‘Judy’, ‘Wheel’ Tie For Syndie’s Top Spot

Ratings for most of syndication were flat to off a bit in the week ending Jan. 29, as PUT levels declined sharply with unseasonably mild weather in parts of the U.S. and shows got ready for the February sweeps.

Court Shows

A bright spot in daytime, however, was Judge Judy (CTD) which matched its season high and tied access strip Wheel of Fortune (CTD) as the No. 1 show in syndication.

Court show topper Judy hit a 7.6, up 1% in households from the week and up 6% among women 25-54. Judy also improved 65% in homes from the same week last year.

Judy stable mate Judge Joe Brown (CTD) 7% to a 3.1; People’s Court (WBDTD) dropped 5% to a 2.1; Judge Alex (Twentieth) fell 5% to a 1.8; while Judge Mathis (WBDTD) was unchanged at a 1.7.

Talk Shows

Dr. Phil (CTD) ruled the talk shows for the 14th time this season with a 3.2, which was unchanged from the previous session, but up 19% from last year at this time, the biggest year-to-year increase of any talk show.

Dr. Oz (Sony) faded to a 2.9, down 3% from the prior frame, although still up 12% from last year; Live with Kelly (Disney-ABC) was down 4% to a 2.6 and off 7% from the same week last year when Regis Philbin co-hosted the show.

Also at a 2.6 were Ellen DeGeneres (WBDTD), which inched up 4%, and Maury (NBCU), which was flat, tying its five-year high and remaining No. 1 in both the women 18-34 and 18-49 demos.

First-Run Freshmen

Top-rated first-run rookie Anderson (WBDTD) took a breather, slipping 13% to a 1.4. Jeremy Kyle (Debmar-Mercury) and We the People with Gloria Allred (Entertainment Studios) were unchanged at 0.7 ad 0.5, respectively. New latenight dating show Excused (CTD) eased 14% to a 0.6.

Magazine Shows

In access, magazines were bumped in a number of markets by the State of the Union address on Jan. 24, and most gave back some of their recent gains. Leader Entertainment Tonight (CTD) dipped 5% to a 3.9, although its Entertainment Tonight Weekend climbed 10% to a new season high 2.2. Inside Edition (CTD) eroded 3% to a 3.3; TMZ (WBDTD) bucked the downtrend and upticked 5% to a new season high 2.2; Access Hollywood (NBCU) retreated 9% to a 2.0; The Insider (CTD) held steady at a 1.7; while Extra (WBDTD) slipped 6% to a 1.6 after being widely preempted.

Game Shows

Game shows were soft. Wheel of Fortune (CTD) shed 1% from the week before to a 7.6; Jeopardy (CTD) weakened 3% to a 6.2; Family Feud (Debmar-Mercury) dropped 3% to a 3.1; and Who Wants to Be a Millionaire (Disney-ABC) devalued 4% to a 2.6.

Off-Net Sitcoms

Big Bang Theory (WBDTD) continued to lead the off-net sitcoms but was down 1% week to week to a 7.3. Two and a Half Men (WBDTD) tumbled 10% to a 6.4; Family Guy (Twentieth) lost 2% to a 4.1; How I Met Your Mother (Twentieth) skidded 11% to a 3.4; Seinfeld (Sony) gained 4% to a 2.7; and Everybody Loves Raymond (CTD) rose 4% to a 2.6.

Among the new sitcoms following Big Bang, 30 Rock (NBCU) held firm at a 1.5; It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia (Twentieth) climbed 8% to a 1.3; and Till Death (Sony) added 17% to a 0.7.

Off-Net Weekly Hours

On the weekend, Criminal Minds (CTD) led the off-net hours with a 3% gain to a 3.0. Monk (NBCU) picked up 4% to a 2.7 and landed in a tie with Law & Order (NBCU), which surged 17% to a 2.7; Cold Case (WBDTD) advanced 13% to a 2.6; while The Closer (WBDTD) was flat at a 2.4.