‘Dr. Phil’ Tops Talk In Subdued Feb. Sweep

Dr. Phil was easily the highest-rated talk show in syndication during the nationwide February sweep, according to results just released by Nielsen. Phil clocked a 3.9 average for the survey period (Feb. 2-March 1), and won the talk show race by 63% over its nearest competitor, its widest victory margin ever.

In addition, Phil led the field for the 16^th consecutive major sweep, and with annual growth of 11% was the only talker in the top six to finish ahead of last February.

Most other syndicated shows declined year to year in what was the second warmest February in record in the U.S. (the warmest was in 1954).

Live with Kelly and Ellen DeGeneres finished in a tie with both shows logging a 2.4, although if ratings were to be carried to a second decimal point, Live would have edged Ellen for second place 2.40 to 2.39.

Also of note, sophomore Crime Watch Daily, which was one of the very few programs to avoid the downdraft, grew 25% from its debut in September 2015 to a 1.0.

Meanwhile, newcomer Harry, hosted by Harry Connick Jr., hit the ratings charts for the first time in a February sweep, with a 1.1, outperforming the best sweep numbers of last February’s rookie crop by 10%.

Judge Judy was the highest rated court show in syndication, scoring a powerful 7.3, which was nearly equal of the combined ratings of the five other nationally rated strips in the category.

In access, while Entertainment Tonight was the magazine champ for the 105th straight sweep with a 3.4, several entertainment mags took home Oscar gold for double-digit ratings increases with next-day coverage of the 89^th Academy Awards on Feb. 27. For example:

• ET jumped 24% to a 4.0.
• Access Hollywood added 29% to a 1.8.
• Extra rocketed 25% to a 1.5.
• The Insider gained 18% to a 1.3.

Elsewhere, Family Feud outplayed the game shows with a 7.4 average, up 4% from last year. Wheel of Fortune, which had tied Feud for first last February, fell to a second-place 6.7.

In off-net syndication, Big Bang Theory led easily with a 5.6. New entry Last Man Standing posted a 2.0 in its first February sweep, landing in a tie for fourth among sitcoms with 10-year veteran cartoon Family Guy.

The February sweep’s top-rated daytime talk shows in the women 25-54 demo were:

• Dr. Phil (1.8, +6% from last February)
• Ellen DeGeneres (1.2, -20%), tied with Live with Kelly (1.2, -20%)
• Maury (1.0, -17%), tied with Wendy Williams (1.0, -17%) and Steve Wilkos (1.0, unchanged)

In the household rating rankings that follow, % change is from the previous February sweep; * indicates a new season-high rating; ** indicates a new season low; NC indicates no change from the previous February sweep; NA mean not applicable.

TALK SHOWS

1. Dr. Phil (CTD) 3.9 +11%

2. Ellen DeGeneres (WBDTD) 2.4 -14%

2. Live with Kelly (Disney-ABC) 2.4 -23%

4. Steve Harvey (NBCU) 1.6 -16%

4. Maury (NBCU) 1.6 -11%

6. Wendy Williams (Debmar-Mercury) 1.5 -12%

7. Steve Wilkos (NBCU) 1.4 -7%

7. Jerry Springer (NBCU) 1.4 +8%

9. Rachael Ray (CTD) 1.3 -19%

9. Dr. Oz (Sony) 1.3 -13%

11. Crime Watch Daily with Chris Hansen (WBDTD) 1.0 NC

12. The Real (WBDTD) 0.9 -18%

12. The Doctors (CTD) 0.9 -18%

DAYTIME ROOKIE SHOWS

1. Harry (NBCU) 1.1 NA

COURT SHOWS

1. Judge Judy (CTD) 7.3 -8%

2. Hot Bench (CTD) 2.6 -4%

3. People’s Court (WBDTD) 1.7 -15%

4. Judge Mathis (WBDTD) 1.4 -13%

5. Divorce Court (Twentieth) 1.1 -15%

6. Judge Faith (Trifecta) 0.8 -11%

GAME SHOWS

1. Family Feud (Debmar-Mercury/FMNA) 7.4 +4%

2. Wheel of Fortune (CTD) 6.7 -6%

3. Jeopardy (CTD) 6.6 -1%

4. Who Wants to Be a Millionaire (Disney-ABC) 1.7 +21%

5. Celebrity Name Game (Debmar-Mercury/FMNA) 1.4 -7%

INTERNET VIDEO

1. Right This Minute (Disney-ABC) 1.4 +17%

MAGAZINE SHOWS

1. Entertainment Tonight (CTD) 3.4 -3%

2. Inside Edition (CTD) 3.0 -3%

3. TMZ (WBDTD) 1.6 -11%

4. Access Hollywood (NBCU) 1.5 -12%

5. Extra (WBDTD) 1.3 -13%

6. The Insider (CTD) 1.2 -8%

7. Dish Nation (Twentieth) 0.8 -11%

8. Celebrity Page (Trifecta) 0.3 NA

OFF-NET SITCOMS

1. Big Bang Theory (WBDTD) 5.6 -8%

2. Modern Family (Twentieth) 3.1 -9%

3. Two and a Half Men (WBDTD) 2.6 -7%

4. Last Man Standing (Twentieth) 2.0 NA

4. Family Guy (Twentieth) 2.0 -5%

6. Mike and Molly (WBDTD) 1.9 -10%

7. Two Broke Girls (WBDTD) 1.7 -23%

8. How I Met Your Mother (Twentieth) 1.3 -24%

9. Seinfeld (Sony) 1.2 -37%

9. The Cleveland Show (Twentieth) 1.2 -29%

9. King of the Hill (Twentieth) 1.2 -8%

OFF-NET WEEKLY HOUR DRAMAS

1. Law & Order: SVU (NBCU) 4.5 -8%

2. Blue Bloods (CTD) 1.9 -10%

3. American Ninja Warrior (NBCU) 1.6 NA

4. Castle (Disney-ABC) 1.5 -17%

4. CSI Miami (CTD) 1.5 NA

6. Rizzoli & Isles (WBDTD) 1.2 NC

6. Major Crimes (WBDTD) 1.2 NA