Every entertainment magazine matched or exceeded its highest Nielsens of the season and scored double-digit growth over last year in the week ending Feb. 19.
Mags Soar On Whitney Houston Coverage
Public interest in the sudden, tragic death of music icon Whitney Houston the day before the Grammy Awards created a perfect ratings storm for the syndicated magazines in the week ending Feb. 19. Every show in the category matched or exceeded its highest Nielsens of the season and scored double-digit growth over last year in the session, which included the second week of the February sweep.
Leader Entertainment Tonight (CTD) saw its ratings rocket 13% from the week before to a 4.5, its strongest performance in two years. On the Monday after the Grammys, ET shot up 25% to a 5.0.
Inside Edition (CTD) tacked on 6% to a new season high 3.5; Access Hollywood (NBCU) improved 5% to a new season high 2.3 and clocked the biggest year-to-year increase of any entertainment mag with 21% advance.
TMZ (WBDTD) was unchanged at its previous season high 2.2; The Insider (CTD) climbed 11% to a new season high 2.0; and Extra (WBDTD) held steady at its season high 1.8, despite preemptions in three of the top 50 markets.
In the metered markets Access Hollywood Live (NBCU) was up 22% in households from last February to a 1.1 rating/4 share, and ballooned 50% among women 25-54 in the second week of the sweep.
Talk Shows
Among talk shows, only The Doctors (CTD) hit a new season high and it did so for the second consecutive week, surging 6% in households to a 1.8 and 14% in the women 18-49 demo.
Dr. Phil (CTD) was the No. 1 talker for the 17th time this season with a 3.4, which was off 3% from the week before, although still up 10% from last year at this time.
In second place, Dr. Oz (Sony) declined 3% to a 3.0; Live with Kelly (Disney-ABC) was flat at a 2.7; Ellen DeGeneres (WBDTD) weakened 4% to a 2.6; and Maury (NBCU) also faded 4% to a 2.5 (but was up 25% from a year ago).
First-Run Freshmen
Newcomer Anderson (WBDTD) easily led the rookie field, holding steady at a 1.5. Jeremy Kyle (Debmar-Mercury) and We the People with Gloria Allred (Entertainment Studios) were unchanged at 0.7 and 0.5, respectively.
Excused (CTD), a new dating show, was strong in latenight, jumping 17% in households to a 0.7, and 25% among women 18-49.
Court Shows
In the courtrooms, Judge Judy (CTD) was far in front despite easing 4% from its season high to a 7.3. Judge Joe Brown (CTD) held firm at a second-place 3.1; People’s Court (WBDTD) picked up 9% to a new season high 2.4; Judge Alex (Twentieth) added 6% to a 1.9; while Judge Mathis (WBDTD) was flat at a 1.7.
Game Shows
Wheel of Fortune (CTD) led the games, but softened 4% to a 7.4. Jeopardy (CTD) was unchanged at a 6.4; Family Feud (Debmar-Mercury) was flat at a 3.2; while Who Wants to Be a Millionaire (Disney-ABC) rose 4% to a 2.7.
Off-Net Sitcoms
In off-net syndication, rookie Big Bang Theory (WBDTD) continued to top the sitcoms, although it was down 4% from the week before to 7.3.
Two and a Half Men (WBDTD) slipped 5% to a 6.3; Family Guy (Twentieth) gave back 2% to a 4.5; How I Met Your Mother (Twentieth) dropped 9% to a 3.0; Seinfeld (Sony) slid 4% to a 2.6; Everybody Loves Raymond (CTD) retreated 4% to a 2.3, tying King of the Hill (Twentieth), which picked up 5% to a 2.3.
30 Rock (NBCU) was the highest-rated rookie after Big Bang, with a steady 1.4 in latenight. It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia (Twentieth) and Till Death (Sony) were unchanged at 1.2 and 0.7, respectively.
Off-Net Weekly Hours
Criminal Minds (CTD) held on to the lead among off-net weekly hours, but tumbled 18% to a 3.3. Monk (NBCU) moved into second with a 4% hike to a 2.6; Without a Trace (WBDTD) erased 14% of its ratings, leaving it at a 2.5; Law & Order (NBCU) sank 17% to a 2.5, while Numbers (CTD) was in the minus column, losing 4% to a 2.3, tying Cold Case (WBDTD), which was frozen at a 2.3.
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