Christmas Week Brings ‘Judy’ A Ratings Gift

Judge Judy (CTD) celebrated the holiday week ending with Christmas Day (Dec. 25) by reestablishing itself as the highest-rated show of any type in syndication.

Judy jumped 3% from the week before, and a whopping 76% from last year at this time, to a 7.2.

Another strong performer in the very hot court show group, the only genre in which not a single program declined from the prior week, was Judge Joe Brown (CTD). Brown was a clear second, with 7% week-to-week and 45% year-to-year increases to a 2.9.

People’s Court (WBDTD) clocked a 2.1, which was up 5% from the week before and 17% from last year; Judge Alex (Twentieth) held steady at a 1.7 and climbed 31% from last year; Judge Mathis (WBDTD) also earned a 1.7, up 6% week to week and 13% year to year; Divorce Court (Twentieth) advanced 7% to a 1.6, which was up 23% from last year; Swift Justice with Jackie Glass (CTD) grew 17% from the prior week to a 1.4 and improved 8% from last year.

Talk Shows

Live with Kelly (Disney-ABC) began its Aloha Hawaii — Watch to Win Giveaway contest and ratings improved 7% from the week before to a 3.0, topping usual talk leader Dr. Phil (CTD). Phil went into repeats and slipped 13% to a new-season-low 2.6, although that was still up 13% from last year at this time.

Dr. Oz (Sony) was flat at a 2.6; Maury (NBCU) added 4% to a 2.4; Ellen DeGeneres (WBDTD) sank 19% to a new-season-low 2.1; while Rachael Ray (CTD) rallied 6% and matched its season high with a 1.7.

First-Run Freshmen

Among newcomers to syndication, Excused (CTD), the new latenight dating had the biggest increase, scoring a new series high with a 14% surge from the previous week to a 0.8.

Anderson (WBDTD) held steady at a 1.3 and led all rookies in first run; Jeremy Kyle (Debmar-Mercury) and We the People with Gloria Allred (Entertainment Studios) were unchanged at 0.6 and 0.5, respectively.

Magazine Shows

In access, magazines were all flat to down in the holiday week. Leader Entertainment Tonight (CTD) was off 5% from the week before to a 3.5; Inside Edition (CTD) softened 6% to a 2.9; Access Hollywood (NBCU) dipped 5% to a 1.9, tying TMZ (WBDTD), which was flat at a 1.9; while The Insider (CTD) and Extra (WBDTD) each eased 6% to a 1.5.

Game Shows

Among game shows, Wheel of Fortune (CTD) remained stalled at 7.1; Jeopardy (CTD) inched up 2% to a 5.9; Family Feud (Debmar-Mercury) fell 6% to a 3.0; and Who Wants to Be a Millionaire (Disney-ABC) rose 4% to a 2.5.

Off-Net Sitcoms

In off-net syndication, newcomer Big Bang Theory (WBDTD) declined 3% from the prior session to a 6.5, but continued to top veteran Men and every other sitcom.

Two and a Half Men (WBDTD) picked up 2% to a 6.3; Family Guy (Twentieth) gave back 13% to a 3.9; How I Met Your Mother (Twentieth) and Seinfeld (Sony) were unchanged at 3.5 and 2.7, respectively; while That ’70s Show (Twentieth) spiked 59% to new-season-high 2.7.

Among the new sitcoms following Big Bang, 30 Rock (NBCU) was steady at a 1.4 in late fringe. It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia (Twentieth) was up 8% to a 1.3, while Till Death (Sony) was flat at a 0.7.

Off-Net Weekly Hours

Off-net weekly hours were mostly lower. Law & Order (NBCU) topped the list, although it was down 4% from the week before to a 2.7. Law & Order: Special Victims Unit (NBCU) slumped 7% to a 2.6; Criminal Minds (CTD) tumbled 17% to a new-season-low 2.4; Cold Case (WBDTD) was flat at a 2.2; while Monk (NBCU) faded 25% to a new-season-low 2.1.