‘Judy’ Is Only Court To Post Weekly Gain

Syndicated shows were steady to higher in the week ending May 13, which included the second full week of the May sweep. Judge Judy (CTD) was a standout, as the queen of daytime took the overall syndication crown for the third consecutive week (with one tie).

Talk Shows

Dr. Phil (CTD) pulled away in the talk show race, scoring its strongest ratings in 10 weeks and its biggest margin of victory over second-place Dr. Oz (Sony) since the beginning of the season. The top talker was up 10% from the week before to a 3.2, scored double-digit gains in every key female demo and topped Oz by nearly 800,000 viewers per show.

Oz declined 4% to a 2.6; Ellen DeGeneres (WBDTD) added 4% to a 2.4; Maury (NBCU) faded 4% to a 2.3, but retained its No. 1 talker slot among women 18-49 and 25-54; while Live with Kelly (Disney-ABC) was flat at a 2.3.

First-Run Freshmen

Anderson (WBDTD) topped all daytime newcomers in first run by nearly a 3-1 margin, improving 8% in households from the prior session to a 1.4, and 33% among 18-34. Jeremy Kyle (Debmar-Mercury) sank 17% to a 0.5, while We the People with Gloria Allred (Entertainment Studios) was unchanged at a 0.4. In latenight, Excused (CTD) held steady at its 0.6 rating.

Slow rollout Access Hollywood Live (NBCU) held steady at a 0.9 rating/3 share in its 17 markets and showed double-digit year-to-year growth in two of the top three DMAs, with increases of 83% in Los Angeles and 27% in Chicago.

Court Shows

Top-rated Judge Judy was the only court show to improve from the week before. Judy scored its best ratings since early March, hitting a 7.1 in households, which was up 4% from the week before, and up 9% among women 25-54.

Judge Joe Brown (CTD), the No. 2 court show remained at a 2.5. People’s Court (WBDTD), Judge Alex (Twentieth) and Judge Mathis (WBDTD) were all flat 1.9, 1.4 and 1.4, respectively, while Divorce Court (Twentieth) lost 7% to a 1.3.

Magazine Shows

In access,, the only gainers among the mags were Access Hollywood (NBCU), which spiked 12% week to week in households to a 1.9, and 13% among women 18-49; and Extra (WBDTD), which rallied 7% in households to a 1.6, and 25% among women 18-34.

Mag leader Entertainment Tonight (CTD) held firm at a 3.6; Inside Edition (CTD) was unchanged at a 3.0; while TMZ (WBDTD) tumbled 5% to a 1.9 and The Insider (CTD) was steady at a 1.6.

Game Shows

Game shows all recovered some of the ground they lost in the prior frame. Wheel of Fortune (CTD) inched up 2% to a 6.5 and finished third overall on the syndication chart, following Judge Judy and Big Bang Theory (WBDTD). Jeopardy (CTD) tacked on 4% to a 5.7; Family Feud (Debmar-Mercury) finished 7% higher at a 3.1; and Who Wants to Be a Millionaire (Disney-ABC) advanced 4% 2.6.

Off-Net Sitcoms

Among the off-net sitcoms, Big Bang dropped 1% to a 6.7 and trailed only Judy in the overall rankings. Two and a Half Men (WBDTD) ticked up 2% to a 5.6; Family Guy (Twentieth) gave back 8% to a 3.7; How I Met Your Mother (Twentieth) fell 7% to a new season low 2.5; Seinfeld (Sony) and King of the Hill (Twentieth) rose 4% to a 2.5, which was a new season high for Hill.

Among the rookies following Big Bang, 30 Rock (NBCU) slipped 8% to a 1.2 in late fringe; It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia (Twentieth) was up 9% to a 1.2; while Till Death (Sony) was flat at a 0.6.

Off-Net Weekly Hours

Law & Order (NBCU) blew away the off-net weekly hours with a 24% surge from the previous frame to a new season high 3.6. Usual leader Criminal Minds (CTD) weakened 3% to a second-place 2.9. Monk (NBCU) managed a 5% to a 2.3, tying Numbers (CTD), which jumped 10 to% a 2.3. Cold Case (WBDTD) declined 5% to a 2.0, tying Cold Case (WBDTD), which was unchanged at a 2.0.