Sweep Starts Strong For Talkers, Courtrooms

Most talkers and court shows surged as the May sweep got underway in the week ending April 28. Talk leader Dr. Phil scored its highest rating since the week of March 3 and was the top-rated talker for the 28^th time this season.

Live with Kelly and Michael was a strong second, growing 8% from last year at this time.

Dr. Oz moved up to tie Ellen for third place, while Maury, Rachael Ray, The Doctors, Steve Harvey, Steve Wilkos, Anderson Live and Trisha all clocked double-digit, week-to-week increases, with Wendy Williams and Steve Wilkos showing the largest year-to-year improvements of any chat fests, gaining 18% and 17%, respectively.

Courtroom champ Judge Judy was the highest-rated show in first-run syndication, with ratings equal to the sum of the next four gavelers combined.

Magazines ran into stiff competition from the NFL draft on cable, although TMZ had the top week-to-week and year-to-year increases among the strips, while OMG Insider Weekend soared 25% to its best numbers since the week of Feb. 4.

In the metered markets, the new interactive game show Let’s Ask America averaged a steady 1.7 rating/4 share and climbed 25% in the women 25-54 demo to a 1.0/4.

In the key women 25-54 demo, the top nationally rated talk shows were: Dr. Phil (1.9 demo rating, up 12% from the week before); Ellen (1.6, +7%) which tied for second place with Live with Kelly and Michael (1.6, +14%); Dr. Oz (1.4, +40%); Maury (1.3, no change); Wendy Williams (1.0, NC), which was tied with rookie Steve Harvey (1.0, +11); and Katie (0.9, NC), which tied with Steve Wilkos (0.9, +13)

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

TALK SHOWS

1. Dr. Phil (CTD) 3.0 +7%

2. Live with Kelly and Michael (Disney-ABC) 2.6 +8%

3. Ellen (WBDTD) 2.4 nc

3. Dr. Oz (Sony) 2.4 +9%

5. Maury (NBCU) 2.1 +11%

6. Katie (Disney-ABC) 1.7 -6%

7. Steve Harvey (NBCU) 1.6 +14%

7. Rachael Ray (CTD) 1.6 +14%

9. Steve Wilkos (NBCU) 1.4 +17%

9. The Doctors (CTD) 1.4 +17%

11. Wendy Williams (Debmar-Mercury) 1.3 +8%

11. Jerry Springer (NBCU) 1.3 NC

13. Anderson Live (WBDTD) 0.9 +29%

14. Jeff Probst (CTD) 0.7 +17%

15. Ricki Lake (Twentieth) 0.6 NC

15. Trisha (NBCU) 0.6 +20%

17. Jeremy Kyle (Debmar-Mercury) 0.5 +25%

FRESHMEN TALKERS

1. Katie (Disney-ABC) 1.7 -6%

2. Steve Harvey (NBCU) 1.6 +14%

3. Jeff Probst (CTD) 0.7 +17%

4. Ricki Lake (Twentieth) 0.6 NC

4. Trisha (NBCU) 0.6 +20%

MAGAZINE SHOWS

1. Entertainment Tonight (CTD) 3.6 NC

2. Inside Edition (CTD) 3.0 NC

3. TMZ (WBDTD) 2.0 +11%

4. Access Hollywood (NBCU) 1.7 -6%

5. Extra (WBDTD) 1.5 NC

6. OMG Insider (CTD) 1.4 NC

7. Dish Nation (Twentieth) 1.0 NC

COURT SHOWS

1. Judge Judy (CTD) 6.8 +10%

2. Judge Joe Brown (CTD) 2.2 +10%

3. People’s Court (WBDTD) 1.8 +13%

4. Judge Mathis (WBDTD) 1.5 NC

5. Judge Alex (Twentieth) 1.3 +18%

6. Divorce Court (Twentieth) 1.2 NC

GAME SHOWS

1. Wheel of Fortune (CTD) 6.5 NC

2. Jeopardy (CTD) 5.9 +4%

3. Family Feud (Debmar-Mercury) 4.6 +7%

4. Who Wants to Be a Millionaire (Disney-ABC) 2.4 +14%

5. Baggage (GSN) 1.1 NC

OFF-NET SITCOMS

1. Big Bang Theory (WBDTD) 7.0 +6%

2. Two and a Half Men (WBDTD) 4.7 +2%

3. Family Guy (Twentieth) 3.2** -9%

4. How I Met Your Mother (Twentieth) 2.3 -8%

4. King of the Hill (Twentieth) 2.3 NC

6. Seinfeld (Sony) 2.1 NC

6. Friends (WBDTD) 2.1 +5%

8. Everybody Loves Raymond (CTD) 1.8 -5%

OFF-NET WEEKLY HOURS

1. Law & Order: SVU (NBCU) 3.5 +9%

2. Law & Order (NBCU) 2.8 NC

3. Criminal Minds (CTD) 2.5 NC

4. CSI: Miami (CTD) 2.4 NC

5. Castle (Disney-ABC) 2.2 -8%

6. House (NBCU) 2.1 -22%

6. The Closer (WBDTD) 2.1 +24%