Wimbledon preemptions and vacationing viewers resulted in sinking PUT levels in the week ending July 3. Many shows were down or flat. One beneficiary was Maury, which emerged as the week’s top-rated talk show.
WEEKLY SYNDICATED RATINGS ROUNDUP
Few Syndie Fireworks Leading Up To July 4
With almost every show in repeats, summer viewing patterns disrupted syndication in the week ending July 3, the week leading up to the big Independence Day holiday.
In addition, there were many viewers on vacation, which brought about a ratings anomaly as PUT deteriorated and Nielsens for most programs were lower.
Talk Shows
Also hurting some strips were widespread preemptions for Wimbledon tennis coverage. For example, in a talk show upset, Maury (NBCU), which was unchanged from the week before at a 2.2 rating, emerged as the yak pack leader by a narrow margin.
Just one-tenth of a rating point behind, there was a three-way for second place among the reruns of Dr. Phil (CTD), which were down 13% to a 2.1; the repeat-only Oprah (CTD), which was unchanged 2.1; and Live with Regis and Kelly (Disney-ABC), which dropped 5% to a new season low 2.1.
Dr. Oz (Sony) faded 15% to a new series low 1.7. Jerry Springer (NBCU) and The Doctors (CTD) were unchanged at a 1.4 and 1.3, respectively; while Ellen DeGeneres (WBDTD) eroded 19% to a new season low 1.3, landing in a tie with Steve Wilkos Show (NBCU), which was flat.
BRAND CONNECTIONS
Court Shows
Judge Judy (CTD) was the highest-rated show in syndication despite dipping 6% from the previous session to a 6.0 and tying Wheel of Fortune (CTD). Judge Joe Brown (CTD) was the No. 2 courtroom after Judy, holding firm at a 2.6; People’s Court (WBDTD) fell 5% to a 1.8; while Judge Alex (Twentieth) and Divorce Court (Twentieth) each added 7% to a 1.6.
The newest syndication entry was Father Albert (Debmar-Mercury), a talk show hosted by former Catholic priest Alberto Cutie, which began a scheduled five-week summer test run on Monday and averaged a 0.7 rating/2 share in the metered markets for its first two days. This was even with its year-ago time period average, although down 36% from its lead-in.
First-Run Freshmen
Back in the national ratings, Swift Justice with Nancy Grace maintained its big lead over the rookie field with a steady 1.5. Don’t Forget the Lyrics (Twentieth), Nate Berkus (Sony), Judge Karen’s Court (Litton) and America’s Court with Judge Ross (Entertainment Studios) were all unchanged at 0.9, 0.8, 0.7 and 0.4, respectively.
Game Shows
Game shows were weaker. Wheel of Fortune (CTD) slid 3% from the prior frame to a 6.0; Jeopardy (CTD) lost 9% to a 5.0; Family Feud (Debmar-Mercury) was down 4% to a 2.5; Who Wants to be a Millionaire (Disney-ABC) sank 13% to a 2.0; and Are You Smarter Than a 5th Grader? (Twentieth) drooped 9% to a 1.0.
Magazine Shows
Magazines also had an off week. Leader Entertainment Tonight (CTD) eased 3% to a new season low 3.2; Inside Edition (CTD) tumbled 11% to a 2.5; TMZ (WBDTD) remained stuck at a 2.0 for the fifth week in a row; Access Hollywood (NBCU), which was hurt by Wimbledon coverage, declined 11% to a new season low 1.6; The Insider (CTD) was off 7% to a 1.4; while Extra (WBDTD), which was preempted 21 times in the top 50 markets by Wimbledon, gave back 13% to a new season low 1.3.
Off-Net Sitcoms
Off-net sitcoms were narrowly mixed. Two and a Half Men (WBDTD) skidded 3% week to week to a 5.9; Family Guy (Twentieth) slipped 2% to a 4.5; My Wife and Kids (Disney-ABC) gained 3% to a 3.2; Everybody Loves Raymond (CTD) and Seinfeld (Sony) were flat at 2.6 and 2.5, respectively.
Off-Net Weekly Hours
Law & Order: Criminal Intent (NBCU) widened its lead among the off-net weekly hours, advancing 6% to a 3.4; second-place Criminal Minds (CTD) dropped 4% to a 2.7; Without a Trace (WBDTD) was unchanged at a 2.5; Monk (NBCU) stumbled 12% to a 2.3; while Bones (Twentieth) ballooned 38% to a 2.2.
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