Added to the start of vacation season were preemptions for sports and scandal, all of which depressed Dr. Phil, which shared the talk crown with Live and Maury in the week ending June 19.
WEEKLY SYNDICATED RATINGS ROUNDUP
Talkers In 3-Way Tie As Summer Sag Starts
Syndication ratings were in a state of upheaval in the week ending June 19 as the summer vacation season got underway. Moreover, some daytime shows were preempted by the U.S. Open golf tournament and news coverage of Congressman Anthony Weiner’s resignation after getting caught in a sex scandal.
Talk Shows
There was a three-way tie for first place among the talk shows at a 2.3 in the household ratings between Dr. Phil (CTD), Live with Regis and Kelly (Disney-ABC) and Maury (NBCU). Phil, which has led the talkers since Oprah (CTD) went out of production, did not air in a slew of markets due to the U.S. Open and slipped 15% from the week before. Live fell 4%, while Maury rose 5% (the first-place tie was the first time in Maury‘s 13 seasons that the show hit that milestone
In fourth place, the repeat-only Oprah sank to a new all-time series low after losing 16% to a 2.1. Dr. Oz (Sony) tumbled 10% to a new season low 1.9; and Ellen DeGeneres (WBDTD) remained at its season low 1.6 for a second straight week.
Court Shows
Courtroom queen Judge Judy (CTD) continued to be the highest-rated show of any type in syndication despite taking a 4% breather from the prior session to a 6.6. Judge Joe Brown (CTD) was second among court shows, holding steady with a 2.6; People’s Court (WBDTD) picked up 6% to a 1.9; Judge Alex (Twentieth) skidded 12% to a 1.5; and Judge Mathis (WBDTD) was flat at a 1.5.
BRAND CONNECTIONS
First-Run Freshmen
Swift Justice with Nancy Grace (CTD) was the top rated newcomer for the 40th consecutive week, holding firm at a 1.6. Don’t Forget the Lyrics (Twentieth) lost 11% to a 0.8 and landed in a tie with Judge Karen’s Court (Litton), which jumped 14% to a 0.8.
Oprah-spinoff Nate Berkus (Sony) sank into fourth place for the first time after eroding 22% to a new series low 0.7, and America’s Court with Judge Ross (Entertainment Studios) was unchanged at a 0.3.
Game Shows
Among game shows, leader Wheel of Fortune (CTD) was flat at a 5.9; Jeopardy (CTD) ticked up 2% from the prior frame to a 5.1; Family Feud (Debmar-Mercury) gained 9% to a 2.5; Who Wants to be a Millionaire (Disney-ABC) dropped 4% to a 2.2; and Are You Smarter Than a 5th Grader? (Twentieth) was flat at a 1.1.
Magazine Shows
At the top of the magazine rack, Entertainment Tonight (CTD) dipped 3% from the previous week to a 3.4. Inside Edition (CTD) declined 4% to a 2.7; TMZ (WBDTD) was unchanged at a 2.0; Access Hollywood (NBCU) eased 6% to a 1.7; The Insider (CTD) was off 7% to a new season low 1.4 after being preempted in several large markets; and Extra (WBDTD), which was preempted 20 times — mainly due to the Stanley Cup hockey finals — also was down 7% to a new season low 1.4, although its Extra Weekend was still up 25% from last year to a 1.0.
Off-Net Sitcoms
Off-net sitcoms were mostly higher. Two and a Half Men (WBDTD) picked up 5% to a 6.1; Family Guy (Twentieth) inched ahead 2% to a 4.5; My Wife and Kids (Disney-ABC) grew 6% to a 3.4; George Lopez Show (WBDTD) weakened 4% to a 2.7; while Seinfeld (Sony) and Everybody Loves Raymond (CTD) were up 8% and 4%, respectively, to tie Lopez at a 2.7.
Off-Net Weekly Hours
Law & Order: Criminal Intent (NBCU) continued to pace the off-net weekly hours with a 9% leap to a new season high 4.7. Criminal Minds (CTD) was far back with a second-place 2.8 after sliding 10% from the week before. Monk (NBCU) added 4% to a 2.6; Without a Trace (WBDTD) improved 9% to a 2.5; while The Closer (WBDTD) softened 8% to a 2.2.
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