Court Shows Cool While Magazines Heat Up

Magazine shows were the hot group in the first week of 2012, boosted by news of a video diary posted by Casey Anthony, who had kept a very low profile since being acquitted last July of killing her young daughter Caylee. In fact, ratings for every news and entertainment mag were up from the week before in the frame ending Jan. 8, with the exception of TMZ (WBDTD).

Leader Entertainment Tonight (CTD) jumped 9% to a 3.8, after scoring a 20% ratings spike to a 4.2 on Jan. 5, the day the Anthony story broke. ET’s companion, Entertainment Tonight Weekend, grew 11% to a new season high 2.0.

Inside Edition (CTD) gained 3% to a 3.1; Access Hollywood (NBCU) improve 6% in households to a 1.9 and jumped 25% among women 18-49; TMZ was flat at a 1.9; Extra (WBDTD) rallied 7% in households to a 1.6 while its women 18-49 demo increased 33%; and The Insider (CTD) surged 14% to a 1.6.

Game Shows

Top game shows were also strong. Wheel of Fortune (CTD) rebounded 12% from a slide in the previous session to a 7.6; Jeopardy (CTD) also recovered, picking up 9% to a 6.2; Family Feud (Debmar-Mercury) and Who Wants to Be a Millionaire (Disney-ABC) were unchanged at 3.2 and 2.6, respectively.

Talk Shows

In daytime, there was a tight fit at the top of the talk show list. Dr. Oz (Sony) inched up 3% from the week before to a 3.0 and nipped usual leader Dr. Phil (CTD) by a tenth of a point. Phil was up 7% to a 2.9, while Live with Kelly (Disney-ABC) dropped 7% to a third-place 2.7. Maury (NBCU) was unchanged at a 2.5 (it’s season high, putting it ahead by 25% from a year ago at this time). Right behind, Ellen DeGeneres (WBDTD) rose 14% from its season low to a 2.4; while the recently renewed Rachael Ray (CTD) held steady at its season high 1.8.

First-Run Freshmen

Among the first-run rookies, Anderson (WBDTD), in repeats, dipped 8% to a 1.2, but continued to lead all newcomers. Jeremy Kyle (Debmar-Mercury) sank 14% to a 0.6, while We the People with Gloria Allred (Entertainment Studios) was flat at a 0.5. Excused (CTD), the new latenight dating show, had an all-rerun week and eased 14% to a 0.6.

Court Shows

Court shows took a breather from their torrid pace of the past few weeks. Judge Judy (CTD) gave back 3% from the week before to a 7.4; Judge Joe Brown (CTD) was down 13% to a 2.8; People’s Court (WBDTD) and Judge Alex (Twentieth) were unchanged at 2.3 and 1.8, respectively; Judge Mathis (WBDTD) tumbled 11% to a 1.7; and Divorce Court (Twentieth) declined 12% to a 1.5.

Off-Net Sitcoms

In off-net syndication, freshman sitcom Big Bang Theory (WBDTD) was up 3% week to week to a new season high 6.8. Two and a Half Men (WBDTD) placed second with a 14% advance to a new season high 6.7; Family Guy (Twentieth) grew 11% to a 4.1; How I Met Your Mother (Twentieth) was up 3% to a 3.5; Seinfeld (Sony) slipped 4% to a 2.6, tying Everybody Loves Raymond (CTD), which remained at a 2.6.

Among the new laffers following Big Bang, 30 Rock (NBCU) climbed 8% in households to a 1.4 and 25% among women 18-34 in late fringe. It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia (Twentieth) fell 15% to a new season low 1.1; while Till Death (Sony) was flat at a 0.7.

Off-Net Weekly Hours

Off-net weekly hours were all over the map. Criminal Minds (CTD) captured the lead with a 15% spike from the week before to a 3.0. Monk (NBCU) leaped into second place with a 27% increase to a 2.8; Law & Order (NBCU), which had been on top for the previous three sessions, skidded 16% to a 2.7; Cold Case (WBDTD) saw its rating cool off 14% to a 2.5, tying Without a Trace (WBDTD) and Law & Order: Special Victims Unit (NBCU), which both declined 4% to a 2.5.