Talk Shows Sizzle in Summer Heatwave

Talk shows heated up along with the weather in the week ending July 21, the hottest week of the year so far. Dr. Phil scored the biggest week-to-week increase among the top 10 talkers, finishing first for the 38^th time this season with its highest rating in eight weeks.

Other gainers in the top tier included Maury and a healthy Dr. Oz, which hit its best Nielsens since early June. Ellen, another top-tier mainstay, had its strongest showing in four weeks, despite being all repeats.

Also making significant upward moves were Rachael Ray, Jerry Sprnger and The Doctors.

And on the rookie front, Steve Harvey posted its sharpest session in five weeks.

At the very top of the syndicated ratings chart, Judge Judy picked up steam and was the highest rated show in first run for the 12th week in a row, even though it was all reruns.

The week’s top nationally rated talk shows in the women 25-54 demo were:

• Dr. Phil (1.6, up 14% from the week before)
• Maury (1.4, +8%), tied with Live with Kelly and Michael (1.4, -13%)
• Ellen (1.3, +8%)
• Dr. Oz (1.1, +10%)
• Wendy Williams (1.0, unchanged)
• Katie (0.8, -11%), tied with Steve Wilkos (0.8, unchanged)

In the household rating rankings that follow, * indicates a new season high rating; ** indicates a new season low; % change is from the previous week; NC indicates no change from the previous week.

TALK SHOWS

1. Dr. Phil (CTD) 2.7, +13%

2. Live with Kelly and Michael (Disney-ABC) 2.4 -4%

3. Maury (NBCU) 2.2 +5%

4. Dr. Oz (Sony) 2.1 +5%

5. Ellen (WBDTD) 1.9 +6%

6. Katie (Disney-ABC) 1.7 -6%

7. Wendy Williams (Debmar-Mercury) 1.3 NC

7. Rachael Ray (CTD) 1.3 +8%

7. Jerry Springer (NBCU) 1.3 +8%

7. Steve Harvey (NBCU) 1.3 +8%

11. Steve Wilkos (NBCU) 1.2 NC

11. The Doctors (CTD) 1.2 +9%

13. Trisha (NBCU) 0.5 NC

14. The Better Show (Meredith) 0.2 +100%

FRESHMEN TALKERS

1. Katie (Disney-ABC) 1.7 -6%

2. Steve Harvey (NBCU) 1.3 +8%

3. Trisha (NBCU) 0.5 NC

COURT SHOWS

1. Judge Judy (CTD) 6.4 +3%

2. People’s Court (WBDTD) 1.6 NC

3. Judge Mathis (WBDTD) 1.3 +8%

4. Judge Alex (Twentieth) 1.1 NC

4. Divorce Court (Twentieth) 1.1 NC

6. America’s Court with Judge Ross (Entertainment Studios) 0.7 +17%

7. Justice for All with Judge Cristina Perez (Entertainment Studios) 0.4 NC

8. We the People with Gloria Allred (Entertainment Studios) 0.2 NC

MAGAZINE SHOWS

1. Entertainment Tonight (CTD) 3.3 NC

2. Inside Edition (CTD) 2.7 +4%

3. TMZ (WBDTD) 1.9 NC

4. Access Hollywood (NBCU) 1.5 -6%

5. Extra (WBDTD) 1.3 -7%

5. OMG Insider (CTD) 1.3 NC

7. Dish Nation (Twentieth) 0.9 NC

GAME SHOWS

1. Wheel of Fortune (CTD) 6.0 +2%

2. Jeopardy (CTD) 5.9 +4%

3. Family Feud (Debmar-Mercury) 4.3 -2%

4. Who Wants to Be a Millionaire (Disney-ABC) 2.3 -4%

5. Baggage (GSN) 1.0 +11%

OFF-NET SITCOMS

1. Big Bang Theory (WBDTD) 6.3 +5%

2. Two and a Half Men (WBDTD) 4.3 NC

3. Family Guy (Twentieth) 3.3 NC

4. How I Met Your Mother (Twentieth) 2.4 -4%

5. King of the Hill (Twentieth) 2.2 NC

5. Friends (WBDTD) 2.2 +5%

5. Seinfeld (Sony) 2.2 +10%

8. Everybody Loves Raymond (CTD) 1.8 +6%

OFF-NET WEEKLY HOURS

1. Law & Order (NBCU) 2.9 +53%

2. Law & Order: SVU (NBCU) 2.8 -22%

3. Castle (Disney-ABC) 2.3 +10%

4. Criminal Minds (CTD) 2.2 -8%

4. CSI: Miami (CTD) 2.2 -4%

4. House (NBCU) 2.2 +5%