbing 7% from the week before to a 4.9 in households and 18% among women 18-34. Judge Joe Brown (CTD) advanced 5% to a 2.2; People’s Court (WBDTD) picked up 11% to a new season high 2.1; and Judge Mathis (WBDTD) tacked on 6% to a 1.8.

Magazine Shows

Topping the magazine rack was Entertainment Tonight (CTD), which improved 7% from the previous week to a 4.4 in households, and rose 22% among women 18-34. Inside Edition (CTD) was up 9% to a new series high 3.5; TMZ (WBDTD) and Access Hollywood (NBCU) held steady at 2.1 and 2.0, respectively; The Insider (CTD) gained 6% to a 1.9; Extra (WBDTD) was unchanged at a 1.7, although Extra Weekend soared 38% — both week to week and year to year — to a 1.1.

Game Shows

Among games shows, Wheel of Fortune (CTD) edged ahead 5% from the week before to a new season high 8.4; Jeopardy (CTD) was up 6% to a new season high 6.8; Who Wants to be a Millionaire (Disney-ABC) climbed 4% to a new season high 2.5; Family Feud (Debmar-Mercury) was flat at a 1.9; while Are You Smarter Than a 5^th Grader? (Twentieth) dropped 9% to a 1.0.

Off-Net Sitcoms

Among off-net sitcoms, leader Two and a Half Men (WBDTD) inched up 3% to a new season high 6.4. Family Guy (Twentieth) tumbled 11% to a 4.1; Everybody Loves Raymond (CTD) fell 3% to a 2.9; My Wife and Kids (Disney-ABC) was unchanged at a 2.9, while Seinfeld (Sony) slipped 4% to a 2.7.

Off-Net Freshmen

Among the new off-net and off-cable strips, How I Met Your Mother (Twentieth) dipped 4% to a 2.6; The New Adventures of Old Christine (WBDTD), Meet the Browns (Debmar-Mercury), Entourage (WBDTD), Real Housewives (NBCU) and Curb Your Enthusiasm (WBDTD) all held steady at 1.3, 1.2, 0.7, 0.6 and 0.6, respectively.

Off-Net Weekly Hours

Among weekly hours, Criminal Minds (CTD) and an unchanged Law & Order: Criminal Intent (NBCU) were deadlocked for the lead at 2.9, with Minds sliding 9%. Monk (NBCU) gained 5% to a 2.3; Without a Trace (WBDTD) lost 8% to a 2.2 and fell into a tie with Numbers (CTD), which was flat at a 2.2.