Talk Shows Top Genre For Ratings Gains

Judge Judy scored a milestone 30 consecutive weeks at the very top of the overall syndication list in the session ending Oct. 19, presiding with a 6.9 rating. In addition, Hot Bench, which was created by Judge Judy Sheindlin, ruled the closely watched newcomers to first-run syndication for the fifth week in a row, maintaining its season-high 1.5.

Meredith Vieira and Celebrity Name Game tied for second, holding steady at a 1.2. In fourth place, The Real remained at a 1.0, while Judge Faith was up 14% to a new season high 0.8.

In terms of total audience, Hot Bench was easily highest, scoring an average 2.078 million viewers, its strongest showing yet. Celebrity Name Game drew 1.686 million; Meredith snatched 1.523 million; The Real had 1.335 million; while Judge Faith averaged 999,000.

Among women 25-54, Celebrity Name Game surged 50% from the week before to a 0.9 demo rating. Hot Bench maintained its 0.8, tying The Real, which moved back up a tenth to a 0.8. Meredith spiked 16% to a new series high 0.7 demo rating; and Judge Faith jumped 33% to a new series high 0.4.

Veteran takers also made noise, with every one of the top dozen shows either moving up or at least holding steady with the week before.

Dr. Phil was no. 1 for a seventh straight week, matching its season-high 3.2, while climbing 3% from the previous frame and growing 7% from last year at this time. Phil also finished first in the key women 25-54 demo.

Live with Kelly & Michael, the second highest rated talk show, improved 4% from last year. Third-place Ellen DeGeneres was up 8% week to week and 4% from last year to a 2.6.

Other significant gainers included:

• Steve Harvey, which advanced 6% for the week and 12 year to year to a 1.9.
• Wendy Williams, which gained 13% to a new series high 1.8 and improved 29% from last year.
• Steve Wilkos, which surged 7% week to week and 25% from last year to a 1.5.
• Rachael Ray, which rallied 8% to a 1.4.
• Queen Latifah, which leaped 10% to a 1.1.

Dish Nation had a big increase among the entertainment magazines, growing 22% to a 1.1 from the week before. Access Hollywood spiked 6% to a 1.8, its highest rating in five weeks. Entertainment Tonight continued to lead all magazines, climbing 3% to a 3.3.

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

• Dr. Phil (1.6, +6% from the week before)
• Ellen DeGeneres (1.5, +7%)
• Live with Kelly & Michael (1.4, unchanged)
• Maury (1.3, unchanged)
• Wendy Williams (1.2, +9%)
• Steve Wilkos (1.0, +11%)
• Steve Harvey (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 +3%

2. Live with Kelly & Michael (Disney-ABC) 2.8 NC

3. Ellen DeGeneres (WBDTD) 2.6 +8%

4. Maury (NBCU) 2.0 NC

5. Steve Harvey (NBCU) 1.9 +6%

6. Wendy Williams (Debmar-Mercury) 1.8* +13%

7. Steve Wilkos (NBCU) 1.5 +7%

8. Dr. Oz (Sony) 1.4 NC

8. Rachael Ray (CTD) 1.4 +8%

10. Jerry Springer (NBCU) 1.2 NC

11. Queen Latifah (Sony) 1.1 +10%

12. The Doctors (CTD) 1.0 NC

13. The Better Show (Meredith) 0.1 -50%

ROOKIES

1. Hot Bench (CTD) 1.5 NC

2. Meredith Vieira (NBCU) 1.2 NC

2. Celebrity Name Game (Debmar-Mercury) 1.2 NC

4. The Real (WBDTD) 1.0 NC

5. Judge Faith (Trifecta) 0.8* +14%

INTERNET VIDEO

1. Right This Minute (MGM) 1.6 NC

COURT SHOWS

1. Judge Judy (CTD) 6.9 -1%

2. People’s Court (WBDTD) 1.7 NC

3. Divorce Court (Twentieth) 1.5 NC

4. Judge Mathis (WBDTD) 1.4 +8%

5. Paternity Court (Orion Television) 1.2 NC

MAGAZINE SHOWS

1. Entertainment Tonight (CTD) 3.3 +3%

2. Inside Edition (CTD) 2.9 +4%

3. TMZ (WBDTD) 2.0 +5%

4. Access Hollywood (NBCU) 1.8 +6%

5. Extra (WBDTD) 1.5 NC

6. The Insider (CTD) 1.2 NC

7. Dish Nation (Twentieth) 1.1 +22%

8. OK! TV (Trifecta) 0.3 +50%

GAME SHOWS

1. Wheel of Fortune (CTD) 6.4 NC

2. Jeopardy (CTD) 6.1 -2%

2. Family Feud (Debmar-Mercury) 6.1* +5%

4. Who Wants to Be a Millionaire (Disney-ABC) 2.0 +5%

5. Celebrity Name Game (Debmar-Mercury) 1.2 NC

OFF-NET SITCOMS

1. Big Bang Theory (WBDTD) 5.8 +2%

2. Modern Family (Twentieth) 3.9 +8%

3. Two and a Half Men (WBDTD) 3.2 +7%

4. Family Guy (Twentieth) 2.3** -4%

4. How I Met Your Mother (Twentieth) 2.3 NC

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

7. The Cleveland Show (Twentieth) 1.8 NC

8. Seinfeld (Sony) 1.7 -6%

8. The Middle (WBDTD) 1.7 +6%

10. King of the Hill (Twentieth) 1.6 NC

OFF-NET WEEKLY HOURS

1. Law & Order: Criminal Intent (NBCU) 3.8 -17%

2. Law & Order: SVU (NBCU) 3.7 -3%

3. Blue Bloods (CTD) 2.6* +24%

4. Castle (Disney-ABC) 2.2* +16%

5. The Good Wife (CTD) 1.7 NC

6. Scandal (Disney-ABC) 1.6 -6%