‘Judge Judy’ Scores Syndie’s Top Spot

Top-tier talk shows scored significant gains despite widespread preemptions due to coverage of the killing of Osama bin Laden and severe tornadoes in the southeast, which drove PUT levels sharply lower. And for the first time this year Judge Judy (CTD) elbowed aside Two and a Half Men (WBDTD) for sole possession of the top spot in syndication.

Talk Shows

For the May 8,which included the first full week of the May sweep, the soon-to-conclude Oprah (CTD) rose 8% from the week before to a 5.2, thanks to an exclusive interview with President Obama and First Lady Michele Obama on May 2, only hours after the president announced the death of bin Laden.

No. 2 talker Dr. Phil (CTD), which has grown 19% over the past three weeks, hit its highest ratings since February. Phil grew by double digits in every key female demo while jumping 7% week to week and 11% year to year to a 3.1 household rating. And Live with Regis and Kelly (Disney-ABC) added 4% to a 2.5. The big three talk shows were the only ones to improve, however. Maury (NBCU) lost 4% to a 2,2; Oz sank 5 to a 2.1; and Ellen DeGeneres (WBDTD) dropped 5% to a 2.0.

Court Shows

Judge Judy ruled the court shows, holding steady at a 6.7 household rating, while climbing 13% among women 18-34 and was the undisputed No. 1 show in all of syndication for the first time this season, topping usual leader Two and a Half Men.

Judge Joe Brown (CTD) remained firmly in second place with an unchanged 2.7; Peoples gained 6% to a 1.9; Judge Alex (Twentieth) was flat at a 1.6; and Divorce Court (Twentieth) picked up 7% to a 1.6.

First-Run Freshmen

Among the closely watched newcomers, Swift Justice with Nancy Grace (CTD) remained far in front with a steady 1.7, while no other rookie was able to achieve a 1 rating. Nate Berkus (Sony) was a distant second at an unchanged 0.9; Don’t Forget the Lyrics (Twentieth) was flat at a 0.8; while Judge Karen’s Court (Litton) tumbled 13% to a 0.7; and America’s Court with Judge Ross (Entertainment Studios) fell 25% to a 0.3.

In the metered markets, slow rollout Access Hollywood Live (NBCU) marinated its 0.8 household rating/3 share year-ago time period average in week two of the sweep and surged 67% among women 18-49 and 75% among women 25-54.

Magazine Shows

Magazines came down to earth following their highs for coverage of the Royal Wedding the week before. Leader Entertainment Tonight (CTD) gave back 8% to a 3.7; Inside Edition (CTD) faded 3% to a 2.8; TMZ (WBDTD), which was the only mag to decline in the previous week, recovered 5% to a 2.1; Access Hollywood (NBCU) and The Insider (CTD) were stable at 2.0 and 1.7, respectively; and Extra (WBDTD), which did not air in several markets during the week due to special storm reports and coverage of bin Laden’s death, was off 12% to a 1.5, although its Extra Weekend advanced 10%, both week to week and year, to year to a 1.1.

Game Shows

Game shows were all down from the week before. Wheel of Fortune (CTD) skidded 5% to a 6.3; Jeopardy (CTD) lost 9% to a 5.2; Who Wants to be a Millionaire (Disney-ABC) devalued 8% to a 2.3; Family Feud (Debmar-Mercury) faded 4% to a 2.2; and Are You Smarter Than a 5^th Grader? (Twentieth) was down 9% to a 1.0.

Off-Net Sitcoms

Off-net sitcoms were little changed from the prior session. Leader Two and a Half Men (WBDTD) declined 1% to a 6.6, ceding the syndication crown to Judge Judy; Family Guy (Twentieth) inched up 2% to a 4.5; My Wife and Kids (Disney-ABC) slipped 6% to a 3.0; while George Lopez Show (WBDTD), Everybody Loves Raymond (CTD) and Seinfeld (Sony) were unchanged at 2.9, 2.6 and 2.6, respectively.

Off-Net Weekly Hours

Among off-net weekly hours, Law & Order: Criminal Intent (NBCU) widened its lead on the field with a 31% leap to a new season high 4.2. Criminal Minds (CTD) climbed 10% to a 3.2; Monk (NBCU) soared 20% to a 2.4, tying Numbers (CTD), which added 4% to a 2.4; The Closer (WBDTD) dipped 4% to a 2.3; Without a Trace (WBDTD) saw 13% of its ratings vanish to 2.1; and Bones (Twentieth) weakened 14% to a 1.9.