Ratings Rebound For A Lot Of Syndies

Talk shows were the hottest group amid what was a generally strong session in the week ending Feb. 24. Newcomer Steve Harvey hit its highest rating yet, veteran Steve Wilkos clocked the biggest number in its six-year history and talk leader Dr. Phil scored its best rating in more than a year. In fact, nine of the top 10 talkers were up from the week before.

Judge Judy ruled daytime with a new season high; Extra had the sharpest increase among the magazines, matching its second-highest rating of the season; while Who Wants to Be a Millionaire had the largest week-to-week gain among game shows and posted a new season high, while Family Feud tied its season (and series) high.

In the household rating rankings that follow, an asterisk indicates a new season high rating; % change is from the previous week; NC indicates no change from the previous week.

TALK SHOWS

1. Dr. Phil (CTD) 3.5* +9%

2. Live with Kelly and Michael (Disney-ABC) 2.8 +8%

2. Ellen (WBDTD) 2.8 +8%

4. Dr. Oz (Sony) 2.6 +4%

5. Maury (NBCU) 2.5 +9%

6. Katie (Disney-ABC) 1.9 +6%

7. Rachael Ray (CTD) 1.7 +6%

7. Steve Wilkos (NBCU) 1.7* +6%

7. Steve Harvey (NBCU) 1.7* +6%

10. Jerry Springer (NBCU) 1.5 NC

11. The Doctors (CTD) 1.4 +8%

12. Wendy Williams (Debmar-Mercury) 1.3 NC

13. Anderson Live (WBDTD) 1.1 +10%

14. Ricki Lake (Twentieth) 0.8 NC

14. Jeff Probst (CTD) 0.8 +14%

16. Trisha (NBCU) 0.6 NC

17. Jeremy Kyle (Debmar-Mercury) 0.5 -17%

FRESHMEN TALKERS

1. Katie (Disney-ABC) 1.9 +6%

2. Steve Harvey (NBCU) 1.7* +6%

3. Ricki Lake (Twentieth) 0.8 NC

3. Jeff Probst (CTD) 0.8 +14%

5. Trisha (NBCU) 0.6 NC

MAGAZINE SHOWS

1. Entertainment Tonight (CTD) 4.0 +5%

2. Inside Edition (CTD) 3.2 NC

3. TMZ (WBDTD) 2.0 NC

4. Access Hollywood (NBCU) 1.9 +6%

5. Extra (WBDTD) 1.6 +7%

6. OMG Insider (CTD) 1.4 NC

7. Dish Nation (Twentieth) 1.0 NC

COURT SHOWS

1. Judge Judy (CTD) 7.6* +3%

2. Judge Joe Brown (CTD) 2.5 +4%

3. People’s Court (WBDTD) 1.9 NC

4. Judge Mathis (WBDTD) 1.6 NC

5. Judge Alex (Twentieth) 1.4 +8%

6. Divorce Court (Twentieth) 1.3 NC

GAME SHOWS

1. Wheel of Fortune (CTD) 7.7 +5%

2. Jeopardy (CTD) 6.9 +5%

3. Family Feud (Debmar-Mercury) 5.4 +4%

4. Who Wants to Be a Millionaire (Disney-ABC) 2.7* +13%

5. Baggage (GSN) 1.1 -8%

OFF-NET SITCOMS

1. Big Bang Theory (WBDTD) 7.8 +1%

2. Two and a Half Men (WBDTD) 5.4 +6%

3. Family Guy (Twentieth) 3.7 +3%

4. How I Met Your Mother (Twentieth) 2.8 NC

5. Seinfeld (Sony) 2.4 +4%

6. King of the Hill (Twentieth) 2.2 -4%

6. Friends (WBDTD) 2.2 +5%

OFF-NET WEEKLY HOURS

1. Law & Order: SVU (NBCU) 4.2 +11%

2. Law & Order (NBCU) 3.0 +15%

3. Castle (Disney-ABC) 2.5* +9%

3. Criminal Minds (CTD) 2.5 -4%

5. CSI: Miami (CTD) 2.1 -19%

5. House (NBCU) 2.1 -9%