‘TMZ’ Turns Up The Heat, ‘Katie’ Strong Too

Ratings for Katie (Disney-ABC) were up sharply in the week ending Oct. 14 as the closely watched newcomer widened its lead in the freshmen talk show race. Trisha (NBCU), another rookie, also turned in an upbeat performance, while TMZ (WBDTD) was the standout among the magazines.

First-Run Freshmen

Katie had its strongest performance since its premiere week, surging 12% from the previous frame to a 1.9. Katie’s week got off to a spectacular start as its ratings spiked 35% on Oct. 8 from the prior week to a 2.3., a new series record, for a show featuring TLC’s “Long Island Medium” Theresa Caputo.

Steve Harvey (NBCU) was a solid second with a 1.3 in households and an 11% increase among women 25-54. Jeff Probst (CTD) gave back its gains from the prior session, dipping a tenth of a rating point, or 13%, to a 0.7 and tying The Ricki Lake Show (Twentieth), which was flat at a 0.7. However, Probst attracted 103,000 more viewers per show than Ricki.

Trisha, which is cleared on mostly lower rated independent and CW stations, jumped 25% to a 0.5, matching its best number to date.

In latenight, dating show Excused (CTD) also had a big week, leaping 25% to a 0.5.

Talk Shows

Dr. Phil (CTD) was the top talker overall for the fifth week in a row, despite easing 7% to a 2.8, which was even with last year’s score. Phil was also No. 1 as usual in the key women 25-54 demo with a 1.6, which was steady week to week and a 7% improvement over last year.

Live with Kelly and Michael (Disney-ABC) was once again the best of the rest, holding firm at a 2.6 and rising 4% from last year. Ellen (WBDTD) continued to be on track for its biggest season yet, growing4%, both week to week and year to year, to a 2.4, and tying Dr. Oz (Sony) at a 2.4.

Oz was up 4% for the week, but down 14% from last year at this time. Conflict talker Maury (NBCU) was flat at a fifth-place 2.2, although still up 5% from last year.

Court Shows

Judge Judy (CTD) continued to dominate the court shows and was the top-rated show in all of syndication for the third straight week with a 6.7, which was unchanged from the prior session and up 3% from last year.

Judge Joe Brown (CTD), the No. 2 courtroom, was steady at a 2.4; People’s Court (WBDTD) picked up 5% to a 2.0; and Judge Mathis (WBDTD) added 7% to a 1.6.

Magazine Shows

While most magazines were hit with preemptions for baseball playoff games during the week and the vice presidential debate on Oct. 11, TMZ turned in a hot performance anyway. The show was the only mag to increase from the week before, up 6% to a 1.9. In addition, it soared 36% from last year at this time.

Leader Entertainment Tonight (CTD) remained at a 3.7; Inside Edition (CTD) eroded 3% to a 2.9; Access Hollywood (NBCU) yielded 6% to a 1.6; The Insider (CTD) was steady at a 1.5; and Extra (WBDTD), which did not air on one or more occasions in 15 different markets during the week, was off 7% to a 1.4. Newcomer Dish Nation (Twentieth) posted an unchanged 0.9.

Game Shows

Among game shows, Wheel of Fortune (CTD) upticked 2% from the week before to a 6.5 and finished second on the overall syndication chart to Judge Judy.

Jeopardy (CTD) climbed 4% to a 5.8; Family Feud (Debmar-Mercury) picked up 2% to a 4.2; Who Wants to Be a Millionaire (Disney-ABC) was unchanged at a 2.1; while Baggage (GSN) dropped 9% to a 1.0 in its fourth week.

Off-Net Sitcoms

Off-net sitcom topper Big Bang Theory (WBDTD) faded 15% week to week to a 5.6; Two and a Half Men (WBDTD) fell 2% to a 4.7; Family Guy (Twentieth) weakened 9% to a 3.1; while How I Met Your Mother (Twentieth) rose 4% to a 2.5.

Off-Net Weekly Hours

The off-net weekly were led by Law & Order (NBCU), which gained 7% from the week before to a 2.9. House (NBCU) was on fire with an 18% spike to a 2.6, tying CSI: Miami (CTD), which warned up 4% to a 2.6. On the other hand, Criminal Minds (CTD) cooled off 11% and slipped to a 2.4.