Syndication Ratings: 'Maury' Returns to Top of Syndie Talk Pack as Summer Heat Takes Hold

Conflict talker drives 'Dr. Phil' from top spot

By Paige Albiniak -- Broadcasting & Cable, 7/3/2012 3:07:34 PM

NBCU's Maury, a summer daytime TV favorite, took over as top talker in the week ending June 24, when reruns ruled most days.

In the national ratings, Maury improved 9% from the prior week to a 2.5, just nipping an all-repeat week of CBS Television Distribution's Dr. Phil. Phil did not air in several markets due to the NBA finals and slipped 4% to a new season-low 2.4. Sony's Dr. Oz and Disney-ABC's Live! with Kelly also dropped to new season lows, with Oz and Live! each eroding 8% to a 2.2.

Warner Bros.' Ellen fell 11% to a 1.7. CTD's The Doctors and Rachael Ray each held steady at a 1.5, and 1.4, respectively. NBCU's Jerry Springer spiked 8% to a 1.4. NBCU's Steve Wilkos and Debmar-Mercury's Wendy Williams each were flat at a 1.3 and 1.1, respectively.

Meanwhile, Warner Bros.' Bethenny -- in week three of a six-week test run -- won its time period in New York and Los Angeles among women 18-34 and women 18-49, and now can be called Fox's most successful talk-show test to date, outperforming even the test of Debmar-Mercury's Wendy Williams, which Fox tested in summer 2008 and then picked up for its entire station group, sending it into national syndication.

The show, starring former Real Housewife of New York Bethenny Frankel, improved in households by 38% to a 1.1 rating/4 share in its six metered markets, and also grew 100% among women 25-54, 125% among women 18-49 and 200% among women 18-34 from its year-ago time period averages.

Warner Bros.' Anderson -- starring CNN anchor Anderson Cooper, who came out publicly this week -- advanced 8% from the prior week to a 1.3 in households and 17% among women 25-54.

Debmar-Mercury's Jeremy Kyle was flat at a 0.5, tying Entertainment Studio's We the People, which improved 25%.

In late night, CTD's Excused declined 14% to a 0.6.

CTD's Judge Judy was steady week to week at a 6.2, continuing to lead all first-run syndicated strips. CTD's Judge Joe Brown added 4% to a 2.4. Warner Bros.' People's Court climbed 5% to a 2.0. Twentieth's Judge Mathis softened 7% to a 1.4. Twentieth's Judge Alex and Divorce Court each were flat at a 1.3 and 1.2, respectively, while ES' America's Court added 11% to a 1.0.

NBCU's Access Hollywood improved 6% from the prior week, making it the only magazine to show growth in households. CTD's leader, Entertainment Tonight, as well as CTD's Inside Edition and Warner Bros.' TMZ all were unchanged at a 3.3, 2.8 and 1.8, respectively. Warner Bros.' Extra and CTD's The Insider both dipped 7% to a 1.4.

CTD's Wheel of Fortune wobbled to a new season low for the second week in a row, dropping 2% to a 5.8. CTD's Jeopardy! was flat at a 5.1. Debmar-Mercury's Family Feud added 3% to a 3.2. Disney-ABC's Who Wants to Be a Millionaire jumped 9% to a 2.5.

Warner Bros.' The Big Bang Theory was flat for the week at a 6.3, still good enough to lead all of syndication. Warner Bros.' Two and a Half Men dipped 2% to a 5.0. Twentieth's Family Guy gained 5% to a 4.0. Twentieth's How I Met Your Mother slid 7% to a 2.7. Twentieth's King of the Hill dropped 4% to a 2.4, tying CTD's Everybody Loves Raymond, which rose 14%. Sony's Seinfeld slipped 4% to a 2.3. Warner Bros.' Friends was flat at a 1.9.