Few Syndie Gainers In Week Ending May 19

Judge Judy was the overall syndication leader for the third consecutive week in the session ending May 19 with more than triple the Nielsens of the next highest rated court show.

But it was a generally slow week for most strips. For example, only two of the 18 talkers were up from the week before — rookie champion Katie and hot challenger Steve Harvey.

Dr. Phil easily topped the talk shows, while Live with Kelly and Michael and Ellen were neck and neck in the race for second place. Fourth place Dr. Oz dropped to a new season low.

In access, the one established magazine strip to improve was TMZ, which was also the only mag up from last year at this time. However newcomer Dish Nation grew week to week and the weekly ET Weekend jumped 17% to a 2.1.

In the metered markets, new interactive game show Lets Ask America held steady 1.6 rating/4 share and surged 29% among women 25-54.

The top nationally rated talk shows in the key women 25-54 demo were: Dr. Phil (1.9 demo rating, up 12% from the week before); Ellen (1.6, no change); Live with Kelly and Michael (1.5, up 7%); Maury (1.3, NC), tied with Dr. Oz (1.3, NC); Wendy Williams (1.0, NC), tied with Steve Harvey (1.0 +11%); and Katie (0.9, +13%), tied with Steve Wilkos (0.9, NC).

In the household rating rankings that follow, * indicates a new season high rating; ** indicates a new season low; % change is from the previous week; NC indicates no change from the previous week.

TALK SHOWS

1. Dr. Phil (CTD) 2.9 NC

2. Live with Kelly and Michael (Disney-ABC) 2.4 -8%

2. Ellen (WBDTD) 2.4 -4%

4. Dr. Oz (Sony) 2.1** -5%

5. Maury (NBCU) 2.0 NC

6. Katie (Disney-ABC) 1.7 +6%

7. Steve Harvey (NBCU) 1.6 +7%

8. Rachael Ray (CTD) 1.4 NC

9. Steve Wilkos (NBCU) 1.3 NC

9. Jerry Springer (NBCU) 1.3 NC

9. Wendy Williams (Debmar-Mercury) 1.3 NC

12. The Doctors (CTD) 1.2 NC

13. Anderson Live (WBDTD) 0.8 -20%

14. Jeff Probst (CTD) 0.6 NC

14. Ricki Lake (Twentieth) 0.6 NC

16. Trisha (NBCU) 0.5 -17%

17. Jeremy Kyle (Debmar-Mercury) 0.4 NC

18. The Better Show (Meredith) 0.1** -50%

FRESHMEN TALKERS

1. Katie (Disney-ABC) 1.7 +6%

2. Steve Harvey (NBCU) 1.6 +7%

3. Jeff Probst (CTD) 0.6 NC

3. Ricki Lake (Twentieth) 0.6 NC

3. Trisha (NBCU) 0.5 -17%

MAGAZINE SHOWS

1. Entertainment Tonight (CTD) 3.5 NC

2. Inside Edition (CTD) 2.7 -10%

3. TMZ (WBDTD) 2.0 +5%

4. Access Hollywood (NBCU) 1.6 -6%

5. Extra (WBDTD) 1.4 -7%

5. OMG Insider (CTD) 1.4 NC

7. Dish Nation (Twentieth) 1.1 +10%

COURT SHOWS

1. Judge Judy (CTD) 6.6 -1%

2. Judge Joe Brown (CTD) 2.1 -9%

3. People’s Court (WBDTD) 1.7 NC

4. Judge Alex (Twentieth) 1.4 -7%

4. Judge Mathis (WBDTD) 1.4 NC

6. Divorce Court (Twentieth) 1.2 -8%

7. America’s Court with Judge Ross (Entertainment Studios) 0.6 -14%

8. Justice for All with Judge Cristina Perez (Entertainment Studios) 0.4 NC

9. We the People with Gloria Allred (Entertainment Studios) 0.2 NC

GAME SHOWS

1. Wheel of Fortune (CTD) 6.1** -3%

2. Jeopardy (CTD) 5.9 +2%

3. Family Feud (Debmar-Mercury) 4.4 -2%

4. Who Wants to Be a Millionaire (Disney-ABC) 2.4 NC

5. Baggage (GSN) 1.1 +10%

OFF-NET SITCOMS

1. Big Bang Theory (WBDTD) 6.4 -2%

2. Two and a Half Men (WBDTD) 4.5 -2%

3. Family Guy (Twentieth) 3.7 +9%

4. How I Met Your Mother (Twentieth) 2.4 NC

5. King of the Hill (Twentieth) 2.3 +10%

6. Seinfeld (Sony) 2.1 +5%

7. Friends (WBDTD) 2.0 NC

8. Everybody Loves Raymond (CTD) 1.8 +6%

OFF-NET WEEKLY HOURS

1. Law & Order: SVU (NBCU) 3.2 -3%

2. Law & Order (NBCU) 2.9 +4%

3. Criminal Minds (CTD) 2.7 +8%

4. Castle (Disney-ABC) 2.5 NC

5. CSI: Miami (CTD) 2.3 NC

6. House (NBCU) 2.0 -17%