Strong Week For Games, Led By ‘Jeopardy’

Several syndicated shows surged in the post-election session ending Nov. 20, with Jeopardy, Judge Judy, Hot Bench and Entertainment Tonight among the heavyweights hitting new season highs.

Jeopardy elevated 11% from the week before to a season-best 6.1 live-plus-same-day national Nielsen rating, as the final round of its annual Tournament of Champions got underway.

The top two court shows set season records, with Judge Judy jumping 7% to a 4.6, its most powerful closing argument since early June, and Hot Bench erupting 8% to a 1.4, its biggest verdict since May.

Although there were no new highs among talkers, three shows delivered double-digit growth over last year at this time: Kelly Clarkson crushed it with a 13% climb to a 0.9; Drew Barrymore skyrocketed 60% to a 0.8 (while adding 88,000 daily viewers week to week); and Tamron Hall was red hot, hammering out a 17% increase to a 0.7.

Also of note, newcomer Karamo had its most-watched week yet while retaining its season-high 0.4 in households for a second frame.

Live with Kelly and Ryan racked up first place in talk for the 26^th consecutive week, remaining at its season-high 1.6.

Dr. Phil snared second with an 8% spike to a 1.4 and a 25% pop in the key demo, matching its season high.

On the magazine rack, Entertainment Tonight made ratings news, rallying 16% to a new season best 2.2.

Also worthy of note was Extra, which notched first-run syndication’s strongest percentage increase with a 20 improvement to a season-high tying 0.6.

The top talk shows for the week among women 25-54 were:

• Live with Kelly and Ryan (0.6, unchanged from the week before)
• Dr. Phil (0.5, +25%)
• Sherri (0.4, 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

Live with Kelly and Ryan (Disney-ABC) 1.6 NC

Dr. Phil (CMV) 1.4 +8%

The Kelly Clarkson Show (NBCU) 0.9 NC

Drew Barrymore (CMV) 0.8 NC

Tamron Hall (Disney-ABC) 0.7 NC

Rachael Ray (CMV) 0.7 NC

Steve Wilkos (NBCU) 0.6 NC

Maury (NBCU) 0.5 NC

Jerry Springer Combo (NBCU) 0.3 NC

FRESHMAN SHOWS

Sherri (CMV) 0.7 NC

Jennifer Hudson (WBDTD) 0.6 NC

iCrime with Elizabeth Vargas (Trifecta) 0.5 NC

Pictionary (CMV) 0.5 NC

Karamo (NBCU) 0.4 NC

We the People with Judge Lauren Lake (CF Entertainment) 0.3 -25%

COURT SHOWS

Judge Judy (CMV) 4.6* +7%

Hot Bench(CMV) 1.4* +8%

People’s Court (WBDTD) 0.8 NC

Judge Mathis (WBDTD) 0.6 NC

Divorce Court (Fox First Run) 0.5 NC

Relative Justice (EW Media Group) 0.3 NC

GAME SHOWS

Jeopardy (CMV) 6.1* +11%

Wheel of Fortune (CMV) 5.4* +13%

Family Feud (Debmar-Mercury/FMNA) 5.0 +4%

25 Words or Less (Fox First Run) 0.8 +14%

You Bet Your Life (Fox First Run) 0.7 NC

Funny You Should Ask(Entertainment Studios) 0.3 NC

MAGAZINE SHOWS

Inside Edition (CMV) 2.3 +15%

Entertainment Tonight (CMV) 2.2* +16%

Access Hollywood (NBCU) 0.8 NC

TMZ (Fox First Run) 0.7 NC

Extra (WBDTD) 0.6 +20%

Dish Nation (Fox First Run) 0.2 NC

OFF-NET SITCOMS

Big Bang Theory (WBDTD) 1.9 NC

Last Man Standing (Disney-ABC) 1.0 -9%

Young Sheldon (WBDTD) 0.8 NC

Modern Family (Disney-ABC) 0.8 +14%

Two and a Half Men (WBDTD) 0.8* +14%

The Goldbergs(Sony) 0.6 NC

Family Guy (Disney-ABC) 0.6 -25%

Seinfeld (Sony) 0.6 NC

The Neighborhood (CMV) 0.5 NC

American Housewife (Disney-ABC) 0.4 +33%

Black-ish (Disney-ABC) 0.4 NC

OFF-NET WEEKLY HOURS

Dateline Weekly (NBCU) 3.4 +3%

Law & Order: SVU (NBCU) 1.5 +25%

Chicago Fire (NBCU) 1.0 -9%

Chicago P.D. (NBCU) 0.8 -11%

Magnum P.I. (CMV) 0.7 +17%

Seal Team (CMV) 0.7 +17%

The Rookie (Disney-ABC) 0.7 -13%