Syndication Ratings: Talkers, Game Shows See Season Highs
Rookie off-net sitcom The Office cracks 3.0 rating for week ending Nov. 15.
By John Eggerton -- Broadcasting & Cable, 11/27/2009 3:56:23 PM
Season highs abounded for syndicated programming the week ending Nov. 15. Talkers Dr. Phil, Ellen DeGeneres, Maury, and Steve Wilkos all scored new season highs, as did the same number of game shows. Rookie off-net sitom The Office also made some noise, cracking a 3 rating for the first time.
The Oprah Winfrey Show, which will be ending its syndie run after next season, surged 18% to a 5.8 (from a 4.9 the week before) and topped the talkers for the 550th week in a row. Driving that surge was a trio of episodes. Oprah scored a 6.0 for her much-discussed Nov. 11 show on the woman horribly disfigured in a chimpanzee attack. That was higher than the 5.7 the show drew for the Nov. 10 episode featuring a murderer on death row, but was easily topped by the 6.9 for her Nov. 9 program featuring Ellen DeGeneres and Portia DeRossi discussing their same-sex marriage.
Dr. Phil was up 7% to a 3.1; Ellen was up 4% to a 2.4; Maury was up 11% to a 2.0; and Steve Wilkos was up 9% to a 1.2. Meanwhile, Live With Regis & Kelly was flat at a 2.7, as was The Doctors with a 2.0, while Rachael Ray dipped 6% to a 1.5, Jerry Springer was up 8% to a 1.3, Bonnie Hunt was up 13% to a 0.9, and Martha Stewart was steady at a 0.6.
Elsewhere, The Office was hot, cracking a 3 rating for the first time with a 7% increase to a new series high of 3.1. Among the other off-net newcomers, My Name Is Earl was unchanged at a 1.9 while Everybody Hates Chris rose 6% to a new series high 1.9.
America's Funniest Home Videos and Cold Case Files were unchanged at a 0.7 and a 0.4, respectively.
Among first-run rookies, Dr. Oz was flat at a 2.7 for a third straight week; Are You Smarter Than a Fifth Grader was flat at a 1.7; Wendy Williams was up 18% to a 1.3, and Street Court climbed 17% to a 0.7.
Judge Judy continued to dominate the court shows by more than a two-to-one margin with a steady 4.6. Judge Joe Brown was unchanged at a 2.1; People's Court was up 11% to a new season high 2.1, tying Joe Brown; Judge Mathis was up 6% to a 1.7; Judge Alex dropped 7% to a 1.4; Divorce Court also lost 4% to a 1.4; and Judge Jeanine Pirro trailed with a 1.0 for the fifth consecutive week.
In access, The Insider had the biggest week-to-week increase among the magazines, up 6% to a 1.8 on the strength of a 12% increase on both Nov. 10 and 11 for a two-part report on the alleged extortion plot against David Letterman. Leader Entertainment Tonight remained at its season high of a 4.7, which it set the week before. Inside Edition inched up 3% to a season high 3.3 Access Hollywood and TMZ were flat at a 2.1 and a 1.9, respectively, and Extra fell 5% to a 1.8.
Game Shows had game, with Wheel of Fortune registering a 4% gain to a new season high of 7.5. Jeopardy! was up 7%, also to a new season high 6.3. Who Wants to be a Millionaire added 4% to a new season high 2.6. Family Feud followed with an 8% advance to a new season high 1.3, while Deal Or No Deal was down 8% to a 1.1.
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I am so sad to see my favorite show be closed. It seems as though when you have people who try to help the poor people of this world someone mainly the rich try to stop them. Who wants to be a millionaire is for the smart and rich not the poor and not so smart people. Deal Or No Deal at least helped the poor people and I think if these people had the power that the rich did Deal or no Deal would be back on. PLEASE PLEASE help us get the show back on. Even though they did not pick me when I sent in my video I am still a die hard fan and record every show because I get pleasure out of seeing poor and not so smart peole win something to help their lives.
Katherine Duarte - 12/6/2009 1:42:15 AM EST -
It's interesting to see the approach to Oprah's ratings from week to week.
When they are low, they are glossed over, when they are high, move over, we have an important moment here...
It's November sweeps, right: last week's 4.9 was dismal, so she pulled all the stops to end the rating's hemorrage, got a 5.8, no big surprise there. Last year her rating was 5.6 for the same week.
So, if this is as good as it gets, the show is in trouble. Another 18 months won't help. And another Oprah version on OWN won't help either.
The spin-off Dr.Oz, was a mistake. As likeable as he is, the premice of the show is not fascinating enough to watch 5 days a week for an hour. After seeing it 3 times, I had enough.
The show will not be renewed by Sony, if they have any brains. Ratings showing flat this month is a huge indicator of poor response for the future.
I think Oprah has reached her zenith, and is no longer in the loop as far as what is entertaining and sustainable. Nate Berkus does not have the charisma to carry a show.
TV watching will continue to erode. A new network with more TV shows, will not capture the market share she will need to survive, especially with the heavier cable competition.
QUIT while your ahead. Ever heard of the 'Peter Principle"?
lisa zee - 12/1/2009 10:44:16 AM EST
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