‘Big Bang’ Takes Big Dip In Slow Week

Most syndicated shows lost ground in the week ending Oct. 9 as PUT levels declined amid unseasonably warm weather across much of the country. In addition, some shows were preempted in top market New York for news coverage of a spectacular helicopter crash into the East River.

Freshmen Shows

The season’s most talked about new off-net sitcom, Big Bang Theory (WBDTD), fizzled, losing 12% from the week before to a 4.4 in mostly access time slots as its TBS cable rating fell due to baseball preemptions. But, as baseball’s post-season comes to an end, the show’s multiple runs on TBS are expected to inflate Big Bang’s rating to the top of all off-net sitcoms.

30 Rock (NBCU), which unlike Big Bang, does not get a major percentage of its ratings from cable, was off 7% to a 1.3 in mostly lower-rated, late-fringe time periods. It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia (Twentieth) was flat at a 1.2; while Till Death (Sony) drooped 14% to a 0.6.

Excused (CTD), a new dating show in latenight time slots, held steady at a 0.6.

Veteran Off-Net Sitcoms

Two and a Half Men (WBDTD) continued to lead the veteran off-net comedies, although it was down 3% to a 6.4; Family Guy (Twentieth) slumped 15% to a 3.4; How I Met Your Mother (Twentieth) softened 12% to a 3.0; Seinfeld (Sony) slid 12% to a 2.3; while Friends (WBDTD) finished 4% lower at a 2.2.

Talk Shows

Among talk shows, Dr. Oz (Sony) fell 3% to a 2.8; Dr. Phil (CTD) slipped 10% to a 2.7; Live with Regis and Kelly (Disney-ABC) was unchanged at a 2.5; Ellen DeGeneres (WBDTD) was flat at a 2.2; while Maury (NBCU) was down 13% to a 2.0.

Newcomer Anderson (WBDTD), which did not air in New York sue to the fatal helicopter accident, led the first-run rookie talkers by a wide margin despite 8% to a 1.2. Jeremy Kyle (Debmar) was unchanged at a 0.5, while We the People with Gloria Allred (Entertainment Studios) sank 20% to a 0.4.

Court Shows

Judge Judy (CTD) was the highest rated court show by more than a 2-1 margin despite dipping 7% from the week before to a 6.2. Second-place courtroom Judge Joe Brown (CTD) also dipped 7% to a 2.6; People’s Court (WBDTD) faded 5% to a 1.9; Judge Alex (Twentieth) eroded 12% to a 1.5; while Judge Mathis (WBDTD) was down 6% to a 1.5.

Rookie court show Last Shot with Judge Gunn (Trifecta) debuted at a 0.3.

Magazine Shows

Magazines were all flat to down with leader Entertainment Tonight (CTD) easing 5% from the prior session to a 3.6. Inside Edition (CTD) softened 3% to a 3.0; Access Hollywood (NBCU) held steady at a 1.9; TMZ (WBDTD) declined 5% to a 1.8; The Insider (CTD) was firm at a 1.6; while Extra (WBDTD) was off 6% to a 1.5.

Game Shows

Among games, Wheel of Fortune (CTD) dropped 1% to a 6.6; Jeopardy (CTD) inched up 2% to a 5.6; Family Feud (Debmar-Mercury) was flat at a 2.6; while Who Wants to Be a Millionaire (Disney-ABC) devalued 4% to a 2.3.

Off-Net Weekly Hours

Law & Order (NBCU) was the top-rated off-net weekly hour with a 6% to a 3.3. Criminal Minds (CTD) fell to second place, losing 3% to a 3.0; Monk (NBCU) sank 12% to a 2.3; Numbers (CTD) equaled its 2.2 of the previous week; and The Closer (WBDTD) was also unchanged at a 2.2.