Most Syndies Stuck On Autopilot

Syndication ratings remained steady despite warmer weather keeping many viewers outside and away from their sets in the session ending May 10, which included the midpoint of the May sweep.

Dr. Phil opened up a big lead in the May talk show race, finishing first for the  17^th straight week (including ties) with a steady 3.3 live-plus-same-day national Nielsen rating. Phil was also the talk leader among women 25-54 with a 1.6, while Maury moved into second place with a 1.4 in the key demo.

In households, Live with Kelly & Michael had a minor dip to a second-place 2.8, although that represented growth of 4% from last year at this time.

Ellen DeGeneres remained in third place with an unchanged 2.4, but was still down 8% from last year.

The talkers moving up from last year, in addition to Live, were Wendy Williams, which improves 14% to a 1.6 and Jerry Springer, which climbed 8% to a 1.3.

On the other hand, Dr. Oz, who has been criticized by some of his peers recently, saw his show’s ratings drop the most of any talker, losing 32% from last year, to a 1.3 and matching its all-time low.

Judge Judy was the highest-rated show in syndication overall for the second week in a row, despite taking a 4% breather to a 6.5.

Judy’s creation Hot Bench remained at its all-time high 2.0 for a second consecutive week and was easily the No. 2 court show.

In access, Wheel of Fortune inched ahead 2% to a 6.4 and regained the game show lead over Jeopardy, which declined 3% to a 6.1. The two strips had been tied in the previous frame.

The magazines were little changed week to week, however Access Hollywood showed the most improvement in the top five year to year, gaining 7%.

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

• Dr. Phil (1.6, unchanged from the week before)
• Maury (1.4, unchanged)
• Live with Kelly & Michael (1.3, -13%)
• Wendy Williams (1.2, -8%), tied with Ellen DeGeneres (1.2, 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 (CTD) 3.3 NC

2. Live with Kelly & Michael (Disney-ABC) 2.8 -3%

3. Ellen DeGeneres (WBDTD) 2.4 NC

4. Maury (NBCU) 1.9 NC

5. Steve Harvey (NBCU) 1.8 NC

6. Wendy Williams (Debmar-Mercury) 1.6 -6%

7. Steve Wilkos (NBCU) 1.3 NC

7. Dr. Oz (Sony) 1.3 -7%

7. Jerry Springer (NBCU) 1.3 NC

10. Rachael Ray (CTD) 1.2** -8%

11. The Real (WBDTD)1.1 NC

12. Meredith Vieira (NBCU) 1.0 NC

12. The Doctors (CTD) 1.0 NC

14. The Better Show (Meredith) 0.2 NC

INTERNET VIDEO

1. Right This Minute (MGM) 1.4 NC

COURT SHOWS

1. Judge Judy (CTD) 6.5 -4%

2. Hot Bench (CTD) 2.0 NC

3. People’s Court (WBDTD) 1.7 NC

4. Divorce Court (Twentieth) 1.4 NC

5. Judge Mathis (WBDTD) 1.3 NC

6. Paternity Court (Orion Television) 1.2 NC

7. Judge Faith (Trifecta) 0.8 NC

MAGAZINE SHOWS

1. Entertainment Tonight (CTD) 3.1 -3%

2. Inside Edition (CTD) 3.0 -3%

3. TMZ (WBDTD) 1.9 NC

4. Access Hollywood (NBCU) 1.6 NC

5. Extra (WBDTD) 1.3 NC

6. The Insider (CTD) 1.2 -8%

7. Dish Nation (Twentieth) 1.1 NC

8. Intelligence for Your Life (IFYL) 0.3 NC

9. OK! TV (Trifecta) 0.2 NC

GAME SHOWS

1. Wheel of Fortune (CTD) 6.4 +2%

2. Jeopardy (CTD) 6.1 -3%

3. Family Feud (Debmar-Mercury) 5.9 NC

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

5. Celebrity Name Game (Debmar-Mercury/FMNA) 1.3 NC

OFF-NET SITCOMS

1. Big Bang Theory (WBDTD) 5.4 +2%

2. Modern Family (Twentieth) 3.5 NC

3. Two and a Half Men (WBDTD) 2.7 NC

3. Family Guy (Twentieth) 2.7 +13%

5. Mike and Molly (WBDTD) 2.3 +5%

6. How I Met Your Mother (Twentieth) 2.0 +5%

6. Seinfeld (Sony) 2.0 +5%

8. The Cleveland Show (Twentieth) 1.7 +13%

9. King of the Hill (Twentieth) 1.6 +7%

9. The Middle (WBDTD) 1.6 -6%

OFF-NET WEEKLY HOURS

1. Law & Order: Criminal Intent (NBCU) 6.0 -6%

2. Law & Order: SVU (NBCU) 3.5 -8%

3. Blue Bloods (CTD) 2.5 +4%

4. Castle (Disney-ABC) 2.4C +11

5. The Good Wife (CTD) 1.7 +13

6. Scandal (Disney-ABC) 1.5 NC

6. Bones (Twentieth) 1.5 +36%