Big Move For ‘Big Bang’ To Top Spot

As expected, reruns of the CBS hit Big Bang Theory (WBDTD) rose to the top tier of the syndication rankings, tying leaders Judge Judy (CTD) and Wheel of Fortune (CTD) in the week ending Feb. 5, a session that included the first two weekdays of the February sweeps period.

Off-Net Sitcoms

Big Bang, which like many other sitcoms, augments its average by including a cable run in its rating, was up 4% from the week before to a new season high 7.6. This matched the scores of first-run champions Judy and Wheel, both of which held steady week to week at a 7.6.

Among the other laffers, Two and a Half Men (WBDTD) was also up a smidge, adding 2% to a 6.5; Family Guy (Twentieth) was flat at a 4.1; How I Met Your Mother (Twentieth) fell 6% to a 3.2; Seinfeld (Sony) slid 4% to a 2.6; and Everybody Loves Raymond (CTD) remained at a 2.6.

Among rookie sitcoms, 30 Rock (NBCU) dipped 7% from its season high in the prior frame and was second to Big Bang at a 1.4. It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia (Twentieth) declined 8% to a 1.2; and Till Death (Sony) was unchanged at a 0.7

Talk Shows

Turning to first run, Dr. Phil (CTD) widened his lead over the talkers and was No. 1 for 15th time this season. Syndication’s top doctor improved 3% from the previous session to a 3.3, a rating exceeded only by its premiere week, which featured the Casey Anthony parents interview.

Runner up, Dr. Oz (Sony), remained second with an unchanged 2.9; Live with Kelly (Disney-ABC) recovered 4% to a 2.7, but was still off 13% from the same week last year when Regis Philbin co-hosted the show; Maury (NBCU) weakened 4% to a 2.5; Ellen DeGeneres (WBDTD) sank 8% to a 2.4; while The Doctors (CTD) grew 7% to a 1.6, tying Rachael Ray (CTD) and Jerry Springer (NBCU), both of which were on par with the prior frame.

In the metered markets, slow rollout Access Hollywood Live (NBCU) was up 11% in households from last year at this time to a 1.0 rating/3 share and leaped 17% among women 25-54.

Back in the national ratings, first-run rookie Anderson (WBDTD) held steady week to week at a 1.4; Jeremy Kyle (Debmar-Mercury) and We the People with Gloria Allred (Entertainment Studios) were flat at 0.7 and 0.5, respectively; while latenight dating show Excused (CTD) surged 17% in households to a 0.7 and 25% among women 25-54.

Court Shows

Following Judy, which has presided over the category every week since 1996, Judge Joe Brown (CTD) eased 3% from the week before to a 3.0. People’s Court (WBDTD) perked up 5% to a 2.2; Judge Alex (Twentieth) was flat at a 1.8; while Judge Mathis (WBDTD) gained 6% to a 1.8.

Magazine Shows

On the magazine rack, only Access Hollywood (NBCU) and The Insider (CTD) were up from the week before as the sweep got underway. Conversely, Inside Edition (CTD) was the only show to decline, losing 3% to a 3.2. Access Hollywood jumped 5% in households to a 2.1 and 20% among women 18-49, while The Insider rallied 6% to a 1.8, matching its season high. In addition, Insider Weekend spiked 8% week to week and 40% year to year to a new season high 1.4.

Magazine leader Entertainment Tonight (CTD) was steady at a 3.9; TMZ (WBDTD) was flat at a 2.2; and Extra (WBDTD) held firm at a 1.6, despite not airing for three days of Super Bowl special programming in Boston among many other preemptions.

Game Shows

Game shows were mixed. Wheel of Fortune (CTD) and Jeopardy (CTD) were unchanged at 7.6 and 6.2, respectively; Family Feud (Debmar-Mercury) inched up 3% to a 3.2; and Who Wants to Be a Millionaire (Disney-ABC) shed 4% to a 2.5.

Off-Net Weekly Hours

Among off-net weekly hours, Criminal Minds (CTD) continued to lead, advancing 3% to a 3.1; Law & Order (NBCU) followed with a 4% hike to a 2.8; Trace shot up 17% to a third-place 2.7; while Monk (NBCU) declined 4% to a 2.6 and landed in a tie with Law & Order: Special Victims Unit (NBCU), which climbed 13% to a 2.6.