‘Phil’ Soars To The Top In November Sweep

The national results of the November sweep (Oct 25-Nov. 21) were released today and for the first time the usually hotly-contested talk show race was won decisively by Dr. Phil (CTD), which overwhelmed its closest talk rivals by a margin of more than 800,000 viewers per show, on average.

In general, most syndicated programs were down from last November due mainly to massive coverage of Hurricane Sandy, widespread viewer power outages caused by the storm and numerous preemptions for special reports on the presidential election.

Talk Shows

Phil, which was second in the November 2011 sweep behind Live with Regis & Kelly, was a dominant No. 1 this November, holding steady year to year at a 3.2 average, with 4,303,000 total viewers per show, 23% above any other talker.

Phil was also the sweep’s talk leader among women 25-54, growing 6% from last November to a first-place 1.9 rating in the key demo. Live with Kelly and Michael (Disney-ABC) averaged a second-place 2.7 household rating, down 18% from last November, which was Regis Philbin’s farewell sweep after more than 28 years.

Ellen (WBDTD) was a strong third, up 4% from last year to a 2.6 in households and up 13% to a 1.8 in the women 25-54 demo, which was second only to Dr. Phil.

Maury (NBCU) was rock solid compared to last November at a steady 2.4 rating, and topped the talk show field in both women 18-49 and women 18-34 with 1.6 and 1.4 demo ratings, respectively.

Dr. Oz (Sony), which had been third last November, fell behind Ellen, losing 14% to a fourth-place 2.4 household rating, tied with Maury.

Freshmen Shows

Rookie Katie (Disney-ABC) landed in sixth place among all talkers with a 1.9 household rating average for the sweep, which was down 5% from its September premiere week. Among the other talk newcomers, Steve Harvey (NBCU) grew 8% from its September debut to a 1.3 rating in households and climbed 13% to a 0.9 among women 25-54, one-tenth of a rating point behind Katie’s 1.0 in the closely watched demo.

Jeff Probst (CTD) and Ricki Lake (Twentieth) both held steady with their 0.7 premiere week averages, while Trisha (NBCU) jumped 25% from its September debut to a 0.5.

Among shows not yet nationally rated, Access Hollywood Live (NBCU) improved 11% in rating and 33% in share from last November to a 1.0 rating/4 share average in its 11 markets, including a 25% rating increase in top market New York.

The new interactive game show Let’s Ask America (WBDTD) grew 13% from its September premiere week to a 1.8/4 in the sweep for all telecasts in its seven metered markets. It also scored a 0.8/3 among women 25-54, retaining 80% of its November 2011 time period demo average, which was mainly Wheel of Fortune and Jeopardy last year.

Back in the national ratings, sophomore dating show Excused (CTD) declined 43% from last November to 0.4.

Court Shows

At the top of the first-run syndication chart was courtroom champ Judge Judy (CTD), which held steady year to year at a 7.2 rating and led its nearest court rival by almost five full rating points.

The No. 2 gaveler in the sweep was Judge Joe Brown (CTD), which averaged a 2.3 despite being one of several court shows hit with double-digit hurricane-related losses, slipping 21% from last November.

People’s Court (WBDTD) weakened 10% to a third-place 1.9 sweep average; Judge Mathis (WBDTD) was flat at a 1.6; Judge Alex (Twentieth) faded 19% to a 1.3; and Divorce Court (Twentieth) was down 13% to a 1.3.

Magazine Shows

Entertainment Tonight (CTD) was the top-rated magazine for the 89^th sweep in a row, dating back 22 years. Although all of the veteran magazines declined from November 2011, due mainly to this year’s weather-related disruption and preemptions for election coverage, ET dipped only 3% to a 3.9.

Inside Edition (CTD) was also down 3% to a second-place 3.1; TMZ (WBDTD) eased 5% to a 1.9; Access Hollywood (NBCU), which like other mags got high ratings last November with coverage of the Kim Kardashian divorce and the Michael Jackson doctor verdict, slipped 19% without such stories to a 1.7.

Extra (WBDTD), which was very heavily preempted during the sweep, gave back 12% to a 1.5; The Insider (CTD) yielded 17% to a 1.5, while newcomer Dish Nation (Twentieth) trailed with a 0.8, which was unchanged from its September debut.

Game Shows

Among game shows, Wheel of Fortune (CTD) slipped 4% from last year to a 7.1 sweep average. Jeopardy (CTD) inched up 2% to a 6.3; ratings for Family Feud (Debmar-Mercury) ballooned 53% to a 4.6; Who Wants to Be a Millionaire (Disney-ABC) depreciated 8% to a 2.3; while rookie Baggage (GSN) was unchanged from its premiere week at a1.1.

Off-Net Sitcoms

In off-net, sitcom stalwart Big Bang Theory (WBDTD) heated up 25% to a 7.4, which led all syndicated shows. Two and a Half Men (WBDTD) faded 16% to a 5.3; Family Guy (Twentieth) was down 3% to a 3.8; How I Met Your Mother (Twentieth) tumbled 21% to a 2.6; and Seinfeld (Sony) slid 15% to a 2.2.

Off-Net Weekly Hours

Among the often volatile off-net weekly hours, Law & Order: SVU (NBCU) soared 71% year to year to a first-place 3.6; sister show Law & Order (NBCU) lost 10% to a 2.8; Criminal Minds (CTD) softened 17% to a 2.5 and landed in a three-way tie with CSI: Miami (CTD) and House (NBCU), which surged 67% to a 2.5.