All-New Episodes Boost ‘Oprah’ 21%

Milder spring weather kept many viewers outdoors and away from their sets, sending PUT levels and ratings for most syndicated shows lower in the week ending April 17.

Talk Shows

Oprah (CTD), which had its first full week of all new episodes since the February sweep, was an exception, moving sharply higher, although still losing the daytime crown to Judy.

The soon-to-conclude Oprah followed a week of mostly reruns and aired new shows featuring a six-year old chained in a closet, Oprah’s bloopers and celebrity interviews and ratings jumped 21% from the week before to a 4.7.

Dr. Phil (CTD) was second despite dipping 4% to a 2.6 with a mixture of originals and repeats. Live with Regis and Kelly (Disney-ABC) lost 4% to a 2.5; Maury (NBCU) added 10% to a 2.2; Dr. Oz (Sony) sank 9% to a 2.1; and Ellen DeGeneres (WBDTD) fell 5% to a 2.0.

Court shows

Judge Judy (CTD), which aired both repeats and originals during the week, held steady at a 6.6 and topped the daytime standings, beating Oprah for the sixth consecutive week. Following Judy, Judge Joe Brown (CTD) held firm at a 2.6 and was the second highest rated courtroom for the 640^th straight week. People’s Court (WBDTD) faded 5% to a 1.8; Judge Mathis (WBDTD) was flat at a 1.5; Judge Alex (Twentieth) and Divorce Court (Twentieth) each weakened 7% to a 1.4; and Judge Jeanine Piero (WBDTD) trailed with an unchanged 0.9.

Magazine Shows

Magazines were all down from the week before except for Extra (WBDTD), which held steady at a 1.5. Meanwhile, its companion, Extra Weekend, surged 25% to a 1.0. Leader Entertainment Tonight (CTD) slipped 3 to a 3.7; Inside Edition (CTD)  dropped 3% to a 2.9; TMZ (WBDTD) declined 5% to a 2.1; Access Hollywood (NBCU) eased 5% to a 1.9; and The Insider (CTD)  was off 6% to a 1.6.

Game Shows

Among game shows, Wheel of Fortune (CTD) slid 1% to a 6.8; Jeopardy (CTD) was unchanged at a 5.9; Who Wants to be a Millionaire (Disney-ABC) devalued 4% to a 2.4; Family Feud (Debmar-Mercury) eroded 8% to a 2.3; and Are You Smarter Than a 5^th Grader? (Twentieth) was down 9% to a 1.0.

First-Run Freshmen

The freshmen field continued to be led by Swift Justice with Nancy Grace (CTD), although the rookie champ gave back 11% to a 1.7. Nate Berkus (Sony), Don’t Forget the Lyrics (Twentieth) and Judge Karen’s Court (Litton) were all flat at 0.9, 0.9 and 0.8, respectively, while America’s Court with Judge Ross (Entertainment Studios) rose 33% to a 0.4.

Off-Net Sitcoms

Two and a Half Men (WBDTD) continued to lead the off-net sitcoms, inching up 1% to a 7.0; Family Guy (Twentieth) slipped 6% to a 4.4; My Wife and Kids (Disney-ABC) also went down 6% to a 3.0; George Lopez Show (WBDTD) dipped 3% to a 2.9; and Seinfeld (Sony) was unchanged at a 2.8.

Off-Net Weekly Hours

Among weekly hours, Law & Order: Criminal Intent (NBCU) took sole possession of first place even though it was off 3% to a 3.3. Criminal Minds (CTD) tumbled 12% to a 3.0; Monk (NBCU) skidded 4% to a 2.7; Numbers (CTD) equaled its previous week’s 2.4; and there was a three-way tie for fifth place at a 2.3 with The Closer (WBDTD) down 4%; Without a Trace (WBDTD) flat; and Bones (Twentieth) up 5%.