Syndication Ratings: Sun Shines on Twentieth’s Morning Show

The Morning Show with Mike and Juliet Has Best Week Ever

By Paige Albiniak -- Broadcasting & Cable, 11/29/2007 1:36:00 PM

Twentieth Television’s The Morning Show with Mike and Juliet had its best week yet in the second full week of the November sweep, which ended Nov. 18.

The Morning Show, which entered national syndication in September after a slow rollout, hit a series-high 1.0, according to Nielsen Media Research’s live-plus-same-day household ratings.

That beat NBC Universal’s fellow daytime rookie, The Steve Wilkos Show, for the first time. Wilkos dropped 10% to a 0.9, settling into third place among the newcomers and tying Sony’s Judge David Young, which was flat.

Warner Bros.’ TMZ, which airs mostly in access and late fringe, kept the lead, unchanged for the week at a 2.0. Program Partners’ Merv Griffin’s Crosswords also remained unchanged at a 0.8, but Twentieth’s Temptation fell 17% to a 0.5. Radar Entertainment’s Jury Duty brought up the rear at a 0.2 for the fifth week in a row.

Talk shows had a good week, with three shows gaining on the week.

CBS’ Dr. Phil hit a new season high for the third week in a row, inching up 2% to a 5.0. Warner Bros.’ Ellen DeGeneres gained 5% to a 2.2, the show’s highest rating since last May. Ellen got a boost from a Nov. 12 appearance by Desperate Housewives’ James Denton, which saw the show’s numbers skyrocket 24% from the prior week to a 2.6 single-day rating. Finally, NBCU’s Maury jumped 5% to a new season high 2.1. CBS’ Rachael Ray and Montel Williams each maintained their season highs -- 2.0 and 1.6, respectively.

CBS’ The Oprah Winfrey Show, the top talker, dipped 1% to a 6.6. Disney-ABC’s Live with Regis and Kelly was off 3% to a 3.0. NBCU’s Jerry Springer fell 7% to a 1.3. Everything else was unchanged.

Warner Bros.’ Two and a Half Men remained atop the off-network sitcoms, increasing 2% to hit another new season-high 4.7. Twentieth’s Family Guy climbed 2% to hit a new season high 4.5 and tie CBS veteran Everybody Loves Raymond, which was unchanged. Sony’s Seinfeld, in fourth place, held steady at a 3.9, as did Sony’s King of Queens at a 3.0. Warner Bros.’ Friends, in sixth place, was flat at a 2.9. Finally, Warner Bros.’ rookie, George Lopez, jumped 4% to a new season high 2.8.

The magazines were all flat or down a bit after getting a boost in the prior week from coverage of the death of Osmond family patriarch George Osmond. CBS’ Entertainment Tonight, leader of the magazine pack, dropped 5% to a 5.2. CBS’ Inside Edition was off 3% to a 3.6. NBCU’s Access Hollywood was flat at a 2.6, good enough for third place. CBS’ ET spinoff, The Insider, dipped 7% to a 2.5, while Extra lost 5% to a 1.8.

The top court shows were little changed. CBS’ Judge Judy dipped 2% to a 5.0, and the next five jurists -- CBS’ Judge Joe Brown at a 2.8, Warner Bros.’ People’s Court at a 2.5, Warner Bros.’ Judge Mathis at a 2.2, Twentieth’s Divorce Court at a 2.0 and Twentieth’s Judge Alex at a 1.9 -- were all unchanged from the prior week.

However, Sony’s Judge Hatchett hit a new season high 1.5, up 15% from the prior week. Twentieth’s Cristina’s Court, which was just renewed for year three, fell 8% to a 1.2, while Sony’s Judge Maria Lopez gained 11% to a 1.0.

Game shows were little changed. CBS’ Wheel of Fortune was up 1% to an 8.2, a new season high. CBS’ Jeopardy! was unchanged at a 6.7. Disney-ABC’s Who Wants to Be a Millionaire eased 3% to a 2.9. And Debmar-Mercury’s Family Feud rose 6% to a new season high 1.9.