Royal Wedding Gives Magazines A Present

Coverage of Britain’s Royal Wedding sent ratings for most syndicated entertainment magazines higher in the week ending May 1, a week that included the first two days of May sweep, which runs April 28-May 25.

Magazine Shows

In fact, four of the five entertainment mags were up from the week before. Leader Entertainment Tonight (CTD) hit its highest rating since March, jumping 8% in households to a 4.0, and 14% among women 18-49, while companion Entertainment Tonight Weekend soared 24% to a 2.1.

Access Hollywood (NBCU) grew 5% in households to a 2.0, and 20% among women 18-34 and was the only magazine to outperform its year-ago delivery, improving 5% over the same week last year. The Insider (CTD) climbed 6% in households to a 1.7, and 20% among women 25-54, and The Insider Weekend ballooned 30% to a 1.3.

Despite preemptions in 17 metered markets, Extra (WBDTD) had the largest household rating increase of all the magazine strips, surging 13% to a 1.7 in homes, and 25% among women 18-34. On the other hand, TMZ (WBDTD) slipped 5% to a 2.0, while Inside Edition (CTD), which is not strictly an entertainment magazine, was flat at a 2.9.

Court Shows

Courtroom queen Judge Judy (CTD) tied Two and a Half Men (WBDTD) as the highest-rated show in syndication for the first time this season. Judy scored a 6.7, which was unchanged week to week in households, but up 16% among women 18-49. Judge Joe Brown (CTD) was the No.2 courtroom, gaining 4% to a 2.7 in households and 22% among women 18-49. People’s Court (WBDTD) was flat at 1.8; Judge Alex (Twentieth) added 7% to a 1.6; Judge Mathis (WBDTD) fell 6% to a 1.5; Divorce Court (Twentieth) was unchanged at a 1.5; while Judge Jeanine Piero (WBDTD) skidded 11% to a new season low 0.8.

Talk Shows

Among talk shows, Oprah (CTD) posted a 4.8 in its fifth-from-final week, which was up 4% from the prior session. Dr. Phil (CTD) clocked its highest ratings in nine weeks, rising 4% to a 2.9; Live with Regis and Kelly (Disney-ABC) dropped 4% to a 2.4; Maury (NBCU) and Dr. Oz (Sony) were unchanged at 2.3 and 2.2, respectively; Ellen DeGeneres (WBDTD) advanced 5% to a 2.1; and The Doctors (CTD) grew a healthy 7% to a 1.6.

First-Run Freshmen

Swift Justice with Nancy Grace (CTD) dominated the first-run rookies for the 33rd consecutive week, rallying 6% from the week before in households to a 1.7 and seeing double-digit growth in every key female demo. Nate Berkus (Sony) was a distant second at an unchanged 0.9; Don’t Forget the Lyrics (Twentieth) eroded 20% to a 0.8; while Judge Karen’s Court (Litton) and America’s Court with Judge Ross (Entertainment Studios) were both flat at 0.8 and 0.4, respectively.

Back on the positive side, the not-yet-nationally-cleared Access Hollywood Live (NBCU) was another show getting a big boost from its Royal Wedding coverage, jumping 25% from its year-ago time period average to a 1.0 rating/4 share in households, and leaping 100% in both the women 18-49 and women 25-54 demos.

Game Shows

Wheel of Fortune (CTD) inched up 2% from the week before to a 6.6; Jeopardy (CTD) was flat at a 5.7; Who Wants to be a Millionaire (Disney-ABC) got a 9% Nielsen dividend to a 2.5; Family Feud (Debmar-Mercury) faded 4% to a 2.3; and Are You Smarter Than a 5^th Grader? (Twentieth) was unchanged at a 1.1.

Off-Net Sitcoms

Among off-net sitcoms, Two and a Half Men weakened 4%% to a 6.7; Family Guy (Twentieth) and My Wife and Kids (Disney-ABC) were flat at 4.4 and 3.2, respectively; George Lopez Show (WBDTD) was up 4% to 2.9; Everybody Loves Raymond (CTD) receded 4% to a 2.6; while Seinfeld (Sony) increased 4% to a 2.6.

Off-Net Weekly Hours

Law & Order: Criminal Intent (NBCU) held onto the lead but sank 22% from the week before to a 3.2; Criminal Minds (CTD) reversed two straight weeks of declines and tacked on 7% to a 2.9; The Closer (WBDTD) jumped 20% to a 2.4; Without a Trace (WBDTD) remained at a 2.4; Numbers (CTD) added 5% to a 2.3; Bones (Twentieth) declined 12% to a 2.2; and Monk (NBCU) tumbled 23% to a 2.0.