‘Phil’ And ‘Judy’ Are Syndie’s Hot Couple

The week ending Oct. 2 was another good one for Dr. Phil (CTD), which has topped the talkers now for the first three weeks of the season. It scored a 3.0, which was off 3% from the week before after being preempted in some markets, including Los Angeles, for part of the week. Compared to last year at this time, Phil was up 25%.

Dr. Oz (Sony) lost 3% to a 2.9; Live with Regis and Kelly (Disney-ABC) slipped 7% to a 2.5; Maury (NBCU) tacked on 5% to a 2.3; while Ellen DeGeneres (WBDTD) fell 4% to a 2.2.

Court Shows

Judge Judy (CTD) was once again the top-rated show in all of syndication, tying Wheel of Fortune (CTD) with a 6.7. Judy was also the highest rate court show, holding steady week to week while jumping 49% from last year at this time.

Second-place courtroom Judge Joe Brown (CTD) was unchanged at a 2.8; People’s Court (WBDTD) picked up 5% to a 2.0; Judge Alex (Twentieth) gained 13% to a 1.7; while Judge Mathis (WBDTD) was flat at a 1.6.

Magazine Shows

In access, Entertainment Tonight (CTD) was the only magazine to improve from the prior session, climbing 3% to a 3.8, its highest rating in 19 weeks. On Sept. 27, the eve of the Michael Jackson death trial, ET rose 14% to a 4.2.

Inside Edition (CTD) was unchanged at a 3.1; Access Hollywood (NBCU) eased 5% to a 1.9, but still had the biggest year-to-year growth of any mag, improving 6%; TMZ (WBDTD) was flat at a 1.9; The Insider (CTD) dipped 6% to a 1.6; and EX held firm at a 1.6.

Game Shows

Among game shows, Wheel inched up 2% to a 6.7; Jeopardy (CTD) upticked 2% to a 5.5; Family Feud (Debmar-Mercury) faded 7% 2.6; and Who Wants to Be a Millionaire (Disney-ABC) dropped 4% to a 2.4.

First-run Freshmen

Anderson (WBDTD) attracted more than 1.6 million viewers in its second week on the chart, and continued to lead all first-run rookies by a wide margin, despite dipping 7% to a 1.3.

Excused (CTD), a new dating show in latenight time periods, held steady at a 0.6; and in daytime, new talker Jeremy Kyle (Debmar) was unchanged at a 0.5, while We the People with Gloria Allred (Entertainment Studios) increased 25% to a 0.5.

Off-Net Freshmen

Among the new off-net sitcoms, Big Bang Theory (WBDTD) grew 11% to a 5.0 in mostly access time slots. 30rock was solid in its second outing, maintaining its opening week’s 1.4 despite mostly lower-rated late fringe time periods and outperforming its metered-market average by 75%. It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia (Twentieth) was flat at a 1.2; while Till Death (Sony) spiked 40% to a 0.7.

Off-Net Sitcoms

Two and a Half Men (WBDTD) continued to lead the veteran off-net sitcoms, edging up 2% to a 6.6. Family Guy (Twentieth) was unchanged at a 4.0; How I Met Your Mother (Twentieth) was up 6% to a 3.4; Seinfeld (Sony) strengthened 4% to a 2.6; while Friends (WBDTD) surged 21% to a 2.3.

Off-Net Weekly Hours

Criminal Minds (CTD) was tied by Law & Order (NBCU) for the lead among off-net weekly hours. Minds was up 11% from the week before to a 3.1, while L&O jumped 15% to a 3.1. Monk (NBCU) advanced 8% to a 2.6; The Closer (WBDTD) shot up 16% to a 2.2; tying Numbers (CTD), which added 5% to a 2.2.