Olympics Turn Syndie Numbers Topsy-Turvy

The top two magazine shows rebounded in the week ending Aug. 12, sparked by high viewer interest in Olympic gold medal winning gymnast Gabby Douglas. Douglas, who is only 16 years old, was the subject of numerous stories during the week after she became the first gymnast in American history to take the gold in both the team and all-around competitions.

But there were no other gainers among the first-run strips — with the notable exception of Dr. Phil (CTD) — up against the second full week of the Summer Games.

Besides Phil, every other first-run strip was either flat or down from the week before or broken out of the ratings entirely.

Magazine Shows

Magazine leader Entertainment Tonight (CTD) recovered 3% week to week to a 3.2, and Inside Edition (CTD) bounced back 4% to a 2.8. Access Hollywood (NBCU), which hit a four-and-a-half year ratings high in the prior session, came back to earth, easing 15% to a still-potent 2.3, which was still up 44% from last year at this time.

TMZ (WBDTD) continued to decline, losing 6% to a 1.7; The Insider (CTD) held steady at a 1.3 and its Insider Weekend jumped 10% to a 1.1. Extra (WBDTD) was widely preempted by the Olympics and broken out of the ratings all week by Nielsen.

Talk Shows

The only daytime strip in first run to improve from the week before was Phil, which grew 5% to a third-place 2.0, despite being very heavily preempted. Everything else was unable to advance due to the Games.

Dr. Oz (Sony), which dropped to a new season low, and Maury (NBCU), shared a narrow lead in the yack pack with both tied at a 2.1. Oz was not rated in the prior session, but down 5% from the week ending July 29; Maury was flat week to week.

Live with Kelly (Disney-ABC), 1.7; Jerry Springer (NBCU), 1.3; Steve Wilkos Show (NBCU), 1.2; and Wendy Williams (Debmar-Mercury), 0.8, all remained unchanged at or near their season lows, while most of the other talkers were again broken out of the ratings due to massive preemptions.

First-Run Freshmen

Among rookies that were not broken out, Jeremy Kyle (Debmar-Mercury) was flat at a 0.5, while latenight dating show Jeremy Kyle (Debmar-Mercury) held steady at a 0.6.

Court Shows

Court shows were also flat to down. Top jurist Judge Judy (CTD) remained at a 5.7 and continued to be the highest-rated show in first-run syndication. Judge Joe Brown (CTD) slipped 8% to a new season low 2.2; People’s Court (WBDTD), Judge Mathis (WBDTD) and Judge Alex (Twentieth) were unchanged at 1.8, 1.4 and 1.3, respectively.

Game Shows

Game shows continued to sink. Wheel of Fortune (CTD) fell to a new season low for the second straight week, dropping 4% to a 5.2; Jeopardy (CTD) declined 4% to a second consecutive new season low 4.3; Family Feud (Debmar-Mercury) faded 4% to a 2.7; and Who Wants to Be a Millionaire (Disney-ABC) depreciated 5% to its second new season low in a row, a 1.8.

Off-Net Sitcoms

In off-net syndication, most shows were higher. Big Bang Theory (WBDTD) paced the sitcoms, heating up 5% to a 6.2. Two and a Half Men (WBDTD) inched up 2% to a 4.8; Family Guy (Twentieth) rose 3% to a 3.9; How I Met Your Mother (Twentieth) moved up 8% to a 2.6; while King of the Hill (Twentieth) was down 4% to a 2.2, tying Seinfeld (Sony), which spiked 10% to a 2.2.

Off-Net Weekly Hours

Among the off-net weekly hours, Without a Trace (WBDTD) climbed back to the head of the leader board with a 10% leap to a 2.3, tying Criminal Minds (CTD), which was unchanged at a 2.3.

Law & Order (NBCU)  was unchanged at a 2.2 and landed in a tie with sister show Law & Order: Special Victims Unit (NBCU), which gained 5% to a 2.2. Cold Case (WBDTD) suddenly got hot and improved 11% to a 2.1, tying Monk (NBCU), which moved down 9% to a 2.1.