The third week of the May sweep (ending May 20) saw most syndicated fare flat or down. The few first-run shows posting week-to-week gains included Maury, Judge Mathis and Jeremy Kyle.
WEEKLY SYNDICATED RATINGS ROUNDUP
‘Judge Judy’ Rules Syndication In Slow Week
Judge Judy (CTD) was the highest-rated show in syndication for the fourth straight session (with one tie), and may now be impossible to catch when the final May sweep results are tabulated next week.
Overall, syndicated shows were flat to down slightly in the week ending May 20, which saw seasonally depressed viewing levels and included the third full week of the sweep.
Despite airing mainly in daytime and early fringe slots, the hugely popular judge once again won the Nielsen verdict with a 6.9, which was off just a smidge — 3% — from the prior frame. Access shows Wheel of Fortune (CTD), 6.4, down 2%; and Big Bang Theory (WBDTD), 6.3, down 6%, were next in line.
Court Shows
Among the court shows following Judy, Judge Joe Brown (CTD) and People’s Court (WBDTD) were unchanged from the week before at 2.5 and 1.9, respectively, and Judge Mathis (WBDTD) was up 7% to a 1.5.
Talk Shows
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Dr. Phil (CTD) opened up its widest lead in the closely watched talk show race since the first week of the season, beating his closest rivals, Maury (NBCU) and Dr. Oz (Sony), by 28%. Finishing No. 1 for the 29th week this season, Phil scored a 3.2, which was on par with the previous frame.
Oz slipped 4% to a 2.5, tying Maury in rating, although dropping to third place behind Maury in total viewers. Maury rebounded 9% to a 2.5, and 3,328,000 viewers, while Oz was next with 3,298,000 viewers. Phil was far in front with 4,116,000 viewers.
Following were Ellen DeGeneres (WBDTD), which was unchanged at a fourth-place 2.4; and Live with Kelly (Disney-ABC), which fell to fifth place with a flat 2.3 after being tied for fourth the week before.
First-Run Freshmen
Recent multiple Emmy nominee Anderson (WBDTD) led all first-run newcomers for the 36th week in a row with a 1.3, which was off 7% from the prior session. Jeremy Kyle (Debmar-Mercury) recovered 20% to a 0.6, while We the People with Gloria Allred (Entertainment Studios) was unchanged at a 0.4. In latenight, Excused (CTD) continued held steady at its 0.6 rating.
The not-yet-nationally-cleared Access Hollywood Live (NBCU) grew 11% to a 1.0 rating/4 share in its 17 metered markets and also flashed an across-the-board 11% year-to-year increase.
Magazine Shows
Among the magazines, Entertainment Tonight (CTD) was in command with a steady 3.6, while its companion Entertainment Tonight Weekend surged 24% to a 2.1. Inside Edition (CTD) weakened 7% to a 2.8; Access Hollywood (NBCU) and TMZ (WBDTD) held firm at a 1.9; The Insider (CTD) maintained its 1.6; while Extra (WBDTD) eased 6% to a 1.5 after being preempted in 10 markets, including San Francisco.
Game Shows
Game shows were all lower week to week. Trailing leader Wheel of Fortune (CTD), Jeopardy (CTD) softened 2% to a 5.6; Family Feud (Debmar-Mercury) faded 3% to a 3.0; and Who Wants to Be a Millionaire (Disney-ABC) lost 4% to a 2.5.
Off-Net Sitcoms
Off-net sitcoms were also soft. Two and a Half Men (WBDTD), which followed the leader Big Bang, declined 4% from the previous week to a new season low 5.4. Family Guy (Twentieth) gained 3% to a 3.8; How I Met Your Mother (Twentieth) was flat at a 2.5; while Seinfeld (Sony) and King of the Hill (Twentieth) were each down 4% to 2.4s.
Among the rookies following Big Bang, 30 Rock (NBCU) and It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia (Twentieth) were steady at 1.2s, while Till Death (Sony) was unchanged at a 0.6.
Off-Net Weekly Hours
In the see-saw battle for off-net weekly hour supremacy, Law & Order (NBCU) plunged 31% from the week before to a 2.5 and was overtaken by Criminal Minds (CTD), which retreated a much more modest 7% to a 2.7. Monk (NBCU) sank 4% to a 2.2; while Without a Trace (WBDTD) bucked the downtrend with a 5% gain to a 2.1.
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