‘Wheel’ Tops The Chart In A Slow Week

Ratings for most syndicated shows were slightly lower in the first week of spring, the week ending March 25, as near-record warm temperatures in parts of the country kept many viewers outdoors.

In addition, Daylight Saving Time and preemptions for March Madness basketball continued to be formidable obstacles.

Magazine Shows

The show with the biggest increase in access by far was The Insider (CTD), which jumped 13% from the week before to a 1.7 in households, and 14% in the women 18-49 demo. The Insider benefited from extensive coverage of Rosie O’Donnell’s cancellation only five months into her two-year contract with OWN.

Leader Entertainment Tonight (CTD) held steady at a 3.7; Inside Edition (CTD) inched up 4% from its season low in the prior frame to a 2.8; TMZ (WBDTD) lost 5% to a 2.0; Access Hollywood (NBCU) gave back 10% to a 1.9 after a big week in the previous session; while Extra (WBDTD), which was preempted 16 times during the week, still held firm at a 1.6.

Game Shows

Among game shows, Wheel of Fortune (CTD) slid 1% from the previous week to a 6.8, but that was still good enough to make it the week’s highest-rated show; Jeopardy (CTD) fell 2% to a 5.3; Family Feud (Debmar-Mercury) upticked 4% to a 2.9; while Who Wants to Be a Millionaire (Disney-ABC) was flat at a 2.4.

Talk Shows

In daytime, the only top-tier talkers to improve were Dr. Oz (Sony), Rachael Ray (CTD) and The Doctors (CTD). Oz added 8% to a 2.8 to lead the talkers, while an all-repeat week of season-to-date talk leader Dr. Phil (CTD) got hit with numerous March Madness preemptions in big markets like Los Angeles and slipped 4% to a new season low 2.5.

Live with Kelly (Disney-ABC) also dropped to a new season low, losing 4% to a 2.4; Ellen DeGeneres (WBDTD) was unchanged at a 2.3; Maury (NBCU) declined 4% to a 2.2; Rachael Ray (CTD) and The Doctors (CTD) both bucked the downtrend and rose 7% to  1.5.

First-Run Freshmen

Rookie champion Anderson (WBDTD), which was preempted 10 times during the week, dipped 7% to a 1.3. Jeremy Kyle (Debmar-Mercury) was flat at a 0.6, while We the People with Gloria Allred (Entertainment Studios) gained 25% to a 0.5. In latenight, new dating show Excused (CTD) held steady at a 0.7.

Court Shows

Judge Judy (CTD) grew 3% in households to a 6.5, and 10% among women 18-34, to lead the court shows for the 810^th consecutive week with a rating higher than the next three courtrooms combined.

Judge Joe Brown (CTD) remained at a 2.6; People’s Court (WBDTD) weakened 5% to a 1.9; Judge Alex (Twentieth) was unchanged at a 1.6; while Judge Mathis (WBDTD) faded 6% to a 1.5.

Off-Net Sitcoms

Among off-net sitcoms, newcomer Big Bang Theory (WBDTD) recovered 2% to a 6.7 after slumping in the prior session. Veteran Two and a Half Men (WBDTD) remained at a 5.8; Family Guy (Twentieth) advanced 5% to a 4.0; How I Met Your Mother (Twentieth) softened 3% to a 2.9; Seinfeld (Sony) improved 9% to a 2.5; while Everybody Loves Raymond (CTD) was unchanged at a 2.3.

30 Rock (NBCU) was the highest rated freshman after Big Bang with a steady 1.3 in mostly latenight spots. It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia (Twentieth) was flat at a 1.2, and Till Death (Sony) recovered 20% to a 0.6.

Off-Net Weekly Hours

Law & Order (NBCU)  leaped 12% to a 2.9 and took over the lead among off-net weekly hours. Monk (NBCU) moved 7% lower to a 2.7, tying the unchanged Criminal Minds (CTD). The Closer (WBDTD) climbed 14% to a 2.5, while Without a Trace (WBDTD) was flat at a 2.4 and Cold Case (WBDTD) cooled off 12% to a 2.3.