Courts, Led By ‘Judy,’ Resist Preemptions

In a week where television was dominated by the impeachment trial of President Trump, court shows led by Judge Judy were syndication’s ratings stars.

Despite being preempted in many markets by the Senate arguments and the president’s response to the acquittal, Judy jumped 10% to a three-week high 6.5 live-plus-same-day national Nielsen rating, and was the top gaveler for the 1,220^th straight week in the session ending Feb. 9.

In addition, the Judy juggernaut was syndication’s No. 1 show in the household ratings for the 22^nd time in the past 28 weeks.

Other courtrooms sustaining double-digit improvement were Judge Judy Sheindlin’s creation Hot Bench, which ballooned 17% to a 2.1; Judge Mathis, which moved up 25% to a 1.0; and Caught in Providence, which captured a 25% increase to a 0.5.

Elsewhere in daytime, Dr. Phil had a big week, surging 19% to a 2.5 and leading the talkers for 175^th time in the past 179 weeks.

Live with Kelly and Ryan was the only other program in the genre at or above a 2.0 rating, growing 5% to a 2.1.

In access, strips in the hot magazine category all held or improved on their recent gains. Entertainment Tonight rose 3% to a 3.0, matching its season high and finishing first for the fifth week in a row.

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

• Dr. Phil (1.0, +11% from the week before)
• Live with Kelly and Ryan (0.9, +13%), tied with Ellen DeGeneres (0.9, +29%)
• Maury (0.7, +17%), tied with Wendy Williams (0.7, +17%)
• Kelly Clarkson (0.6, NA)
• Steve Wilkos (0.5, unchanged)

In the household rating rankings that follow, % change is from the previous week; * indicates a new season-high rating; ** indicates a new season low; NC indicates no change from the previous week; NA means not applicable.

TALK SHOWS

Dr. Phil (CTD) 2.5 +19%

Live with Kelly and Ryan (Disney-ABC) 2.1 +5%

Ellen DeGeneres (WBDTD) 1.9 +12%

Wendy Williams (Debmar-Mercury) 1.3 NC

Maury (NBCU) 1.2 +9%

Rachael Ray (CTD) 1.1 NA

Steve Wilkos (NBCU) 1.0 NC

Dr. Oz (Sony) 0.8 +14%

The Real (WBDTD) 0.7 +17%

The Doctors (CTD) 0.5 +25%

Jerry Springer (NBCU) 0.4 NC

FIRST-RUN ROOKIES

The Kelly Clarkson Show (NBCU) 1.3 NA

25 Words or Less (CTD) 1.0 NC

Judge Jerry (NBCU) 0.9 NC

Tamron Hall (Disney-ABC) 0.9 NC

America Says (Sony) 0.8* +14%

Personal Injury Court (MGM) 0.6 +20%

Mel Robbins (Sony) 0.5 +25%

Protection Court (Trifecta) 0.3 NC

COURT SHOWS

Judge Judy (CTD) 6.5 +10%

Hot Bench(CTD) 2.1 +17%

People’s Court (WBDTD) 1.4 NC

Judge Mathis (WBDTD) 1.0 +25%

Divorce Court (20th Television) 0.7 NC

Caught in Providence (Debmar-Mercury) 0.5 +25%

GAME SHOWS

Jeopardy (CTD) 6.4 +2%

Wheel of Fortune (CTD) 6.3 +2%

Family Feud (Debmar-Mercury/FMNA) 6.1 NC

Funny You Should Ask(Entertainment Studios) 0.5 +25%

OFF-NET CRIME

Dateline M-F (NBCU) 1.2 +20%

Live PD: Police Patrol (Sony) 1.0 NC

Chicago P.D. (NBCU) 0.8 NC

MAGAZINE SHOWS

Entertainment Tonight (CTD) 3.0 +3%

Inside Edition (CTD) 2.8 +4%

Access Hollywood (NBCU) 1.4 NC

TMZ (WBDTD) 1.2 +9%

Extra (WBDTD) 1.0 NC

Daily Mail TV (CTD) 0.7 NC

Celebrity Page (Trifecta) 0.2 NC

OFF-NET SITCOMS

Big Bang Theory (WBDTD) 3.4 +3%

Last Man Standing (20th Television) 2.1 NC

Modern Family (20th Television) 1.6 +14%

Two and a Half Men (WBDTD) 1.4 +17%

The Goldbergs(Sony) 1.3 +8%

Family Guy (20th Television) 1.2 +9%

Mike and Molly (WBDTD) 1.0 +11%

Black-ish (Disney-ABC) 1.0 NC

Seinfeld (Sony) 1.0 +11%

Mom (WBDTD) 1.0 +25%

OFF-NET WEEKLY HOURS

Dateline Weekly (NBCU) 3.4 -3%

Law & Order: SVU (NBCU) 1.5 +7%

NCIS: New Orleans (CTD) 1.4 +8%

Chicago P.D. (NBCU) 1.3* +18%

Law & Order: Criminal Intent (NBCU) 1.0 NC

Castle (Disney-ABC) 0.9 NC

American Ninja Warrior (NBCU) 0.9 +29%