A Sterling Week For Magazine Shows

Reports on the scandal surrounding Los Angeles Clippers owner Donald Sterling, who was banned for life by the NBA, sent Nielsens for the eight highest-rated magazines skyward in the session ending May 4, the first full week of the May sweep.

Among the top six, The Insider had the largest week-to-week increase, jumping 8%, while Access Hollywood and Extra had the second-biggest gains among the top tier, with each show growing 7%. Extra was also up the most from last year among the magazines, improving 7%.

In seventh place, Right This Minute rose 10% to a 1.1, followed by Dish Nation, which was up 11% to a 1.0.

Entertainment Tonight ruled the category with a 3.4.

In daytime, Dr. Phil swept to its widest lead over the talk show field in 52 weeks with nearly a full point advantage over its closest rivals. Phil was also a strong No. 1 among women 25-54.

Ellen and Live with Kelly and Michael were only a tenth of a point apart in the battle for second place, with Dr. Oz close behind. Oz surged 15% to its highest household rating in 12 weeks and tied Kelly and Michael for third place among women 25-54 with a 1.3 in the key demo.

Once again, Steve Harvey clocked the largest year-to-year increase in talk, gaining 27% from last year, while climbing 6% week to week in households and shooting up 22% among women 25-54.

Other talkers moving up included Katie, Rachael Ray and rookie champ Queen Latifah, which scored its best rating since the week of March 31 and jumped 14% among women 25-54. Wendy Williams was steady with the prior week, but up 17% from last year.

Judge Judy was, by a substantial margin, the No. 1 show in syndication, advancing 6% from the week before and 9% from last year at this time to a 7.4.

Among show not yet nationally rated, Access Hollywood Live grew 17% week to week to a 0.7/2 in the metered markets.

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

• Dr. Phil (1.9, up 6% from the week before)
• Ellen (1.6, +14%)
• Dr. Oz (1.3, +8%), tied with Live with Kelly and Michael (1.3, -13%)
• Maury (1.2, -8%)
• Steve Harvey (1.1, +22%)
• Wendy Williams (1.0, unchanged)
• Steve Wilkos (0.9, -10%)
• Queen Latifah (0.8 +14%), tied with Rachael Ray (0.8 +14%)

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 mean not applicable.

TALK SHOWS

1. Dr. Phil (CTD) 3.5 +6%

2. Ellen (WBDTD) 2.8 +8%

3. Live with Kelly and Michael (Disney-ABC) 2.7 -4%

4. Dr. Oz (Sony) 2.3 +15%

5. Maury (NBCU) 1.9 NC

5. Steve Harvey (NBCU) 1.9 +6%

7. Katie (Disney-ABC) 1.5 +7%

8. Steve Wilkos (NBCU) 1.4 -7%

8. Wendy Williams (Debmar-Mercury) 1.4 NC

10. Rachael Ray (CTD) 1.3 +8%

11. Jerry Springer (NBCU) 1.2 -8%

11. Queen Latifah (Sony) 1.2 +9%

13. The Doctors (CTD) 1.1 NC

14. Arsenio (CTD) 0.7 NC

14. Bethenny (WBDTD) 0.7 +17%

16. The Test (CTD) 0.6 NC

17. Trisha (NBCU) 0.5 NC

18. The Better Show (Meredith) 0.2 NC

FRESHMEN TALKERS

1. Queen Latifah (Sony) 1.2 +9%

2. Arsenio (CTD) 0.7 NC

2. Bethenny (WBDTD) 0.7 +17%

3. The Test (CTD) 0.6 NC

COURT SHOWS

1. Judge Judy (CTD) 7.4 +6%

2. People’s Court (WBDTD) 1.9 +6%

3. Divorce Court (Twentieth) 1.5 +7%

4. Judge Alex (Twentieth) 1.4 NC

4. Judge Mathis (WBDTD) 1.4 NC

6. Paternity Court (Orion Television) 1.0 NC

MAGAZINE SHOWS

1. Entertainment Tonight (CTD) 3.4 +3%

2. Inside Edition (CTD) 3.1 +3%

3. TMZ (WBDTD) 1.9 +6%

4. Access Hollywood (NBCU) 1.6 +7%

5. Extra (WBDTD) 1.5 +7%

6. The Insider (CTD) 1.3 +8%

7. Right This Minute (MGM) 1.1 +10%

8. Dish Nation (Twentieth) 1.0 +11%

9. America Now (Trifecta) 0.3 NC

9. OK! TV (Trifecta) 0.3 NC

GAME SHOWS

1. Wheel of Fortune (CTD) 6.9 +5%

2. Jeopardy (CTD) 6.7 +5%

3. Family Feud (Debmar-Mercury) 5.2 +6%

4. Who Wants to Be a Millionaire (Disney-ABC) 2.2 +5%

OFF-NET SITCOMS

1. Big Bang Theory (WBDTD) 6.1 NC

2. Modern Family (Twentieth) 4.2 NC

3. Two and a Half Men (WBDTD) 3.4 +3%

4. Family Guy (Twentieth) 2.6 NC

5. Seinfeld (Sony) 1.9 +6%

6. The Cleveland Show (Twentieth) 1.8 NC

6. Friends (WBDTD) 1.8 NC

8. How I Met Your Mother (Twentieth) 1.6** -11%

8. King of the Hill (Twentieth) 1.6 +7%

8. The Middle (WBDTD) 1.6 NC

10. Rules of Engagement (Sony) 1.4 +8%

OFF-NET WEEKLY HOURS

1. Law & Order: Criminal Intent (NBCU) 4.1 +24%

2. Law & Order: SVU (NBCU) 3.3 -3%

3. House (NBCU) 2.8 -13%

4. Criminal Minds (CTD) 2.4 +4%

5. Castle (Disney-ABC) 2.2 -12%

6. CSI: Miami (CTD) 2.0 -5%