‘Judge Judy’ Reclaims Syndie’s Top Spot

Syndication ratings were mixed in the week ending April 1, as March Madness wound down and PUT levels rose, and while many shows were in repeats getting ready for the May sweeps. Daytime queen Judge Judy (CTD) emerged as the No. 1 show overall in first run, with access strip Wheel of Fortune (CTD) second.

Talk Shows

Among the closely watched talk shows, Dr. Phil (CTD) had the largest increase, jumping 8% from the week before to a 2.7. Dr. Oz (Sony) fell 4% to a 2.7, tying Phil in rating, but losing to Phil by an average of 150,000 viewers each day.

Live with Kelly (Disney-ABC) remained at its season low 2.4 for a second week; Maury (NBCU) grew 5% week to week to a 2.3 and 10% from this time last year; Ellen DeGeneres (WBDTD) tumbled 17% to a new season low 1.9; while The Doctors (CTD) grew 7% week to week and 14% in two weeks to a 1.6.

First-Run Freshmen

Anderson (WBDTD) was the highest-rated new show in first run for the 29^th week in a row, holding steady at a 1.3. Jeremy Kyle (Debmar-Mercury) was flat at a 0.6; while We the People with Gloria Allred (Entertainment Studios) sank 20% to a 0.4; and Excused (CTD), the new latenight dating show, dipped 14% to a 0.6.

Court Shows

Judge Judy clocked her strongest ratings in three weeks and presided over the court shows with a 6.7, up 3% from the prior frame. Judge Joe Brown (CTD) eased 4% to a 2.5; People’s Court (WBDTD) tacked on 5% to a 2.0; Judge Alex (Twentieth) faded 6% to a 1.5, tying Judge Mathis (WBDTD), which was unchanged at a 1.5.

Game Shows

In access, Wheel of Fortune (CTD) ruled the games but declined 3% to a 6.6. Jeopardy (CTD) added 8% to a 5.7; Family Feud (Debmar-Mercury) was flat at a 2.9; while Who Wants to Be a Millionaire (Disney-ABC) got a 4% dividend, bringing it to a 2.5.

Magazine Shows

Magazine leader Entertainment Tonight (CTD) slipped 5% to a 3.5; Inside Edition (CTD) crept up 4% to a 2.9; TMZ (WBDTD) rebounded 5% to a 2.1; Access Hollywood (NBCU) gave back 5% to a 1.8; The Insider (CTD) was unchanged at a 1.7, but was the only mag to outperform its year-ago delivery, improving 6%; and Extra (WBDTD) was off 6% to a 1.5.

Off-Net Sitcoms

In off-net syndication, top sitcom Big Bang Theory (WBDTD) advanced 4% to a 7.0; Two and a Half Men (WBDTD) edged up 2% to a 5.9; Family Guy (Twentieth) perked up 8% to a 4.3; How I Met Your Mother (Twentieth) strengthened 3% to a 3.0; Seinfeld (Sony) stayed at a 2.5; and Everybody Loves Raymond (CTD) remained at a 2.3.

30 Rock (NBCU) was the highest-rated off-net newcomer after Big Bang, with an 8% increase to a 1.4 in households and a 25% surge among women 18-34 in mostly latenight slots. It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia (Twentieth) was unchanged at a 1.2; while Till Death (Sony) retreated 17% to a 0.5.

Off-Net Weekly Hours

Among the off-net weekly hours, Criminal Minds (CTD) spiked 15% to a 3.1 and vaulted into the lead. Law & Order (NBCU)  dropped back to second place after fading 3% to a 2.8; The Closer (WBDTD) coughed up 16% of its ratings and landed in a four-way tie at a 2.1 with Cold Case (WBDTD), which lost 9%; Law & Order: Special Victims Unit (NBCU), which slid 5%; and Without a Trace (WBDTD), which erased 13%.