Syndies Skyrocket In Post-Holiday Week

Coverage of the star-studded memorial services and funerals for Debbie Reynolds and Carrie Fisher ignited the news magazines in a generally very strong session for access shows in the week ending Jan. 8.

Entertainment Tonight rose 9% to a new season high 3.7 live-plus-same-day national Nielsen rating and led the magazines for the 23^rd straight week. ET’s sister show The Insider surged 18% to a 1.3 and matched its best rating of the season.

Others in the top tier hitting highs included Inside Edition, which added 14% to a 3.2, and TMZ, which jumped 20% to a 1.8.

In daytime, Dr. Phil had no trouble handling the talk shows for the 18^th week in a row with a 14% leap to a 3.2.

Live with Kelly tied Ellen DeGeneres for second in talk at a 2.5, with Live dipping 4% and Ellen spiking 25% after going from repeats to originals.

Maury was fourth with a flat 1.7, and Rachael Ray was fifth, up 7% to a 1.6. Meanwhile, Wendy Williams ballooned 25% to a 1.5, tying Steve Harvey, which dropped to sixth place, slipping 6% for the week and losing 21% from last year at this time.

Back on the positive side, Judge Judy scored its highest rating since the week of Nov. 21 with a 9% advance to a 7.4, and pummeled the court shows, leading its closest rival by 5 ratings points.

Family Feud edged up 3% to a new series high 7.6 and outperformed the game shows for the 37th consecutive week.

In off-net syndication, sitcom leader Big Bang Theory exploded with an 80% to a new season high 7.2. Family Guy rocketed 267% to a new season high 3.3, taking second place; and Modern Family climbed 7% to a new season high 3.1, landing it in third.

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

• Dr. Phil (1.4, +17% from the week before)
• Ellen DeGeneres (1.3, +30%)
• Live with Kelly (1.2, -8%)
• Maury (1.1, -8%)
• Wendy Williams (1.0, +25%)
• Steve Wilkos (0.9, 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) 3.2 +14%

2. Ellen DeGeneres (WBDTD) 2.5 +25%

2. Live with Kelly (Disney-ABC) 2.5 -4%

4. Maury (NBCU) 1.7 NC

5. Rachael Ray (CTD) 1.6 +7%

6. Steve Harvey (NBCU) 1.5 -6%

6. Wendy Williams (Debmar-Mercury) 1.5 +25%

8. Steve Wilkos (NBCU) 1.4 NC

8. Jerry Springer (NBCU) 1.4 NC

10. Dr. Oz (Sony) 1.3 +8%

11. Crime Watch Daily with Chris Hansen (WBDTD) 1.0 -9%

12. The Real (WBDTD) 0.8 NC

12. The Doctors (CTD) 0.8 -11%

DAYTIME ROOKIE SHOWS

1. Harry (NBCU) 1.0 -9%

COURT SHOWS

1. Judge Judy (CTD) 7.4 +9%

2. Hot Bench (CTD) 2.4 -4%

3. People’s Court (WBDTD) 1.8 NC

4. Judge Mathis (WBDTD) 1.4 NC

5. Divorce Court (Twentieth) 1.2* +9%

6. Judge Faith (Trifecta) 0.9 +13%

GAME SHOWS

1. Family Feud (Debmar-Mercury/FMNA) 7.6* +3%

2. Wheel of Fortune (CTD) 7.1* +15%

3. Jeopardy (CTD) 6.7* +12%

4. Who Wants to Be a Millionaire (Disney-ABC) 1.8* +6%

5. Celebrity Name Game (Debmar-Mercury/FMNA) 1.4 +8%

INTERNET VIDEO

1. Right This Minute (Disney-ABC) 1.5 -6%

MAGAZINE SHOWS

1. Entertainment Tonight (CTD) 3.7* +9%

2. Inside Edition (CTD) 3.2* +14%

3. TMZ (WBDTD) 1.8* +20%

4. Access Hollywood (NBCU) 1.5 +7%

5. Extra (WBDTD) 1.3 NC

5. The Insider (CTD) 1.3 +18%

7. Dish Nation (Twentieth) 0.8 +14%

8. Celebrity Page (Trifecta) 0.3 -25%

OFF-NET SITCOMS

1. Big Bang Theory (WBDTD) 7.2* +80%

2. Family Guy (Twentieth) 3.3* +267%

3. Modern Family (Twentieth) 3.1* +7%

4. Two and a Half Men (WBDTD) 2.6 +4%

5. Two Broke Girls (WBDTD) 2.3* +77%

6. Mike and Molly (WBDTD) 2.1* +5%

7. Last Man Standing (Twentieth) 1.9 NC

8. The Middle (WBDTD) 1.5* +67%

9. How I Met Your Mother (Twentieth) 1.4 -13%

OFF-NET WEEKLY HOUR DRAMAS

1. Law & Order: SVU (NBCU) 4.3 -2%

2. Blue Bloods (CTD) 2.2* +16%

3. American Ninja Warrior (NBCU) 1.8* +13%

4. Castle (Disney-ABC) 1.6 +33%

5. CSI Miami (CTD) 1.5 -6%

6. Major Crimes (WBDTD) 1.4* +17%