Viewers Give Syndies Post-Holiday Rebound

Syndication ratings bounced back in the week ending April 15 as viewers returned after the Easter and Passover holidays.

Talk Shows

Among the closely watched veteran talkers, Dr. Phil (CTD) was the standout, scoring the largest increase from the week before and leading the category for the 24th time this season. Phil surged 11% week to week and 15% year to year to a 3.0, its highest rating in seven weeks.

Live with Kelly (Disney-ABC) added 8% to a 2.6; Dr. Oz (Sony) also recovered 8% to a 2.6 after falling to a new season low in the prior session; Maury (NBCU) picked up 10% to a fourth-place 2.3 and nudged ahead of Ellen DeGeneres (WBDTD), which inched up 5% to a 2.2. Next in line was The Doctors (CTD), which grew 7% to a 1.6.

First-Run Freshmen

Rookie champ Anderson (WBDTD) was on fire, clocking the biggest improvement of any strip in syndication, with a 17% leap to a 1.4. In addition, Anderson soared 67% among women 18-34. Jeremy Kyle (Debmar-Mercury) sank 17% to a 0.5; while We the People with Gloria Allred (Entertainment Studios) was flat at a 0.4.

Excused (CTD), the new latenight dating show, held steady at a 0.6 and was renewed for a second season.

Court Shows

Judge Judy (CTD) jumped 6% to a 6.7, topping the court shows, and finishing as the highest-rated first-run show of any type. Judge Joe Brown (CTD) was unchanged at a 2.6; People’s Court (WBDTD) dropped 5% to a 1.9; while Judge Alex (Twentieth) and Judge Mathis (WBDTD) were flat at a 1.4.

Magazine Shows

Magazines were mostly higher with leader Entertainment Tonight (CTD) climbing 3% from the week before to a 3.5. Inside Edition (CTD) was also up 3%, to a 3.0; TMZ (WBDTD) tacked on 5% to a 2.0; Access Hollywood (NBCU) strengthened 6% to a 1.9 in households, its highest rating in four weeks, and shot up 20% in the women 18-34 demo; Extra (WBDTD) spiked 7% to a 1.6 and had the largest year-to-year increase of any magazine with growth of 7%; while The Insider (CTD) held steady at a 1.5.

Game Shows

Wheel of Fortune (CTD) ruled the games with a 3% gain to a 6.6 and was second only to Judge Judy in first run. Jeopardy (CTD) was unchanged at a 5.5; Family Feud (Debmar-Mercury) was flat at a 2.9; while Who Wants to Be a Millionaire (Disney-ABC) saw its ratings appreciate 4% to a 2.6.

Off-Net Sitcoms

In off-net syndication, sitcom standard-bearer Big Bang Theory (WBDTD) was up 3% to a 7.1. Two and a Half Men (WBDTD) advanced 5% to a 5.8; Family Guy (Twentieth) picked up 8% to a 4.3; How I Met Your Mother (Twentieth) tumbled 7% to a new season low 2.7; while Seinfeld (Sony) and Everybody Loves Raymond (CTD) remained at steady with 2.4s.

Freshmen 30 Rock (NBCU) slipped 8% to a 1.2 in late fringe; It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia (Twentieth) was unchanged at a 1.2; while Till Death (Sony) declined 17% to a 0.5.

Off-Net Weekly Hours

The off-net weekly hours were anything but weak. Criminal Minds (CTD) topped the list with a 14% spurt to a 3.2. Law & Order (NBCU) rallied 4% to a 2.8 and Monk (NBCU) was right behind, moving up 13% to a 2.7. Without a Trace (WBDTD) leaped 20% to a 2.4; and The Closer (WBDTD) was up 10% to a 2.3.