Syndication Ratings: Big Interviews, Birthday Boost ‘Oprah'

Tops CTD's 'Judge Judy' for first time in 10 weeks

By David Tanklefsky -- Broadcasting & Cable, 2/9/2010 1:04:26 PM

For the first time in the last 10 weeks, CBS Television Distribution's (CTD) Oprah managed to top CTD's Judge Judy.  Winfrey landed exclusives with Jay Leno and Rosie O'Donnell and celebrated her 56^th birthday.  Oprah was up 15% from the week before to a 5.5 in the week ending Jan. 31, after seeing a 6.2 for the Leno interview on Jan. 28, a 6.1 for Rosie on Jan. 25 and a 5.2 for her birthday party on Jan. 29.

Other talkers were narrowly mixed.  CTD's Dr. Phil dipped 3% to 3.0.  Disney/ABC's Live With Regis and Kelly was down 4% to 2.7.  Warner Bros.' Ellen Degeneres gained 4% to 2.6 and came within a tenth of a ratings point of catching Regis for the first time.  NBCU's Maury was unchanged at 2.1.  CTD's The Doctors grew 5% to 2.0, with a 16% increase to 2.2 for a Jan. 29 episode devoted to their trip to Haiti, which provided medical relief to earthquake victims.  CTD's Rachael Ray remained steady at a 1.8.  NBCU's Jerry Springer was up 8% to 1.4.  NBCU's Steve Wilkos and Warner Bros.' Bonnie Hunt were flat at 1.2 and 0.9, respectively.  NBCU's Martha Stewart slipped 14% to 0.6. 

Judge Judy ruled the courtrooms for the 699^th consecutive week, holding firm at 4.9 with more than a 2-to-1 advantage over its closest court show rival.  CTD's Judge Joe Brown was unchanged at 2.3.  Warner Bros.' People's Court, Warner Bros.' Judge Mathis and Twentieth's Judge Alex were flat at 2.2, 1.8 and 1.6, respectively.  Twentieth's Divorce Court was up 14% to 1.6.  Warner Bros.' Judge Jeannine Pirro trailed with a 1.1.

Rookie standout, NBCU's The Office had its best week ever, growing 3% to 3.2, while fellow off-net sitcom CTD's Everybody Hates Chris dropped 5% to 1.9 and Twentieth's My Name Is Earl was unchanged at 1.8.  In first-run, Sony's Dr. Oz continued to lead, inching ahead 3% to 3.0.  Second-place Twentieth's Are You Smarter Than a Fifth Grader climbed 6% to 1.8.  Further back, Debmar-Mercury's Wendy Williams and Litton's Street Court were flat at 1.2 and 0.6, respectively.

Magazines continued to perform well, with leader CTD's Entertainment Tonight up 2% to 4.8.  Its companion, ET Weekend, jumped 13% week-to-week and 23% year-to-year to 2.7.  When rumors of a possible Brad Pitt-Angelina Jolie breakup hit on Jan. 25, ET's ratings spiked 17% to a 5.5.  CTD's Inside Edition advanced 6% to 3.5.  NBCU's Access Hollywood added 5% to 2.3.  Warner Bros.' TMZ also rose 5% to 2.2.  Warner Bros.' Extra was unchanged at 1.9.  CTD's The Insider perked up 6% to 1.8.  Insider Weekend had the sharpest increase of all, surging 33% to a new season-high 1.6, which was up 23% from last year.

Game shows were little changed for the week.  CTD's Wheel of Fortune edged ahead 1% to 7.6.  CTD's Jeopardy and Disney/ABC's Who Wants to Be a Millionaire were flat at 6.4 and 2.7, respectively.  Debmar-Mercury's Family Feud fell 7% to 1.4.  NBCU's Deal Or No Deal was up 8% to 1.3.

Off-net sitcoms were unchanged to slightly higher.  Warner Bros.' Two and a Half Men remained at 5.5 for a second week.  Twentieth's Family Guy was up 3% to 3.6.  Warner Bros.' George Lopez was flat at 2.9.  Sony's Seinfeld and CTD's Everybody Loves Raymond were each up 4% to 2.9, tying Lopez.  Twentieth's King of the Hill got a 4% boost to a new season-high 2.4.  Warner Bros.' Friends, Sony's King of Queens, Frasier and House of Payne were all unchanged at 2.3, 1.7, 1.5 and 1.5, respectively.