Judge Judy Back On Top Of Syndie Ratings

Judge Judy elbowed aside usual leader Big Bang Theory and was syndication’s highest rated show for first time since last November in the week ending May 5, which marked the first full week of the May sweep. However, most strips were flat to down as PUT levels declined amid warm spring weather and preemptions for President Obama’s April 30 press conference.

For example, only two out of the 18 talk shows were up from the week before — top talker Dr. Phil, which widened its lead on the rest of the field and jumped 14% from last year at this time, and Ellen, which climbed into a tie for second place with Live with Kelly and Michael. Both Ellen and Live with Kelly and Michael were up 9% from last year.

In the metered markets, slow rollout Access Hollywood Live also bucked the downtrend, growing 13% from the week before to a 0.9 rating/3 share with a 22% spike in top market New York to a 1.1/4.

In the key women 25-54 demo, the top nationally rated talk shows were Dr. Phil (2.1 demo rating, up 11% from the week before), Ellen (1.6, no change), Live with Kelly and Michael (1.5 -6%), Maury (1.4 +8%), Dr. Oz (1.3, -7%), rookie Steve Harvey (0.9, -10%), which tied with Steve Wilkos (0.9, NC) and Wendy Williams (0.9, -10%).

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) 3.3 +10%

2. Live with Kelly and Michael (Disney-ABC) 2.5 -4%

2. Ellen (WBDTD) 2.5 +4%

4. Dr. Oz (Sony) 2.3 -4%

5. Maury (NBCU) 2.0 -5%

6. Katie (Disney-ABC) 1.6 -6%

7. Steve Harvey (NBCU) 1.5 -6%

8. Rachael Ray (CTD) 1.4 -13%

9. Steve Wilkos (NBCU) 1.3 -7%

9. The Doctors (CTD) 1.3 -7%

9. Jerry Springer (NBCU) 1.3 NC

12. Wendy Williams (Debmar-Mercury) 1.2 -8%

13. Anderson Live (WBDTD) 0.9 NC

14. Jeff Probst (CTD) 0.6 -14%

14. Ricki Lake (Twentieth) 0.6 NC

14. Trisha (NBCU) 0.6 NC

17. Jeremy Kyle (Debmar-Mercury) 0.4 -20%

18. The Better Show (Meredith) 0.2 NC

FRESHMEN TALKERS

1. Katie (Disney-ABC) 1.6 -6%

2. Steve Harvey (NBCU) 1.5 -6%

3. Jeff Probst (CTD) 0.6 -14%

3. Ricki Lake (Twentieth) 0.6 NC

3. Trisha (NBCU) 0.6 NC

MAGAZINE SHOWS

1. Entertainment Tonight (CTD) 3.6 NC

2. Inside Edition (CTD) 3.0 NC

3. TMZ (WBDTD) 1.9 -5%

4. Access Hollywood (NBCU) 1.7 NC

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) 6.8 NC

2. Judge Joe Brown (CTD) 2.1 -5%

3. People’s Court (WBDTD) 1.7 -6%

4. Judge Mathis (WBDTD) 1.4 -7%

5. Judge Alex (Twentieth) 1.3 NC

6. Divorce Court (Twentieth) 1.2 NC

7. America’s Court with Judge Ross (Entertainment Studios) 0.7 NC

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) 6.5 NC

2. Jeopardy (CTD) 6.0 +2%

3. Family Feud (Debmar-Mercury) 4.6 NC

4. Who Wants to Be a Millionaire (Disney-ABC) 2.3 -4%

5. Baggage (GSN) 1.1 NC

OFF-NET SITCOMS

1. Big Bang Theory (WBDTD) 6.5 -7%

2. Two and a Half Men (WBDTD) 4.4** -6%

3. Family Guy (Twentieth) 3.3 +3%

4. How I Met Your Mother (Twentieth) 2.4 +4%

5. King of the Hill (Twentieth) 2.2 -4%

5. Seinfeld (Sony) 2.2 +5%

7. Friends (WBDTD) 2.0 -5%

8. Everybody Loves Raymond (CTD) 1.8 NC

OFF-NET WEEKLY HOURS

1. Law & Order: SVU (NBCU) 3.4 -3%

2. Law & Order (NBCU) 2.8 NC

2. Criminal Minds (CTD) 2.8 +12%

4. CSI: Miami (CTD) 2.6 +8%

5. Castle (Disney-ABC) 2.1 -5%

6. House (NBCU) 2.0 -5%