The CBS Television Distribution talk show led the genre again in the week ending June 26. Other gab fests to post week-to-week gains include Dr. Oz and Rachael Ray. Game shows also turned in some gains.
WEEKLY SYNDICATED RATINGS ROUNDUP
No Summertime Blues For ‘Dr. Phil’
Dr. Phil (CTD) was the hot talker in the first week of summer, once again opening up a clear lead in the talk show race. Phil was one of only three strips in the yak pack (all airing repeats) to improve from the prior session in the week ending June 26, jumping 4% to a 2.4 in households and 33% among women 18-34 while taking the No. 1 talk show title for fourth straight week, with one tie.
Live with Regis and Kelly (Disney-ABC) slipped 4% to a 2.2 and continued to tie Maury (NBCU), which also faded 4% to a 2.2 (but was No. 1 in total viewers for the second straight week). Oprah (CTD) held steady at a 2.1 — its lowest rating ever — for a second week; Dr. Oz (Sony) inched up 5% to a 2.0; Ellen DeGeneres (WBDTD) remained stuck at its season low 1.6 for a third straight week; Rachael Ray (CTD) rallied 8%, the largest increase among talk shows, to a 1.4, tying Jerry Springer (NBCU) which was flat at a 1.4.
Court Shows
At the very top of the syndication chart, Judge Judy (CTD) dipped 3% from the week before to a 6.4, although it was still up 52% from last year at this time. Judge Joe Brown (CTD) was the No. 2 courtroom with a steady 2.6; People’s Court (WBDTD), Judge Alex (Twentieth) and Judge Mathis (WBDTD) were all flat at 1.9, 1.5 and 1.5, respectively. Divorce Court (Twentieth) tacked on 7% to a 1.5 and Judge Jeanine Piero (WBDTD) was last with an unchanged 0.8.
First-Run Freshmen
Swift Justice with Nancy Grace (CTD) was the highest-rated rookie for the 41st consecutive week, despite ticking down 6% to a 1.5. Don’t Forget the Lyrics (Twentieth) advanced 13% to a 0.9; Nate Berkus (Sony) rebounded 14% from the prior session’s series low to a 0.8; Judge Karen’s Court (Litton) fell 13% to a 0.7; while America’s Court with Judge Ross (Entertainment Studios) rose 33% to a 0.4.
BRAND CONNECTIONS
Game Shows
Game shows were fairly lively. Wheel of Fortune (CTD) generated a 5% week-to-week increase, to a 6.2; Jeopardy (CTD) edged ahead 8% to a 5.5; Family Feud (Debmar-Mercury) was up 4% to a new season high 2.6; Who Wants to be a Millionaire (Disney-ABC) got a 5 ratings dividend to a 2.3; while Are You Smarter Than a 5th Grader? (Twentieth) remained at a 1.1.
Magazine Shows
Entertainment Tonight (CTD) ruled the magazines for the 779th week in a row with a 3.3, although it dipped 3% from the previous frame to a new season low. Inside Edition (CTD) inched up 4% to a 2.8; TMZ (WBDTD) was unchanged at a 2.0; Access Hollywood (NBCU) had a 6 ratings spurt to a 1.8 and was up 13% from last year, which was the most year-to-year growth of any magazine. Extra (WBDTD) and The Insider (CTD) tied for the biggest week-to-week gains in the group, with each show spiking 7% in households to a 1.5. In addition, Extra grew 17% among women 18-49 and Insider jumped 25% among women 18-34.
Off-Net Sitcoms
Off-net sitcoms were mixed. Two and a Half Men (WBDTD) was flat at a 6.1; Family Guy (Twentieth) crept up 2% to a 4.6; My Wife and Kids (Disney-ABC) lost 9% to a 3.1; Everybody Loves Raymond (CTD) slid 4% to a 2.6; George Lopez Show (WBDTD) and Seinfeld (Sony) each softened 7% to a 2.5, while The Office (NBCU) added 4% to a 2.5.
Off-Net Weekly Hours
Law & Order: Criminal Intent (NBCU) held onto the lead among off-network weekly hours, although it sank 32% from the week before to a 3.2. Criminal Minds (CTD), Monk (NBCU) and Without a Trace (WBDTD) were all unchanged at 2.8, 2.6 and 2.5, respectively. The Closer (WBDTD) weakened 9% to a 2.0 and Numbers (CTD) subtracted 10% to a 1.8.
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