Syndication Ratings: Four Talkers Show Growth in Otherwise Slow Week

Four talk shows — Dr. Phil, Steve Harvey, Harry and The Doctors — showed growth in the week ended Jan. 15, while the rest of the field was flat to down.
Leading the category, CBS Television Distribution’s Dr. Phil grew 16% for the week and year to a 3.7 live plus same day household rating, according to Nielsen Media Research, the show’s second-highest rating of the season. This marked the 19th straight week that Phil has led the talkers. Phil also led the talk shows among women 25-54, gaining 14% to a 1.6.
Disney-ABC’s Live With Kelly and Warner Bros.’ Ellen DeGeneres remained tied at a 2.5 with both shows unchanged for the week.
In fourth place, NBCUniversal’s Steve Harvey recovered from its season low set in the prior week with a 13% rebound to a 1.7. Harvey, which will be relaunched next season from Los Angeles under a different production banner, was down 11% from last year.
NBCU’s Maury slipped 6% for the week to a 1.6. Debmar-Mercury’s Wendy Williams stayed at a 1.5. CTD’s Rachael Ray retreated 13% to a 1.4 and also sank 13% from last year at this time. NBCU’s Steve Wilkos was off 7% to a 1.3, tying Sony Pictures Television’s Dr. Oz, which was unchanged at a 1.3, but down 19% from last year.
NBCU’s newcomer Harry jumped 20% to a four-week high 1.2 to tie NBCU’s Jerry Springer, which in its 26th year, fell 14%.
Warner Bros.’ Crime Watch Daily With Chris Hansen held steady at a 1.0. CTD’s The Doctors strengthened 13% to a 0.9, equalling its season high, and moving ahead of Warner Bros.’ TheReal, which remained at a 0.8.
CTD’s Judge Judy led all of syndication and the courts at a steady 7.4, its second-highest rating of the season.
CTD’s Hot Bench was the only daytime show to hit a new season high, climbing 8% to a 2.6 and moving up to third in daytime after only Judy and Dr. Phil.
Warner Bros.’ People’s Court and Judge Mathis stayed at a 1.8 and a 1.4, respectively. Twentieth’s Divorce Court dropped 8% to a 1.1. Trifecta’s Judge Faith fell 11% to a 0.8.
Debmar-Mercury’s Family Feud slipped 4% to a 7.3 to lead the games for the 38th straight week. CTD’s Wheel of Fortune was flat at a 7.1. CTD’s Jeopardy! inched up 1% to a new season-high 6.8. Disney-ABC’s Who Wants to be a Millionaire broke even at a 1.8. Debmar-Mercury’s Celebrity Name Game sagged 7% to a 1.3.
Elsewhere, Disney-ABC’s viral video show RightThisMinute, renewed for next season, was unchanged at a 1.5.
CTD’s Entertainment Tonight dipped 3% to lead the magazines at a 3.6. CTD’s Inside Edition stayed at a 3.2. Warner Bros.’ TMZ faded 6% to a 1.7. NBCU’s Access Hollywood was flat at a 1.5. Warner Bros.’ Extra was the only magazine to improve, advancing 8% to a five-week high 1.4. CTD’s The Insider gave back 8% from its season high in the prior frame to a 1.2. Twentieth’s Dish Nation and Trifecta’s Celebrity Page stood pat at a 0.8 and 0.3, respectively.
Warner Bros.’ off-net sitcom leader, The Big Bang Theory, fell back to earth, dropping 19% to a 5.8 after rocketing 80% in the prior week. Twentieth’s Modern Family remained at a 3.1. Warner Bros.’ Two and a Half Men moved up 4% to a new season high 2.7. Warner Bros.’ Mike & Molly eased 5% to a 2.0. Twentieth’s Family Guy stumbled 42% to a 1.9 after a 267% leap in the prior week. Warner Bros.’ 2 Broke Girls deteriorated 22% to a 1.8, tying Twentieth’s Last Man Standing, which slumped 5%. Twentieth’s How I Met Your Mother introduced a 7% increase to a 1.5. Warner Bros.’ The Middle eroded 20% to a 1.2, tying SPT’s Seinfeld, which shrank 8%.
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Contributing editor Paige Albiniak has been covering the business of television for nearly 25 years. She is a longtime contributor to Next TV, Broadcasting + Cable and Multichannel News. She concurrently serves as editorial director for entertainment marketing association Promax. She has written for such publications as TVNewsCheck, The New York Post, Variety, CBS Watch and more. Albiniak was B+C’s Los Angeles bureau chief from September 2002 to 2004, and an associate editor covering Congress and lobbying for the magazine in Washington, D.C., from January 1997-September 2002.