Syndies Hit With Post-Sweep Depression

Most of daytime lost ground in a rerun-filled session ending March 12, which was the first full week following the February sweep, although there were a few bright spots.

Dr. Phil, still going strong in year 15, improved 17% from last year to a 3.5 live-plus-same-day national Nielsen rating, showing more than double the annual growth of any other talk show, despite dipping 3% week to week. In addition, Phil easily topped the talkers for the 27^th consecutive frame.

Live with Kelly slipped 12% to a 2.2, but for the fourth straight week outperformed Ellen DeGeneres, which sank 21% to a 1.9.

Maury held onto fourth place with a 6% decline to a 1.5.

Steve Harvey, down 18% from last year, dropped 7% for the week to a new season low 1.4 and landed in a tie with Wendy Williams repeats, which slipped 7% to a 1.4.

On the positive side, syndication’s highest-rated strip overall was courtroom champ Judge Judy, which towered over its field with a 6.9, giving back only a negligible 1%. In fact, Judy’s Nielsen score was higher than the total of the other five nationally rated court shows added together.

Hot Bench was second among the gavelers, easing 12% to a 2.2.

People’s Court tumbled 29% to a new season low 1.2 in third.

Also hitting a new season low in the group was Judge Mathis, which was off 23% to a 1.0.

In access, Family Feud fell 4% to a 6.7, but still stumped all game shows for the 46^th straight week and ran second on the overall chart behind only Judy.

The week’s top-rated daytime talk shows in the women 25-54 demo were:

• Dr. Phil (1.6, unchanged from the week before)

• Live with Kelly (1.1, -8%)

• Maury (1.0, unchanged)

• Ellen DeGeneres (0.9, -25%), tied with Wendy Williams (0.9, -10%)

• Steve Wilkos (0.8, -11%), tied with Jerry Springer (0.8, unchanged)

In the household rating rankings that follow, % change is from the previous week; * indicates a new season-high rating; ** indicates a new season low; NC indicates no change from the previous week; NA mean not applicable.

TALK SHOWS

1. Dr. Phil (CTD) 3.5 -3%

2. Live with Kelly (Disney-ABC) 2.2 -12%

3. Ellen DeGeneres (WBDTD) 1.9 -21%

4. Maury (NBCU) 1.5 -6%

5. Steve Harvey (NBCU) 1.4** -7%

5. Wendy Williams (Debmar-Mercury) 1.4 -7%

7. Steve Wilkos (NBCU) 1.3 NC

7. Jerry Springer (NBCU) 1.3 NC

9. Rachael Ray (CTD) 1.2 -8%

9. Dr. Oz (Sony) 1.2 NC

11. Crime Watch Daily with Chris Hansen (WBDTD) 0.9 -10%

11. The Doctors (CTD) 0.9 NC

13. The Real (WBDTD) 0.8 -11%

DAYTIME ROOKIE SHOWS

1. Harry (NBCU) 1.0 -9%

COURT SHOWS

1. Judge Judy (CTD) 6.9 -1%

2. Hot Bench (CTD) 2.2 -12%

3. People’s Court (WBDTD) 1.2** -29%

4. Divorce Court (Twentieth) 1.1 NC

5. Judge Mathis (WBDTD) 1.0** -23%

6. Judge Faith (Trifecta) 0.8 NC

GAME SHOWS

1. Family Feud (Debmar-Mercury/FMNA) 6.7 -4%

2. Wheel of Fortune (CTD) 6.5 +4%

3. Jeopardy (CTD) 6.4 +3%

4. Who Wants to Be a Millionaire (Disney-ABC) 1.7 NC

5. Celebrity Name Game (Debmar-Mercury/FMNA) 1.3 NC

INTERNET VIDEO

1. Right This Minute (Disney-ABC) 1.4 NC

MAGAZINE SHOWS

1. Entertainment Tonight (CTD) 3.2 -6%

2. Inside Edition (CTD) 2.9 -3%

3. TMZ (WBDTD) 1.5 -6%

4. Access Hollywood (NBCU) 1.3 -13%

5. The Insider (CTD) 1.1 NC

6. Extra (WBDTD) 1.0** -23%

7. Dish Nation (Twentieth) 0.8 NC

8. Celebrity Page (Trifecta) 0.3 NC

OFF-NET SITCOMS

1. Big Bang Theory (WBDTD) 5.1 -6%

2. Modern Family (Twentieth) 2.9 -3%

3. Two and a Half Men (WBDTD) 2.4 -8%

4. Last Man Standing (Twentieth) 1.8 -5%

4. Family Guy (Twentieth) 1.8 NC

6. Mike and Molly (WBDTD) 1.6** -11%

6. Two Broke Girls (WBDTD) 1.6 -6%

8. Seinfeld (Sony) 1.3 +8%

9. How I Met Your Mother (Twentieth) 1.2 -8%

10. The Cleveland Show (Twentieth) 1.1 NC

10. King of the Hill (Twentieth) 1.1 -8%

OFF-NET WEEKLY HOUR DRAMAS

1. Law & Order: SVU (NBCU) 4.0 -7%

2. Blue Bloods (CTD) 1.9 +12%

3. American Ninja Warrior (NBCU) 1.7 -11%

4. Castle (Disney-ABC) 1.5 +15%

5. CSI Miami (CTD) 1.3 NC

6. Rizzoli & Isles (WBDTD) 1.1 +10%

6. Major Crimes (WBDTD) 1.1 NC

6. Elementary (CTD) 1.1 +10%