The freshman show again outpaces the rest of the newcomers. Other shows posting gains in the week ending April 10 include Oprah, ET Weekend and both The Insider and its weekend edition.
WEEKLY SYNDICATED RATINGS ROUNDUP
‘Swift Justice’ Continues Role As Top Newbie
Newcomer Swift Justice with Nancy Grace (CTD) scored a new series high in the week ending April 10 despite sharply lower PUT levels that put a damper on ratings for most other shows. Swift Justice jumped 6% from the previous session to a 1.9 and topped all rookies in first run for the 30th consecutive week with more than double the rating of its nearest freshman competitor. It was also the only newcomer to improve from the week before.
First-Run Freshmen
Nate Berkus (Sony) and Don’t Forget the Lyrics (Twentieth) both tumbled 10% to a 0.9, with Berkus matching its series low; Judge Karen’s Court (Litton) declined 11% to a 0.8; and America’s Court with Judge Ross (Entertainment Studios) remained at a 0.3.
Talk Shows
Among talk shows, the soon-to-conclude Oprah (CTD) resumed airing original episodes during the week with a show featuring a suburban mom who was a fugitive for 32 years. Oprah recovered 15% from the prior session to a 3.9 following three straight weeks at its season low.
Second-place Dr. Phil (CTD) was unchanged at a 2.7, although it was the only top-tier talker to improve from last year at this time, growing 13% year to year. Live with Regis and Kelly (Disney-ABC), Dr. Oz (Sony) and Ellen DeGeneres (WBDTD) were all flat at 2.6, 2.3 and 2.1, respectively, while Maury (NBCU) fell 5% to a 2.0.
BRAND CONNECTIONS
Court Shows
Judge Judy (CTD) took the daytime crown, beating Oprah for the fifth week in a row and presided over the court shows for the 760th straight week, despite dipping 6% from the prior week to a 6.6. Judge Joe Brown (CTD) slipped 4% to a 2.6; People’s Court (WBDTD) dropped 5% to a 1.9; Judge Alex (Twentieth) slid 12% to a 1.5; Judge Mathis (WBDTD) and Divorce Court (Twentieth) each sank 6% to a 1.5; and Judge Jeanine Piero (WBDTD) trailed the field, skidding 10% to a 0.9.
Magazine Shows
In access, The Insider (CTD) had the largest week-to-week gain among the mags, advancing 6% to a 1.7, while The Insider Weekend surged 30% to a 1.3. Leader Entertainment Tonight (CTD) was unchanged at a 3.8, although companion Entertainment Tonight Weekend soared 40% to a 2.1. Inside Edition (CTD) inched up 3% to a 3.0; TMZ (WBDTD) and Access Hollywood (NBCU) were flat at 2.2 and 2.0, respectively; while Extra (WBDTD), which did not air on one or more days in 13 markets due to the Masters golf tournament and March Madness basketball, eased 12% to a 1.5.
Game Shows
Game shows were quiet, with Wheel of Fortune (CTD) off 1% to a 6.9; Jeopardy (CTD) lost 2% to a 5.9; Who Wants to be a Millionaire (Disney-ABC) and Family Feud (Debmar-Mercury) were both flat at a 2.5; and Are You Smarter Than a 5th Grader? (Twentieth) rose 10% to a 1.1.
Off-Net Sitcoms
Off-net sitcoms were mostly soft. Leader Two and a Half Men (WBDTD) faded 7% from the week before to a 6.9. Family Guy (Twentieth) was flat at a 4.7; My Wife and Kids (Disney-ABC) went down 6% to a 3.2; George Lopez Show (WBDTD) and Seinfeld (Sony) were both unchanged at 3.0 and 2.8, respectively; while Everybody Loves Raymond (CTD) eroded 16% to a 2.7.
Off-Net Weekly Hours
Among weekly hours, Law & Order: Criminal Intent (NBCU) and Criminal Minds (CTD) tied for the lead. Intent added 3% to a new season high 3.4, while Minds was up 6% to a 3.4. Monk (NBCU) tacked on 4% to a 2.8; The Closer (WBDTD) and Numbers (CTD) were flat at a 2.4; while Without a Trace (WBDTD) erased 4% to a 2.3.
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