Lots Of Syndies Retitle To Avoid Olympics

Most first-run syndicated shows experienced preemptions and lower coverage due to the Winter Olympics, and were retitled as Olympic Specials in the session ending Feb. 18.

Accordingly, ratings for those shows won’t count in either their season averages or the February sweep. However, even with the severely reduced coverage, the Dr. Phil Olympics shows topped the talkers at a 2.9 live-plus-same-day national Nielsen rating.

The Live with Kelly and Ryan Olympics episodes vaulted into second place at a 2.3, followed by the Ellen DeGeneres Olympics programs at a 1.9.

The Judge Judy Olympics week took the gold medal in the court show category with a powerful 6.4.

Among magazines, the Entertainment Tonight and Inside Edition Olympics specials finished in a tie for first at a 2.7.

Family Feud, the usual game show leader, was the only program in its genre not retitled and led its category with a 6.5.

Similarly, rising newcomer Page Six TV was the highest-rated rookie not rebranded for the Olympics, and did well to post a 0.7 despite the preemptions.

Elsewhere, none of the top off-net sitcoms was renamed, Big Bang Theory set the pace among the laffers, although it dropped 13% to a 4.7.

The week’s top-rated daytime talk shows in the women 25-54 demo were:

• Dr. Phil Special (1.2, NA)

• Live with Kelly and Ryan Special (1.1, NA)

• Ellen DeGeneres Special (1.0, NA)

• Maury (0.9, -10%)

• Wendy Williams (0.7, -22%), tied with Jerry Springer (0.7, unchanged) and Steve Wilkos (0.7, unchanged)

In the household rating rankings that follow, % change is from the previous week; * indicates a new season-high rating; ** indicates a new season low; NC indicates no change from the previous week; NA mean not applicable.

TALK SHOWS

1. Dr. Phil Olympics (CTD) 2.9 NA

2. Live with Kelly and Ryan Special (Disney-ABC) 2.3 NA

3. Ellen DeGeneres Special (WBDTD) 1.9 NA

4. Maury (NBCU) 1.5 -6%

5. Steve Wilkos (NBCU) 1.2 NC

5. Jerry Springer (NBCU) 1.2 NC

7. Wendy Williams (Debmar-Mercury) 1.1 -21%

7. Rachael Ray Special (CTD) 1.1 NA

9. Steve Special (NBCU) 0.9 NA

9. Dr. Oz Special (Sony) 0.9 NA

9. Crime Watch Daily with Chris Hansen (WBDTD) 0.9 -18%

12. Harry (NBCU) 0.7** -22%

12. The Real (WBDTD) 0.7 -13%

12. The Doctors Special (CTD) 0.7 NA

FIRST-RUN ROOKIE SHOWS

1. Daily Mail TV Special (CTD) 1.1 NA

2. Page Six TV (20th Television) 0.7 -13%

3. Funny You Should Ask (Entertainment Studios) 0.5 NC

4. Pickler & Ben Special (Disney-ABC) 0.3 NA

COURT SHOWS

1. Judge Judy Special (CTD) 6.4 NA

2. Hot Bench Special (CTD) 2.2 NA

3. People’s Court (WBDTD) 1.7 NC

4. Judge Mathis (WBDTD) 1.2 NC

5. Divorce Court (Twentieth) 1.0 NC

6. Judge Faith (Trifecta) 0.6 -14%

GAME SHOWS

1. Family Feud (Debmar-Mercury/FMNA) 6.5 -10%

2. Jeopardy Special (CTD) 5.8 NA

3. Wheel of Fortune Special (CTD) 5.7 NA

4. Who Wants to Be a Millionaire Special (Disney-ABC) 1.6 NA

INTERNET VIDEO

1. Right This Minute Special (Disney-ABC) 1.3 NA

OFF-NET TRUE CRIME

1. Dateline M-F (NBCU) 1.2 -20%

MAGAZINE SHOWS

1. Entertainment Tonight Special (CTD) 2.7 NA

1. Inside Edition Special (CTD) 2.7 NA

3. TMZ (WBDTD) 1.3 -13%

4. Access Special (NBCU) 1.2 NA

5. Extra Special (WBDTD) 0.7 NA

6. Celebrity Page (Trifecta) 0.2 -33%

OFF-NET SITCOMS

1. Big Bang Theory (WBDTD) 4.7 -13%

2. Modern Family (Twentieth) 2.4 -4%

3. Last Man Standing (Twentieth) 1.8 -10%

4. The Goldbergs (Sony) 1.7 -6%

5. Two and a Half Men (WBDTD) 1.6 -6%

6. Family Guy (Twentieth) 1.5 NC

6. Mike and Molly (WBDTD) 1.5 NC

8. Two Broke Girls (WBDTD) 1.2 NC

9. The Cleveland Show (Twentieth) 1.1 NC

10. Seinfeld (Sony) 1.0** -9%

10. How I Met Your Mother (Twentieth)

OFF-NET WEEKLY HOURS

1. Law & Order: SVU (NBCU) 2.6** -35%

1. Dateline Weekly (NBCU) 2.6 -24%

3. Blue Bloods (CTD) 1.6 NC

3. Law & Order: Criminal Intent (NBCU) 1.6 NC

4. American Ninja Warrior (NBCU)

5. CSI Miami (CTD) 1.3 +8%

6. Castle (Disney-ABC) 1.1 -8%