Syndies Strong In Run-Up To Sweeps

Ratings for most syndicated shows were steady to higher in the final week before the November sweep despite some preemptions for the World Series and breaking news coverage of the death of deposed Libyan leader Moammar Gadhafi.

Magazine Shows

The week ending Oct. 23 was the second straight strong performance for the majority of magazines with topper Entertainment Tonight (CTD) hitting its highest rating in 22 weeks after a 3% increase to a 3.9. Inside Edition (CTD) added 7% to a 3.2; Access Hollywood (NBCU) surged 13% to a 1.8; TMZ (WBDTD) recovered from a 22% plunge in the prior session with a 29% gain to a 1.8; The Insider (CTD) gave back 6% to a 1.6; while Extra (WBDTD) held steady at a 1.5 and saw double-digit increases in every key female demo despite numerous large-market baseball preemptions.

Talk Shows

In daytime talk, Dr. Phil (CTD) was No. 1 for the fifth time in six weeks, including one tie, holding steady at a 2.8. Live with Regis and Kelly (Disney-ABC) picked up 4% to a 2.6 as it neared the end of co-host’s Regis Philbin’s long run. Dr. Oz (Sony) sank 7% to a 2.6, its lowest rating in 8 weeks; Maury (NBCU) was up 10% to a 2.3; while Ellen DeGeneres (WBDTD) faded 4% to a 2.2.

Freshmen Shows

Top newcomer Anderson (WBDTD), which was preempted several times by World Series games, still improved 8% to a 1.4, matching its highest rating of the season. We the People with Gloria Allred (Entertainment Studios) was flat at a 0.5, while Jeremy Kyle (Debmar) rebounded 25% to a 0.5 following its 20% loss in the prior session. Excused (CTD), a new dating show in latenight, slipped 17% to a 0.5.

New off-net sitcom Big Bang Theory (WBDTD), fueled in part by a big jump in its TBS cable rating, rebounded 31% from the week before to a 5.1. 30 Rock (NBCU) rocketed 27% to a 1.4 even though it airs in mostly lower rated late fringe time periods; It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia (Twentieth) was flat at a 1.2, while Till Death (Sony) was unchanged at a 0.6.

Veteran Off-Net Sitcoms

Among the veteran off-net sitcoms, Two and a Half Men (WBDTD) tacked on 7% to a 6.0. Family Guy (Twentieth) grew 9% to a 3.8; How I Met Your Mother (Twentieth) inched up 3% to a 3.2; while Seinfeld (Sony) and Friends (WBDTD) both advanced 9% to a 2.4.

Court Shows

Judge Judy (CTD) continued to preside over the court shows, climbing 3% in households to 6.7, and 15% in women 18-34. No.2 courtroom Judge Joe Brown (CTD) shot up 13% week to week and 42% year to year to a 2.7; People’s Court (WBDTD) picked up 5% to a 2.0; Judge Mathis (WBDTD) rose 7% to a 1.6; Judge Alex (Twentieth) was up 14% to a 1.6; Swift Justice (CTD) jumped 8% to a 1.4, its highest rating since Jackie Glass took over the bench from Nancy Grace; and Divorce Court (Twentieth) was unchanged at a 1.4.

Game Shows

Among game shows, Wheel of Fortune (CTD) upticked 4% from the week before to a 7.0; Jeopardy (CTD) finished 5% ahead with a 5.9; Family Feud (Debmar-Mercury) gained 8% to a 2.8; while Who Wants to Be a Millionaire (Disney-ABC) was flat at a 2.5.

Off-Net Weekly Hours

Law & Order (NBCU) regained sole possession of first place among the off-net weekly hours with an unchanged 3.1. Criminal Minds (CTD), which had been tied for the lead in the previous frame, sank 10% to a 2.8. Monk (NBCU) and The Closer (WBDTD) each grew 9% to a 2.4; while Without a Trace (WBDTD) saw 5% of its ratings vanish, leaving it at a 2.1.