The courtroom is No. 1 with a 6.7 among households, followed by No. 1 game Wheel of Fortune. Dr. Phil was the top talker, while Entertainment Tonight again led the magazines. In off-net, top honors went to Big Bang Theory and Law & Order: Criminal Intent.
WEEKLY SYNDICATION RATINGS ROUNDUP
‘Judge Judy’ Rules Syndication In May Sweep
The national results of the May sweep (April 23-May 20) were released today and court show queen Judge Judy was the overall winner, topping all syndicated strips for the fifth time in the past seven major rating periods with a 6.7 live-plus-same-day Nielsen average.
Wheel of Fortune was the sweep’s second-highest-rated show with a 6.5. Hot Bench, which was created by Judge Judy, was easily the rookie household rating champion with a 2.0, skyrocketing 54% from its September debut week (it has since been updated to stronger stations in a number of major markets).
Among the closely watched talk shows, Dr. Phil was a convincing No. 1 for the 11th consecutive major sweep despite dipping 3% from last May to a 3.3 average. Phil also could not be beaten among women 25-54 at a 1.6. Also in the demo, Maury and Live with Kelly & Michael tied for second, both with a 1.4 among women 25-54.
In households, Kelly & Michael was the clear No. 2, with growth of 4% from last year, to a 2.9, its best May sweep in eight years.
Ellen DeGeneres declined 7% from its May 2014 average to a third-place 2.5 and a fourth-place 1.3 in the key demo.
Talk shows with significant improvement over last May in addition to Kelly & Michael were:
BRAND CONNECTIONS
- Wendy Williams, which rose 21% to a sixth-place 1.7 average, and jumped 20% among women 25-54, and
- Jerry Springer, which strengthened 8% to a 1.3 in households, and surged 29% in the demo.
In the minus column, Dr. Oz had, by far, the biggest year-to-year drops, losing 35% of its rating to a 1.3 and tumbling 42% among women 25-54 to a 0.7 average.
Among magazines, Entertainment Tonight clocked a 3.2 average and won its 98th consecutive sweep, which spans more than 24 years, while its sister show, Inside Edition, was right behind at a 3.1. Compared to last year, ET eased 3%, while Edition added 3%.
Elsewhere, Wheel of Fortune squeaked by Jeopardy in the game show race with Wheel skidding 3% to a 6.5 household average and Jeopardy a tenth behind after falling 2% to a 6.4.
Family Feud had the only annual increase in the category, leaping 18% to a 6.0. Who Wants to Be a Millionaire had the biggest loss, sinking 24% to a 1.6.
In off-net syndication, Big Bang Theory led the sitcoms, although it was down 12% from last year to a 5.3. Modern Family was next in line, fading 15% to a 3.5.
The sweep’s top-rated daytime talk shows in the women 25-54 demo were:
- Dr. Phil (1.6, -16% from last May)
- Maury (1.4, +8%), tied with Live with Kelly & Michael (1.4, unchanged)
- Ellen DeGeneres (1.3, -13%)
- Wendy Williams (1.2, +20%)
- Steve Wilkos (1.0, unchanged)
In the household rating rankings that follow, % change is from the previous sweep; * indicates a new season-high rating; ** indicates a new season low; NC indicates no change from the previous sweep; NA mean not applicable.
TALK SHOWS
1. Dr. Phil (CTD) 3.3 -3%
2. Live with Kelly & Michael (Disney-ABC) 2.9 +4%
3. Ellen DeGeneres (WBDTD) 2.5 -7%
4. Maury (NBCU) 1.9 -5%
5. Steve Harvey (NBCU) 1.8 NC
6. Wendy Williams (Debmar-Mercury) 1.7 +21%
7. Steve Wilkos (NBCU) 1.4 NC
8. Dr. Oz (Sony) 1.3 -35%
8. Rachael Ray (CTD) 1.3 NC
8. Jerry Springer (NBCU) 1.3 +8%
11. Meredith Vieira (NBCU) 1.0 NA
11. The Real (WBDTD) 1.0 NA
11. The Doctors (CTD) 1.0 -9%
14. The Better Show (Meredith) 0.1 -50%
INTERNET VIDEO
1. Right This Minute (MGM) 1.4 +27%
COURT SHOWS
1. Judge Judy (CTD) 6.7 -8%
2. Hot Bench (CTD) 2.0 NA
3. People’s Court (WBDTD) 1.7 -11%
4 Divorce Court (Twentieth) 1.5 +7%
5. Judge Mathis (WBDTD) 1.3 -7%
6. Paternity Court (Orion Television) 1.2 +9%
7. Judge Faith (Trifecta) 0.8 NA
MAGAZINE SHOWS
1. Entertainment Tonight (CTD) 3.2 -3%
2. Inside Edition (CTD) 3.1 +3%
3. TMZ (WBDTD) 1.9 NC
4. Access Hollywood (NBCU) 1.6 NC
5. Extra (WBDTD) 1.4 -7%
6. The Insider (CTD) 1.3 NC
7. Dish Nation (Twentieth) 1.1 +10%
8. Intelligence for Your Life (IFYL) 0.2 -33%
9. OK! TV (Trifecta) 0.2 -33%
GAME SHOWS
1. Wheel of Fortune (CTD) 6.5 -3%
2. Jeopardy (CTD) 6.4 -2%
3. Family Feud (Debmar-Mercury) 6.0 +18%
4. Who Wants to Be a Millionaire (Disney-ABC) 1.6 -24%
5. Celebrity Name Game (Debmar-Mercury/FMNA) 1.3 NA
OFF-NET SITCOMS
1. Big Bang Theory (WBDTD) 5.3 -12%
2. Modern Family (Twentieth) 3.5 -15%
3. Two and a Half Men (WBDTD) 2.8 -15%
4. Family Guy (Twentieth) 2.5 -7%
5. Mike and Molly (WBDTD) 2.2 NA
6. How I Met Your Mother (Twentieth) 2.0 +18%
6. Seinfeld (Sony) 2.0 +11%
8. The Middle (WBDTD) 1.7 +6%
9. The Cleveland Show (Twentieth) 1.6 -11%
10. King of the Hill (Twentieth) 1.5 NC
OFF-NET WEEKLY HOURS
1. Law & Order: Criminal Intent (NBCU) 6.2 +82%
2. Law & Order: SVU (NBCU) 3.7 +16%
3. Blue Bloods (CTD) 2.5 NA
4. Castle (Disney-ABC) 1.9 -17%
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