Maury and Regis Tie As TV’s Top Talkers

The repeat-laden holiday week beginning with the Fourth of July was another summer jumble with ratings for syndicated shows all over the map as many viewers celebrated by going on vacation.

Adding to the Nielsen upheaval, some shows were preempted in some markets by coverage of the July 5 verdict in the closely watched Casey Anthony trial and the July 8 launch of Space Shuttle Atlantis.

Talk Shows

Among the talk shows, Live with Regis and Kelly (Disney-ABC) moved up to share first place with a 10% jump from the week before to a 2.3. That put Regis & Co. in a tie with Maury (NBCU), which added 5% to a 2.3. Close behind, Dr. Phil (CTD) and Oprah (CTD) held steady at a 2.1. Dr. Oz (Sony) recovered 12% from its series low in the prior session to a 1.9; and Ellen DeGeneres (WBDTD) gained 15% to a 1.5.

Other talkers showing week-to-week improvement were The Doctors (CTD), up 8% to a 1.4, and Rachael Ray (CTD), which rallied 8% to a 1.3.

Court Shows

At the top of the syndication chart, Judge Judy (CTD) opened up a clear lead with a 5% household rating leap to a 6.3 and a 12% spike among women 25-54 to a 2.9.

Judge Joe Brown (CTD) was the No. 2 court show, holding firm at a 2.6; People’s Court (WBDTD) rose 6% to a 1.9; Judge Alex (Twentieth) and Divorce Court (Twentieth) were flat at a 1.6, tying Judge Mathis (WBDTD), which was up 7% to a 1.6. Judge Jeanine Piero (WBDTD) trailed with a 0.8 for the 11^th consecutive week.

First-Run Freshmen

Rookie champion Swift Justice with Nancy Grace (CTD) spurted 13% in households to a 1.7, its highest rating since mid-May, and 40% among women 18-34. Don’t Forget the Lyrics (Twentieth) remained at a 0.9; Nate Berkus (Sony) picked up 13% to a 0.9; Judge Karen’s Court (Litton) climbed 14% to a 0.8; and America’s Court with Judge Ross (Entertainment Studios) was unchanged at a 0.4.

Father Albert (Debmar-Mercury), a new talk show, which is having a five-week summer test run on six Fox stations, averaged 0.6 rating/2 share in the metered markets for its first week. This was down 14% from its year-ago time period average and down 45% from its lead-in.

Game Shows

In access time periods, Wheel of Fortune (CTD) slowed down 2% to a 5.9, but continued to lead the game shows. Jeopardy (CTD) weakened 4% to a 4.8; Family Feud (Debmar-Mercury) increased 8% to a new season high 2.7; Who Wants to be a Millionaire (Disney-ABC) advanced 15% to a 2.3; and Are You Smarter Than a 5^th Grader? (Twentieth) improved 10% to a 1.1.

Magazine Shows

Magazines all held their ground or grew except for TMZ (WBDTD), which faded 10% to a 1.8. Entertainment Tonight (CTD) continued to rule the category with a 3.2, which was even with the week before, while its companion Entertainment Tonight Weekend surged 19% to a 1.9. Inside Edition (CTD) gained 12% to a 2.8; Access Hollywood (NBCU) held steady at a 1.6; The Insider (CTD) strengthened 7% to a 1.5 in households and 17% in the women 18-49 demo. Extra (WBDTD) jumped 8% in households to a 1.4 and 25% among women 18-34, while its Extra Weekend ballooned 29%.

Off-Net Sitcoms

Off-net sitcoms were flat to down, except for George Lopez Show (WBDTD), which was up 8 to 2.6. Leader Two and a Half Men (WBDTD) slipped 3% week to week to a 5.7; Family Guy (Twentieth) declined 4% to a 4.3; My Wife and Kids (Disney-ABC) stayed at a 3.2; Everybody Loves Raymond (CTD) dropped 4% to a 2.5; and Seinfeld (Sony) was flat at a 2.5.

Off-Net Weekly Hours

Among off-net weekly hours, Law & Order: Criminal Intent (NBCU) fell 15% to a 2.9 and landed in a tie with Criminal Minds (CTD), which was up 7% to a2.9. Without a Trace (WBDTD) gained 4% to a 2.6; Monk (NBCU) rebounded 4% to a 2.4; while The Closer (WBDTD) added 5% to a 2.1.