Syndication Ratings: Talk’s the Talk of Syndies
Most Other First-Run Shows Flat or Down
By Paige Albiniak -- Broadcasting & Cable, 2/27/2008 11:46:00 AM
Talk topped the syndie pack in the week ending Feb. 17, the second full week of February sweeps, with three shows up for the week. All other first-run shows were flat or down with the exception of CBS’ Entertainment Tonight and Disney-ABC’s Who Wants to Be a Millionaire.
CBS’ Oprah climbed 5% to a 6.0 to maintain its commanding lead over the field. CBS’ Dr. Phil came in a strong second, gaining 9% to a 5.1, the show’s highest rating since the week ending Nov. 25. Dr. Phil’s 1,000th episode Feb. 11 was up 13% from the prior week to a 5.3.
The Nos. 3 and 4 talkers held steady -- Disney-ABC’s Live with Regis and Kelly at a 3.1 and Warner Bros.’ Ellen DeGeneres at a 2.3. CBS’ Rachael Ray, in fifth place, had the biggest increase in the genre, jumping 10% from the prior week to a 2.2, after seeing a 15% jump Feb. 12 for a show featuring actress Mary-Louise Parker.
NBC Universal’s Maury, CBS’ Montel Williams and NBCU’s Jerry Springer were all unchanged at a 2.1, 1.7 and 1.4, respectively. Warner Bros.’ Tyra Banks slipped 7% to a 1.3 after hitting a season high the prior week. NBCU’s Martha Stewart was steady at a 1.1.
Twentieth Television’s The Morning Show with Mike and Juliet held firm to tie Martha and remained the highest-rated of the six daytime rookies. NBCU’s Steve Wilkos dropped 9% to a 1.0 after scoring a series high in the prior week.
Besides talk, the off-net sitcoms were the other genre with a good story to tell, with almost all shows gaining for the week. Warner Bros.’ Two and a Half Men hopped 2% to a 5.4. Twentieth’s Family Guy gained 9% to a 4.8, tying its series high. Sony’s Seinfeld and CBS’ Everybody Loves Raymond each rose 5% to a 4.3 and 4.1, respectively. Sony’s King of Queens climbed 3% to a 3.2. Warner Bros.’ George Lopez was flat at a 3.1, while Warner Bros.’ Friends climbed 3% to a 3.0.
The rest of syndication was largely flat or down, and none of the top-tier court shows was up.
CBS’ Judge Judy held steady at a 5.3 for the week and the year, making it the only first-run strip to hold steady compared to last year. Far back but in second place, CBS’ Judge Joe Brown dropped 4% to a 2.7. Warner Bros.’ People’s Court fell 4% to a 2.5. Warner Bros.’ Judge Mathis, Twentieth’s Divorce Court and Twentieth’s Judge Alex were all unchanged at 2.2, 2.0 and 2.0, respectively. Twentieth’s Cristina’s Court declined 13% to a 1.3, tying Sony’s Judge Hatchett, which fell 7%. Sony’s Judge Maria Lopez and Sony’s rookie, Judge David Young, each were up 11% to a 1.0, while Radar Entertainment’s rookie, Jury Duty, trailed the pack at a 0.3.
In access, CBS’ Entertainment Tonight was the sole gainer among the magazines, rising 2% to a 4.9 after getting a 13% boost Feb. 11 to a 5.4 for next-day coverage of the 50th annual Grammy Awards . CBS’ Inside Edition was unchanged at a 3.6. NBCU’s Access Hollywood earned a 2.5, down 4%. CBS’ The Insider, Warner Bros.’ overall rookie leader, TMZ, and Warner Bros.’ Extra all held steady at 2.4, 2.3 and 2.0, respectively.
Disney-ABC’s Who Wants to Be a Millionaire was the only show to gain on the week, climbing 3% to a 3.1. CBS’ leader, Wheel of Fortune, was flat at a 8.3, followed by CBS’ Jeopardy!, which dropped 4% to a 6.6. Debmar-Mercury’s Family Feud was flat at a 2.0. Among the two rookie games, Program Partners’ Merv Griffin’s Crosswords fell 11% to a 0.8, while Twentieth’s Temptation was flat at a 0.6.
