Syndicated Shows Stage A Rebound

Although some syndicated programs were preempted by news coverage of the Colorado movie massacre on Friday, July 20, several top daytime shows were still able to stage a summer ratings rally in the week ending, July 22 amid slightly elevated PUT levels.

Talk Shows

Talk show leader Dr. Phil (CTD) notched its 37th weekly win of the season and led the chat pack for the 16^th time in the past 17 weeks with a 9% improvement from the week before to a 2.5, the largest increase of any talker,.

Phil was also up 22% among women 18-49 and up 9% from last year at this time. Maury (NBCU) took second place, adding 4% to a 2.4; Live with Kelly (Disney-ABC) gained 5% to a 2.3; Dr. Oz (Sony) fell 4% to a 2.2; while The Ellen DeGeneres Show (WBDTD) and The Doctors (CTD) held steady at 1.6 and 1.5, respectively.

First-Run Freshmen

Newcomer Anderson (WBDTD) topped all rookie strips in first run for the 45^th week in a row, holding firm at a 1.1. Jeremy Kyle (Debmar-Mercury) lost 20% to a 0.4; We the People with Gloria Allred (Entertainment Studios) was flat at a 0.4; and latenight dating show Excused (CTD) remained at a 0.7.

Court Shows

Judge Judy (CTD) continued to trounce the court shows and was the highest-rated show overall in first run, growing 3% from the prior session to a 6.1. Judge Joe Brown (CTD) was unchanged at a 2.4; People’s Court (WBDTD) recovered 6% to a 1.9; while Judge Mathis (WBDTD) faded 7% to 1.4.

Magazine Shows

Magazines took a breather after a recent run-up. Entertainment Tonight (CTD) slipped 3% week to week to a 3.5, but was still up 3% from last year at this time. Inside Edition (CTD) dropped 3% to a 2.9; TMZ (WBDTD) was flat at a 1.8; Access Hollywood (NBCU) eased 6% to a 1.7; while Extra (WBDTD) and The Insider (CTD) both held steady at a 1.5.

Game Shows

Among game shows, Wheel of Fortune (CTD) and Jeopardy (CTD) were both unchanged from the week before at 6.0 and 5.2, respectively. Family Feud (Debmar-Mercury) added 7% to a 3.2 and Who Wants to Be a Millionaire (Disney-ABC) perked up 4% to a 2.4.

Off-Net Sitcoms

In off-net syndication, top sitcom Big Bang Theory (WBDTD) rose 6% from the previous frame to a 6.6; Two and a Half Men (WBDTD) inched up 2% to a 5.2; Family Guy (Twentieth) was flat at a 4.0; How I Met Your Mother (Twentieth) moved up 3% to a 3.0; King of the Hill (Twentieth) climbed 4% to a 2.5; while Seinfeld (Sony) slipped 4% to a 2.3.

Off-Net Weekly Hours

On the weekend, Without a Trace (WBDTD) took sole possession of first place among the off-net hours with a 4% increase to a 2.7. Criminal Minds (CTD), Law & Order (NBCU) and Monk (NBCU) were all up 4% to a 2.6, while Law & Order: Special Victims Unit (NBCU) eroded 8% from the week before and fell from first to fifth with a 2.4.