Talk Shows Triumph in February Sweep

The results of the February sweep (Feb. 3-March 2) are in and talk shows were among the top performers, although comparisons to last year at this time are difficult due to the  Vancouver Olympics that aired in February 2010. The Winter Games caused massive preemptions, in some cases crushing the ratings for some shows while inflating the numbers for others.

Compared to the November 2010 sweep, the most recent survey period, six talkers were up. The soon-to-conclude Oprah (CTD) held onto the lead in its final February in syndication with a 5.6 sweep average, which was unchanged from last November.

Second-place Dr. Phil (CTD) grew 3% to a 3.1. The last February sweep for Regis Philbin on Live with Regis and Kelly (Disney-ABC) was a strong one as the show gained 12% to a 2.8; Dr. Oz (Sony) was flat at a 2.4, tying Ellen DeGeneres (WBDTD), which edged up 4% to a 2.4; Maury (NBCU) perked up 5% to a 2.1; The Doctors (CTD) jumped 6% to a 1.9 and spiked 22% among women 25-54; Rachael Ray (CTD) rose 6% to a 1.7 with a 14% increase among women 18-49; while Jerry Springer (NBCU), Steve Wilkos Show (NBCU) and Wendy Williams (Debmar-Mercury) were all flat at 1.4, 1.4 and 1.1, respectively.

Court Shows

Judge Judy (CTD) dominated the courtrooms with a 5% improvement over the November sweep to a 4.6 average. That represented a 130% ratings advantage over its closest court show rival, Judge Joe Brown (CTD), which held steady at a 2.0. People’s Court (WBDTD) was unchanged at a 1.9; Judge Mathis (WBDTD) rose 6% to a 1.7; Judge Alex (Twentieth) and Divorce Court (Twentieth) were flat at 1.3s; while Judge Jeanine Piero (WBDTD) finished last with a 1.0, which was up 11%.

First-Run Freshmen

Swift Justice with Nancy Grace (CTD) made it 25 straight weeks as the top newcomer and was the only nationally rated rookie to improve in February, climbing 8% to a 1.4 in households and advancing 14% among women 25-54. Nate Berkus (Sony) was flat at a 1.0; Don’t Forget the Lyrics (Twentieth) sank 11% to a 0.8; Judge Karen’s Court (Litton) was unchanged at a 0.6; and America’s Court with Judge Ross (Entertainment Studios) tumbled 25% to a 0.3.

Slow rollout Access Hollywood Live (NBCU) continued to improve, scoring a 1.1 rating/4 share in its 13 metered markets for the sweep. That was up 10% in households over its November 2010 time periods and up 20% among women 18-49.

Game Shows

Jeopardy (CTD) was the big winner among game shows thanks in large part to an appearance by Watson, the IBM supercomputer, scoring a 16% gain over November to a 6.7 average. Wheel of Fortune (CTD), the top game, was up 8% to a 7.8; Who Wants to be a Millionaire (Disney-ABC) added 5% to a 2.3; Family Feud (Debmar-Mercury) picked up 6% to a 1.7; and Are You Smarter Than a 5^th Grader? (Twentieth) fell 10% to a 0.9.

Magazine Shows

Entertainment Tonight (CTD) won the magazine race for the 82^nd consecutive sweep, despite easing 2% from last November to a 4.1 average. Companion Entertainment Tonight Weekend ballooned 22% to a 2.2. Inside Edition (CTD) moved ahead 10% to a 3.2; TMZ (WBDTD) was up 17% to a 2.1; Access Hollywood (NBCU) improved 5% to a 2.0; while The Insider (CTD) and Extra (WBDTD) held steady at 1.8 and 1.7, respectively.

Off-Net Sitcoms

Two and a Half Men (WBDTD) with Charlie Sheen was the top off-net sitcom, winning a 6% average rating, which was up 5% from November 2010. Family Guy (Twentieth) surged 25% to a 4.0; Everybody Loves Raymond (CTD) and My Wife and Kids (Disney-ABC) were each down 4% to 2.7 and 2.6, respectively, while Seinfeld (Sony) added 4% to a 2.6.

Off-Net Weekly Hours

Among weekly hours, Criminal Minds (CTD) topped the category, gaining 3% from last November to a 3.1. Law & Order: Criminal Intent (NBCU) jumped 17% to a 2.8; Monk (NBCU) lost 4% to a 2.2 and landed in a tie with Numbers (CTD), which was unchanged at a 2.2; Without a Trace (WBDTD) erased 9% of its ratings to a 2.1 and finished in a tie with Bones (Twentieth), which was flat at a 2.1.