Talk Shows Start Off Sweep With Gains

Talk shows were the hottest group syndication in the session ending Oct. 30, which included the first two days of the November sweep (Oct. 27-Nov. 23.). Four of the top five talkers moved up, led by Dr. Phil, which ruled the category for the eighth week in a row.

Widening its lead, Phil jumped 6% to a 3.5 live-plus-same-day national Nielsen rating, its second-highest number of the season. In addition, Phil easily topped the talkers among women 25-54 with a 1.6 in the key demo.

Also performing strongly, Live with Kelly matched its season high with a 4% spike to a 2.5. Ellen DeGeneres was unchanged at a 2.3, but Steve Harvey grew 6% to a 1.7 and Maury gained 7% to a 1.6.

In other notable moves, newcomer Harry rose 8% to a 1.3 in its seventh week, despite being preempted by the World Series for three days in Los Angeles, among other cities.

On the magazine rack, Extra caught TMZ for the first time in more than two years as Extra held steady at a 1.3 and TMZ slipped 13% to a new season low 1.3.

Entertainment Tonight climbed 3% to a 3.3 and finished first in the category for the 13^th consecutive week. The only other magazine moving up was The Insider, which raced ahead 9% to a 1.2.

At the top of the chart, Judge Judy advanced 1% to a 7.0 and was the No. 1 show in syndication overall for the 13^th straight week.

Coming in second overall was game show leader Family Feud, which added 5% to a new season high 6.8.

Also worthy of mention, Judge Judy’s creation Hot Bench surged 9% to a 2.4, the fourth-highest rating in daytime.

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

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

• Ellen DeGeneres (1.2, unchanged), tied with Live with Kelly (1.2, unchanged)

• Maury (1.0, unchanged)

• Wendy Williams (0.9, unchanged), tied with Steve Wilkos (0.9, +13%)

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 +6%

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

3. Ellen DeGeneres (WBDTD) 2.3 NC

4. Steve Harvey (NBCU) 1.7 +6%

5. Maury (NBCU) 1.6 +7%

6. Wendy Williams (Debmar-Mercury) 1.5 NC

7. Rachael Ray (CTD) 1.4* +8%

8. Dr. Oz (Sony)  1.3 +8%

8. Steve Wilkos (NBCU) 1.3 +8%

10. Jerry Springer (NBCU) 1.2 -8%

11. Crime Watch Daily with Chris Hansen (WBDTD) 1.0 NC

12. The Real (WBDTD) 0.9 +13%

13. The Doctors (CTD) 0.8 NC

DAYTIME ROOKIE SHOWS

1. Harry (NBCU) 1.3 +8%

COURT SHOWS

1. Judge Judy (CTD) 7.0 +1%

2. Hot Bench (CTD) 2.4 +9%

3. People’s Court (WBDTD) 1.6 +7%

4. Judge Mathis (WBDTD) 1.3 NC

5. Divorce Court (Twentieth) 1.0 NC

6. Judge Faith (Trifecta) 0.8 +14%

GAME SHOWS

1. Family Feud (Debmar-Mercury/FMNA) 6.8* +5%

2. Wheel of Fortune (CTD) 6.1 +2%

3. Jeopardy (CTD) 5.7 NC

4. Who Wants to Be a Millionaire (Disney-ABC) 1.6 NC

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

INTERNET VIDEO

1. Right This Minute (Disney-ABC) 1.4 -7%

MAGAZINE SHOWS

1. Entertainment Tonight (CTD) 3.3 +3%

2. Inside Edition (CTD) 2.8 NC

3. Access Hollywood (NBCU) 1.4 -7%

4. TMZ (WBDTD) 1.3** -13%

4. Extra (WBDTD) 1.3 NC

6. The Insider (CTD) 1.2 +9%

7. Dish Nation (Twentieth) 0.7 NC

8. Celebrity Page (Trifecta) 0.3 NC

OFF-NET SITCOMS

1. Big Bang Theory (WBDTD) 4.7** -8%

2. Modern Family (Twentieth) 2.7 -7%

3. Two and a Half Men (WBDTD) 2.3 NC

4. Family Guy (Twentieth) 1.9 NC

5. Mike and Molly (WBDTD) 1.8 +6%

6. Two Broke Girls (WBDTD) 1.6 NC

7. Last Man Standing (Twentieth) 1.5 NC

8. The Cleveland Show (Twentieth) 1.3 -7%

8. How I Met Your Mother (Twentieth) 1.3 +8%

8. King of the Hill (Twentieth) 1.3 NC

OFF-NET WEEKLY HOUR DRAMAS

1. Law & Order: SVU (NBCU) 4.4 +5%

2. Blue Bloods (CTD) 1.7** -11%

3. CSI Miami (CTD) 1.4 NC

4. Castle (Disney-ABC) 1.3 -7%

4. American Ninja (NBCU) 1.3 -7%

6. Person of Interest (WBDTD) 1.0 -9%

6. Rizzoli & Isles (WBDTD) 1.0 -9%

6. Elementary (CTD) 1.0 -9%

6. Marvel’s Agents of SHIELD (Disney-ABC) 1.0 -9%

6. Major Crimes (WBDTD) 1.0 -9%

6. Scandal (Disney-ABC) 1.0 -9%