Syndies Post Strong Ratings Bounce-Back

Dr. Phil (CTD) reclaimed the No.1 talk show title with a double-digit ratings increase in the week ending Aug. 19, the first week after the Olympics.

In general, the session was a strong one for many shows, which have had depressed ratings for the previous two weeks, trying to compete with, or being preempted by, the London Games.

Talk Shows

Phil, which has been the top talker 39 times this season, grew 20% week to week and 9% from last year at this time in households, to a category-best 2.4 and rocketed 40% among women 18-34 despite being in reruns all week.

Maury (NBCU) inched up 5% to a 2.2, but slipped into a tie for second place with Dr. Oz (Sony), which edged up 5% to a 2.2. Right behind, Live with Kelly (Disney-ABC) had the largest weekly household rating increase of any show in daytime, improving 24% to a 2.1. The Ellen DeGeneres Show (WBDTD), meanwhile posted a 1.6 after being broken out of the ratings for the previous two frames.

First-Run Freshmen

Among rookie strips, Anderson (WBDTD) resumed command with a 1.1, coming off two weeks of preemptions. Jeremy Kyle (Debmar-Mercury) was unchanged at a 0.5, while latenight dating show Excused (CTD) held steady week to week at a 0.6.

Court Shows

The ratings verdict on court shows was favorable. Daytime champ Judge Judy (CTD) jumped 9% to a 6.2 and was easily the highest-rated show in first-run syndication.

Judge Joe Brown (CTD) also notched a 9% gain to a 2.4; People’s Court (WBDTD) added 6% to a 1.9; Judge Alex (Twentieth) climbed 8% to a 1.4, landing in a tie with Judge Mathis (WBDTD), which was flat at a 1.4, and Divorce Court (Twentieth), which gained 17% to a 1.4.

Magazine Shows

Most magazines continued to show strength. Leader Entertainment Tonight (CTD) surged 9% from the week before to a 3.5, although Inside Edition (CTD) was unchanged at a 2.8.

Access Hollywood (NBCU), coming off its biggest two weeks in several years during the Olympics, gave back 22% to a 1.8, which was still up 6% from last year at this time. TMZ (WBDTD) rebounded 6% to a 1.8; The Insider (CTD) spiked 15% to a 1.5; and Extra (WBDTD), which was widely preempted by the Olympics and broken out of the ratings by Nielsen for the previous two weeks., scored a 1.4.

Game Shows

Games were also in recovery mode. Wheel of Fortune (CTD) rolled to a 5.8, which was up 12% from the week before. Jeopardy (CTD) recovered 16% to a 5.0; Family Feud (Debmar-Mercury) finished 19% ahead of the prior frame at a 3.2; and Who Wants to Be a Millionaire (Disney-ABC) leaped 28% to 2.3.

Off-Net Sitcoms

Among off-net sitcoms, Big Bang Theory (WBDTD) continued to lead with a 6% week-to-week rise to a 6.6. Two and a Half Men (WBDTD) was flat at a 4.8; Family Guy (Twentieth) fell 5% to a 3.7; How I Met Your Mother (Twentieth) was unchanged at a 2.6; while King of the Hill (Twentieth) and Seinfeld (Sony) increased 5% to a 2.3.

Off-Net Weekly Hours

On the weekend, Monk (NBCU) mushroomed 33% from the week before to a 2.8 and took over the lead among the off-net hours. Criminal Minds (CTD) was also hot, shooting up 17% to a second-place 2.7. Law & Order: Special Victims Unit (NBCU) spurted 18% to a 2.6; and sister show Law & Order (NBCU) advanced 9% to a 2.4, while Without a Trace (WBDTD) was unchanged at a 2.3,