Mags Soar On Whitney Houston Coverage

Public interest in the sudden, tragic death of music icon Whitney Houston the day before the Grammy Awards created a perfect ratings storm for the syndicated magazines in the week ending Feb. 19. Every show in the category matched or exceeded its highest Nielsens of the season and scored double-digit growth over last year in the session, which included the second week of the February sweep.

Leader Entertainment Tonight (CTD) saw its ratings rocket 13% from the week before to a 4.5, its strongest performance in two years. On the Monday after the Grammys, ET shot up 25% to a 5.0.

Inside Edition (CTD) tacked on 6% to a new season high 3.5; Access Hollywood (NBCU) improved 5% to a new season high 2.3 and clocked the biggest year-to-year increase of any entertainment mag with 21% advance.

TMZ (WBDTD) was unchanged at its previous season high 2.2; The Insider (CTD) climbed 11% to a new season high 2.0; and Extra (WBDTD) held steady at its season high 1.8, despite preemptions in three of the top 50 markets.

In the metered markets Access Hollywood Live (NBCU) was up 22% in households from last February to a 1.1 rating/4 share, and ballooned 50% among women 25-54 in the second week of the sweep.

Talk Shows

Among talk shows, only The Doctors (CTD) hit a new season high and it did so for the second consecutive week, surging 6% in households to a 1.8 and 14% in the women 18-49 demo.

Dr. Phil (CTD) was the No. 1 talker for the 17^th time this season with a 3.4, which was off 3% from the week before, although still up 10% from last year at this time.

In second place, Dr. Oz (Sony) declined 3% to a 3.0; Live with Kelly (Disney-ABC) was flat at a 2.7; Ellen DeGeneres (WBDTD) weakened 4% to a 2.6; and Maury (NBCU) also faded 4% to a 2.5 (but was up 25% from a year ago).

First-Run Freshmen

Newcomer Anderson (WBDTD) easily led the rookie field, holding steady at a 1.5. Jeremy Kyle (Debmar-Mercury) and We the People with Gloria Allred (Entertainment Studios) were unchanged at 0.7 and 0.5, respectively.

Excused (CTD), a new dating show, was strong in latenight, jumping 17% in households to a 0.7, and 25% among women 18-49.

Court Shows

In the courtrooms, Judge Judy (CTD) was far in front despite easing 4% from its season high to a 7.3. Judge Joe Brown (CTD) held firm at a second-place 3.1; People’s Court (WBDTD) picked up 9% to a new season high 2.4; Judge Alex (Twentieth) added 6% to a 1.9; while Judge Mathis (WBDTD) was flat at a 1.7.

Game Shows

Wheel of Fortune (CTD) led the games, but softened 4% to a 7.4. Jeopardy (CTD) was unchanged at a 6.4; Family Feud (Debmar-Mercury) was flat at a 3.2; while Who Wants to Be a Millionaire (Disney-ABC) rose 4% to a 2.7.

Off-Net Sitcoms

In off-net syndication, rookie Big Bang Theory (WBDTD) continued to top the sitcoms, although it was down 4% from the week before to 7.3.

Two and a Half Men (WBDTD) slipped 5% to a 6.3; Family Guy (Twentieth) gave back 2% to a 4.5; How I Met Your Mother (Twentieth) dropped 9% to a 3.0; Seinfeld (Sony) slid 4% to a 2.6; Everybody Loves Raymond (CTD) retreated 4% to a 2.3, tying King of the Hill (Twentieth), which picked up 5% to a 2.3.

30 Rock (NBCU) was the highest-rated rookie after Big Bang, with a steady 1.4 in latenight. It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia (Twentieth) and Till Death (Sony) were unchanged at 1.2 and 0.7, respectively.

Off-Net Weekly Hours

Criminal Minds (CTD) held on to the lead among off-net weekly hours, but tumbled 18% to a 3.3. Monk (NBCU) moved into second with a 4% hike to a 2.6; Without a Trace (WBDTD) erased 14% of its ratings, leaving it at a 2.5; Law & Order (NBCU) sank 17% to a 2.5, while Numbers (CTD) was in the minus column, losing 4% to a 2.3, tying Cold Case (WBDTD), which was frozen at a 2.3.