Not Much Upward Movement Before Sweeps

PUT levels dropped sharply as syndication prepared for the May Sweep (April 23-May 20), however most of the top shows in each category saw little, if any, slippage in the week ending April 19.

Dr. Phil scored a steady 3.1 live-plus-same-day national Nielsen rating and finished first in the talk show race for the 14^th consecutive week (including ties) and the 29^th time in the past 33 sessions. In addition, Phil was tops among women 25-54, clocking a 1.5 in the target demo.

Live with Kelly & Michael was the clear second in households with a 2.8.

Compared to last year at this time, Dr. Oz was down the most, while Phil, Ellen Degeneres, Steve Harvey, Wendy Williams and Jerry Springer did best, with all five shows staying even.

Judge Judy and sister show Hot Bench ran first and second among the court shows, with Judy posting a 6.4 despite an all-repeat week, and newcomer Bench hitting a 1.9, its biggest rating in 14 weeks and matching its series high.

In access, game show household leaders Wheel of Fortune and Jeopardy both declined to a 6.6 and landed in a dead heat for the second time in the past three weeks.

Among magazines, Entertainment Tonight extended its multi-year winning streak with a 3.2, while Inside Edition remained second at a 3.0.

And in the off-net sitcom competition, The Big Bang Theory continued to have the right idea with a 5.2, while Modern Family was next at a 3.5.

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

• Dr. Phil (1.5, unchanged from the week before)
• Live with Kelly & Michael (1.3, -19%), tied with Maury (1.3, -7%)
• Ellen DeGeneres (1.2, -8%)
• Wendy Williams (1.1, +22%)
• Steve Wilkos (1.0, unchanged)
• Jerry Springer (0.9, 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) 3.1 NC

2. Live with Kelly & Michael (Disney-ABC) 2.8 -10%

3. Ellen DeGeneres (WBDTD) 2.4 NC

4. Maury (NBCU) 1.9 NC

5. Steve Harvey (NBCU) 1.8 -5%

6. Wendy Williams (Debmar-Mercury) 1.4 +8%

6. Steve Wilkos (NBCU) 1.4 NC

6. Dr. Oz (Sony) 1.4 NC

9. Rachael Ray (CTD) 1.3 -7%

9. Jerry Springer (NBCU) 1.3 NC

11. Meredith Vieira (NBCU) 1.1 NC

11. The Real (WBDTD) 1.1 +10%

13. The Doctors (CTD) 1.0 NC

14. The Better Show (Meredith) 0.1 -50%

INTERNET VIDEO

1. Right This Minute (MGM) 1.5 +7%

COURT SHOWS

1. Judge Judy (CTD) 6.4 -2%

2. Hot Bench (CTD) 1.9 +6%

3. People’s Court (WBDTD) 1.7 +6%

4 Divorce Court (Twentieth) 1.4 NC

4. Judge Mathis (WBDTD) 1.4 NC

6. Paternity Court (Orion Television) 1.1 -8%

7. Judge Faith (Trifecta) 0.7 NC

MAGAZINE SHOWS

1. Entertainment Tonight (CTD) 3.2 -3%

2. Inside Edition (CTD) 3.0 -3%

3. TMZ (WBDTD) 2.0 +5%

4. Access Hollywood (NBCU) 1.6 -6%

5. Extra (WBDTD) 1.4 NC

6. The Insider (CTD) 1.2 -8%

7. Dish Nation (Twentieth) 1.1 +10%

8.. Intelligence for Your Life (IFYL) 0.3 NC

9. OK! TV (Trifecta) 0.2 -33%

GAME SHOWS

1. Wheel of Fortune (CTD) 6.6 -3%

1. Jeopardy (CTD) 6.6 -1%

3. Family Feud (Debmar-Mercury) 6.1 +2%

4. Who Wants to Be a Millionaire (Disney-ABC) 1.6 -6%

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

OFF-NET SITCOMS

1. Big Bang Theory (WBDTD) 5.2 -5%

2. Modern Family (Twentieth) 3.5 NC

3. Two and a Half Men (WBDTD) 2.8 NC

4. Family Guy (Twentieth) 2.4 NC

5. How I Met Your Mother (Twentieth) 2.2 +5%

6. Mike and Molly (WBDTD) 2.1 -9%

7. Seinfeld (Sony) 2.0 -5%

8. The Middle (WBDTD) 1.8 +6%

9. The Cleveland Show (Twentieth) 1.7 -6%

10. King of the Hill (Twentieth) 1.6 NC

OFF-NET WEEKLY HOURS

1. Law & Order: Criminal Intent (NBCU) 5.1 -16%

2. Law & Order: SVU (NBCU) 3.6 +3%

3. Blue Bloods (CTD) 2.2 NC

4. Castle (Disney-ABC) 2.1 +5%

5. Scandal (Disney-ABC) 1.6 +14%

6. The Good Wife (CTD) 1.6 +23%