Courtrooms Ring In 2012 With Ratings Gains

Court shows ended the year on a very high note with the top four gavelers all scoring new season highs in the week ending Jan. 1.

Judge Judy (CTD), which has been the top-rated courtroom for 798 consecutive weeks, hit a season record 7.6, making Judy the No. 1 show in all of syndication by a wide margin. Compared to last year at this time, the daytime queen was up 77% after a 6% week-to-week improvement.

But Judy wasn’t the only courtroom on the upgrade. Judge Joe Brown (CTD) was a powerful second, with 10% week-to-week and 52% year-to-year increases to a new season best 3.2. People’s Court (WBDTD) posted a season high 2.3, which was up 10% from the week before; Judge Mathis (WBDTD) grew 12% to a new season record 1.9; and Judge Alex (Twentieth) finished 6% ahead to a 1.8.

Talk Shows

Among talk shows, with Dr. Phil (CTD) still in repeats, Live with Kelly (Disney-ABC) found itself tied with Dr. Oz (Sony) at the head of the yak pack. Live was down 3% from the prior session to a 2.9, while Oz was up 12% to a 2.9. Phil, which is the talk leader season to date, was up 4% to a 2.7, despite being all reruns.

Maury (NBCU) tacked on 4% to a new season high 2.5 (it was also its best rating in 253 weeks). Ellen DeGeneres (WBDTD) remained at its season low 2.1. Rachael Ray (CTD), which has just been renewed through 2014, had the largest year-to-year improvement of any top 10 talk show in the national ratings, jumping 13% from last year at this time and reaching a new season high 1.8 with a 6% week-to-week increase.

Jerry Springer (NBCU) stayed at a 1.6; The Doctors (CTD) grew 7% to a 1.5 (meanwhile, in its first week without co-host Jillian Michaels, the week ending Jan. 8, The Doctors’ ratings rose 18% and its share increased 25% to a 1.7 rating/5 share metered market average).

First-Run Freshmen

Among newcomers, Anderson (WBDTD) held steady at a 1.3 and led all rookies in first-run. Jeremy Kyle (Debmar-Mercury) gained 17% to a new season high 0.7, while We the People with Gloria Allred (Entertainment Studios) was unchanged at a 0.5. Excused (CTD), the new latenight dating show, went into repeats and was off 13% from its season high to a 0.7.

Game Shows

In access, Wheel of Fortune (CTD) dropped 4% from the week before to a 6.8; Jeopardy (CTD) lost 3% to a 5.7; Family Feud (Debmar-Mercury) strengthened 7% to a 3.2; and Who Wants to Be a Millionaire (Disney-ABC) added 4% to a 2.6.

Magazine Shows

Among magazines, leader Entertainment Tonight (CTD) held steady at a 3.5, while companion Entertainment Tonight Weekend surged 38% to a 1.8. Inside Edition (CTD) upticked 3% to a 3.0; TMZ (WBDTD) was flat at a 1.9; Access Hollywood (NBCU) dipped 5% to a 1.8; Extra (WBDTD) remained at a 1.5, while sister show Extra Weekend ballooned 44% to a 1.3; The Insider (CTD) gave back 7% to a 1.4, although its The Insider Weekend grew 11%.

Off-Net Sitcoms

Rookie Big Bang Theory (WBDTD) topped the off-net sitcoms with a 2% advance to a 6.6. Vet Two and a Half Men (WBDTD) declined 6% to a second-place 5.9; Family Guy (Twentieth) weakened 5% to a 3.7; Mother slid 3% to a 3.4; Sein stayed put at a 2.7; while Everybody Loves Raymond (CTD) rallied 4% to a new season high 2.6.

Among the new sitcoms, following Big Bang, 30 Rock (NBCU) eased 7% to a 1.3 in late fringe, tying It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia (Twentieth), which was flat at a 1.3, while Till Death (Sony) was unchanged at a 0.7.

Off-Net Weekly Hours

Off-net weekly hours were mostly higher. At the head of the class., Law & Order (NBCU) leaped 19% to a 3.2; Cold Case (WBDTD) heated up 32% to a 2.9; Without a Trace (WBDTD) climbed 37% to a 2.6, landing in a tie with minds, which picked up 8% to a 2.6, and Law & Order: Special Victims Unit (NBCU), which was unchanged at a 2.6.