World Cup, Reruns Hold Down Syndie Viewing

Easing into the summer doldrums, most syndicated shows were flat to down in the week ending June 22, as reruns filled the air and many viewers were drawn to World Cup soccer action, including the dramatic USA-Ghana match on June 16.

For example, only two of the top 14 talk shows were up from the week before: Steve Harvey and Jerry Springer. Sophomore standout Harvey was especially hot, breaking into the top 5 for the first time ever with a 13% week-to-week gain and a 42% year-to-year surge, which was the great annual growth of any talker.

Live with Kelly & Michael finished first in talk for the second straight week, despite not being live at any point during the frame. Usual leader Dr. Phil was a tenth of a point behind in second place with almost all repeats, while third-place Ellen sank to a new season low for the third week in a row.

In access, most of the top-tier magazines came down to earth after a big week in the prior session. However, the weekly Entertainment Tonight Weekend surged 15%.

In the neck-and-neck game show race, Wheel of Fortune dropped to a new season low for the second straight week, but still finished a tenth ahead of challenger Jeopardy, which was flat. Family Feud posted gains both week to week (+4%) and year to year (+12%).

Judge Judy topped the overall syndication leader board for the 41st time in the past 44 weeks despite being completely in reruns.

The week’s top-rated daytime talk shows in the women 25-54 demo were:

• Live with Kelly & Michael (1.4, unchanged from the week before)
• Dr. Phil (1.2, unchanged)
• Maury (1.1, unchanged)
• Ellen (1.0, -17%), tied with Wendy Williams (1.0, -9%)
• Dr. Oz (0.9, -10%)
• Steve Harvey (0.8, +14%), tied with Steve Wilkos (0.8, unchanged)

In the household rating rankings that follow, % change is from the previous week; * indicates a new season high rating; ** indicates a new season low; NC indicates no change from the previous week; NA mean not applicable.

TALK SHOWS

1. Live with Kelly & Michael (Disney-ABC) 2.6 -4%

2. Dr. Phil (CTD) 2.5 NC

3. Ellen (WBDTD) 1.9** -10%

4. Maury (NBCU) 1.8 -5%

6. Steve Harvey (NBCU) 1.7 +13

5. Dr. Oz (Sony) 1.6 -6%

6. Wendy Williams (Debmar-Mercury) 1.5 NC

8. Katie (Disney-ABC) 1.3 NC

8. Steve Wilkos (NBCU) 1.3 NC

10. Jerry Springer (NBCU) 1.2 +9%

11. Rachael Ray (CTD) 1.1 NC

12. Queen Latifah (Sony) 1.0 NC

12. The Doctors (CTD) 1.0 NC

14. Bethenny (WBDTD) 0.6 NC

15. Arsenio (CTD) 0.5 -17%

15. The Test (CTD) 0.5 -17%

15. Trisha (NBCU) 0.5 +25%

18. The Better Show (Meredith) 0.2 NC

FRESHMEN TALKERS

1. Queen Latifah (Sony) 1.0 NC

2. Bethenny (WBDTD) 0.6 NC

3. Arsenio (CTD) 0.5 -17%

3. The Test (CTD) 0.5 -17%

COURT SHOWS

1. Judge Judy (CTD) 6.7 -6%

2. People’s Court (WBDTD) 1.9 NC

3. Divorce Court (Twentieth) 1.4 NC

3. Judge Mathis (WBDTD) 1.4 NC

5. Judge Alex (Twentieth) 1.3 NC

6. Paternity Court (Orion Television) 0.9 -10%

MAGAZINE SHOWS

1. Entertainment Tonight (CTD) 3.1 -6%

2. Inside Edition (CTD) 2.7 -4%

3. TMZ (WBDTD) 1.7 -6%

4. Access Hollywood (NBCU) 1.4 -7%

5. Extra (WBDTD) 1.2 -20%

5. The Insider (CTD) 1.2 -8%

7. Right This Minute (MGM) 1.0 NC

7. Dish Nation (Twentieth) 1.0 NC

9. America Now (Trifecta) 0.3 NC

9. OK! TV (Trifecta) 0.3 NC

GAME SHOWS

1. Wheel of Fortune (CTD) 5.9** -2%

2. Jeopardy (CTD) 5.8 NC

3. Family Feud (Debmar-Mercury) 4.8 +4%

4. Who Wants to Be a Millionaire (Disney-ABC) 2.0 NC

OFF-NET SITCOMS

1. Big Bang Theory (WBDTD) 5.7 NC

2. Modern Family (Twentieth) 3.4** -8%

3. Two and a Half Men (WBDTD) 3.2 NC

4. Family Guy (Twentieth) 3.0 +15%

5. How I Met Your Mother (Twentieth) 1.9 -5%

5. Seinfeld (Sony) 1.9 NC

7. The Cleveland Show (Twentieth) 1.8 -5%

7. Friends (WBDTD) 1.8 NC

9. King of the Hill (Twentieth) 1.6 NC

10. The Middle (WBDTD) 1.4 -13%

11. Rules of Engagement (Sony) 1.3 NC

OFF-NET WEEKLY HOURS

1. Law & Order: SVU (NBCU) 3.5 NC

2. Law & Order: Criminal Intent (NBCU) 2.9 -12%

3. House (NBCU) 2.4 -8%

4. Criminal Minds (CTD) 2.2 +10%

5. CSI: Miami (CTD) 2.1 NC

6. Castle (Disney-ABC) 2.0 -20%