Newcomer ‘Bethenny’ Coming On Strong

The week ending June 17 was a mixed one for syndication as coverage of the U.S. Open golf tournament, the NBA Finals, the Stanley Cup Finals and, in Los Angeles, the L.A. Kings victory parade created numerous preemptions.

Talk Shows

Among talkers, leader Dr. Phil (CTD), which was the only first-run daytime strip to go up in the prior session, got hit with preemptions 13 times in the top eight markets alone, and dipped 4% week to week to a 2.5, although it was still up 9% from last year at this time.

Dr. Oz (Sony) was flat at a 2.4, landing in a tie with Live with Kelly (Disney-ABC), which was up 4% to a 2.4. Maury (NBCU) tacked on 5% to a 2.3; The Ellen DeGeneres Show (WBDTD) had the biggest increase of any talker, growing 12% to a 1.9; The Doctors (CTD) scored a 1.5, up 7%; while Rachael Ray (CTD) rose 8% to a 1.4.

First-Run Freshmen

Newcomer Bethenny (WBDTD) is starting to look like a ratings hit, especially among key demos. After two weeks in its six metered markets, Bethenny was up 38% in households from its year-ago time period average to a 1.1 rating/4 share, and surged 100% among women 25-54, 125% among women 18-49 and 133% among women 18-34.

Among the nationally rated rookies, Excused (CTD) was up the most, advancing 17% from the previous frame to a 0.7. Anderson (WBDTD), the top freshman in first run for 40 consecutive weeks, held steady at a 1.2; Jeremy Kyle (Debmar-Mercury) and We the People with Gloria Allred (Entertainment Studios) were unchanged at 0.5 and 0.4, respectively.

Court Shows

Elsewhere in daytime, Judge Judy (CTD) ruled the court shows and was the highest rated strip of any type in first run with a 6.2, which was up 2% from the week before. Judge Joe Brown (CTD) was down 4% to a new season low 2.3; People’s Court (WBDTD) rebounded 6% to a 1.9 after dropping to a new season low in the prior week; Judge Mathis (WBDTD) picked up 7% to a 1.5; Judge Alex (Twentieth) was flat at a 1.3; while Divorce Court (Twentieth) dropped 8% to a new season low 1.2.

Magazine Shows

Magazines were all steady or higher week to week except for TMZ (WBDTD), which fell 5% to a 1.8. Entertainment Tonight (CTD) marked its 830 consecutive week at the top of the magazine rack with a 3% gain to a 3.3; Inside Edition (CTD) and Access Hollywood (NBCU) held firm at 2.8 and 1.7, respectively; while Extra (WBDTD) and The Insider (CTD) had the largest increases, with both shows jumping 7% for the week and the year to a 1.5.

Game Shows

Among game shows, Wheel of Fortune (CTD) weakened 3% to a new season low 5.9; Jeopardy (CTD) eroded 4% to a 5.1; Family Feud (Debmar-Mercury) added 3% to a 3.1; and Who Wants to Be a Millionaire (Disney-ABC) inflated its ratings by 5% to a 2.3.

Off-Net Sitcoms

In off-net syndication, most of the top sitcoms gained ground. Big Bang Theory (WBDTD) inched up 2% from the week before to a 6.3; Two and a Half Men (WBDTD) recovered 4% from its season low to a 5.1; Family Guy (Twentieth) gained 6% to a 3.8; Mother and Hill both rose 4% to 2.9 and 2.5, respectively; and Seinfeld (Sony) advanced 9% to a 2.4.

Among the newcomers, 30 Rock (NBCU) was the most improved show, gaining 9% from the week before to a 1.2.

Off-Net Weekly Hours

The usually volatile off-net weekly hours were mostly on  par with the previous session, although Monk (NBCU) moved 12% lower to a fourth-place 2.2 and landed in a tie with Cold Case (WBDTD), which remained frozen at a 2.2. Law & Order (NBCU) continued to rule the category with an unchanged 3.0; Criminal Minds (CTD) captured a share of second place, edging up 4% to a 2.9 and tying Law & Order: Special Victims Unit (NBCU), which was flat at a 2.9.