Big Post-Sweep Rebound In Syndication

New details of Prince William’s royal wedding to Kate Middleton next year in London and Michael Douglas breaking his silence about his cancer treatment sent ratings for the syndicated magazines higher in the week ending Dec. 5. In addition, off-net sitcoms and game shows rebounded sharply from their Thanksgiving Week doldrums.

Magazine Shows

In the first full week following the end of the November sweep almost every news mag was up from the week before. Genre leader Entertainment Tonight (CTD) jumped 8% to a 4.0 in households and spiked 24 among women 25-54. Inside Edition (CTD) recovered from the prior week’s season low with a 20% increase to a3.0; Access Hollywood (NBCU) climbed 5% to a 2.0 in households and grew 8% in the women 25-54 demo; TMZ (WBDTD) added 12% to a 1.9; The Insider (CTD) grew 6% to a 1.8 in households and surged 22% among women 25-54; and Extra (WBDTD) improved 20% among women 18-34 and held firm at a 1.6 in households despite not airing in several major cities, including New York, due to Christmas tree lighting ceremonies.

Talk Shows

A big surprise in daytime was Judge Judy (CTD) elbowing aside Oprah (CTD), which is in its final season, and taking over the top spot. Judy was up 5% to a 4.6, matching its previous season high, and grew 10% among women 18-34, while Oprah was down 8% to a 4.5. In terms of total audience, Judy blew away Oprah by an average of more than 450,000 viewers.

The other top-tier talkers were also mostly down or flat. Dr. Phil (CTD) fell 13% to a 2.7; Live with Regis and Kelly (Disney-ABC) and Ellen DeGeneres (WBDTD) were flat at 2.6 and 2.4, respectively, while Dr. Oz (Sony) was up 4% to a 2.4.

Court Shows

Among the court shows, Judge Joe Brown (CTD) was second to Judy for the 622^nd week in a row (including ties) with a steady 2.0. People’s Court (WBDTD) added 6% to a 1.9; Judge Mathis (WBDTD) advanced 7% to a1.6; and Divorce Court (Twentieth) tacked on 8% to a 1.3.

First-Run Freshmen

Among the new syndicated entries in first run, Swift Justice with Nancy Grace (CTD) made it a dozen straight weeks as the highest rated rookie strip, holding firm at 1.3 and more than 1.7 million viewers.

In second place, Don’t Forget the Lyrics (Twentieth) was unchanged at a 0.9 rating and 1.3 million viewers, while Nate Berkus (Sony) dropped into third with just under 1.2 million total viewers while remaining flat at a 0.9 household rating. Judge Karen’s Court (Litton) picked up 17% to a 0.7 and America’s Court with Judge Ross (Entertainment Studios) was unchanged at a 0.4.

Game Shows

Among game shows, Wheel of Fortune (CTD) recovered from Thanksgiving week with a 17% gain to a 7.4. Jeopardy (CTD) jumped 22% to a new season high 6.2; Who Wants to be a Millionaire (Disney-ABC) was flat at a 2.2; Family Feud (Debmar-Mercury) rose 13% to a new season high 1.8; but Are You Smarter Than a 5^th Grader? (Twentieth) sank 10% to a 0.9.

Off-Net Sitcoms

Two and a Half Men (WBDTD) topped a robust group of off-net sitcoms, surging 24% to a new season high 6.2. Family Guy (Twentieth) ballooned 28% to a new season high 4.1; Everybody Loves Raymond (CTD) receded 3% to a 2.8, falling into a tie with My Wife and Kids (Disney-ABC), which soared 40% to a 2.8; and Seinfeld (Sony), which climbed 22% to a new season high 2.8.

Off-Net Freshmen

Among the new off-net and off-cable strips, How I Met Your Mother (Twentieth) leaped 18% to a new season high 2.6; The New Adventures of Old Christine (WBDTD) increased 8% to a new season high 1.4; Meet the Browns (Debmar-Mercury) was flat at a 1.3; while Ugly Betty (Disney-ABC) and True Hollywood Stories both tumbled 11% to a 0.8.

Off-Net Weekly Hours

Law & Order: Criminal Intent (NBCU) moved into a tie for first place among the off-net weekly hours with previous leader Criminal Minds (CTD) with a 12% hike to a new season high 2.9. Minds eroded 6% to a 2.9; Numbers (CTD) was unchanged at a 2.3; and Monk (NBCU) moved up 10% to a 2.2, tying Without a Trace (WBDTD), which slipped 4% to a 2.2.