Syndication Ratings: 'Wendy' 'Feud' Climb to New Heights

Debmar-Mercury’s two veterans, Wendy Williams and Family Feud, both hit highs in the week ending Oct. 19, with Wendy notching a series high 1.8 and Feud tying Jeopardy! for a 6.1 in households, according to Nielsen Media Research.

Feud also tied CBS Television Distribution’s Judge Judy to lead all of syndication among daytime’s key demographic of women 25-54 at a 3.0.

In an overall strong week, all of the syndie newcomers remained at their season highs. CTD’s Hot Bench topped the rookies for the fifth week in a row with a steady 1.5 in households. Among women 25-54, Hot Bench finished in second place at a 0.8, tied with Warner Bros.’ The Real. Debmar-Mercury’s Celebrity Name Game with access clearances was unchanged at a 1.2 in households, tying NBCUniversal’s Meredith Vieira, but jumped 50% in the demo from a 0.6 to a first-place 0.9. Meredith, meanwhile, held firm in households, and hit a new series high 0.7 among women 25-54, up 16% from the prior week.

Further back, The Real was flat in households at a 1.0, although it recovered 14% to a 0.8 in the demo. Trifecta’s Judge Faith improved 14% to a series high 0.8 in households and up 33% to a 0.4 in the demo.

CTD’s Judge Judy, now in its 19th season, led all syndie strips for the 30th consecutive week at a 6.9 in households, a 1% dip from the previous week and a 3% improvement from last year.

Warner Bros.’ People’s Court and Twentieth’s Divorce Court were flat at a 1.7 and 1.5, respectively. Warner Bros.’ Judge Mathis picked up 8% to a 1.4. MGM’s Lauren Lake’s Paternity Court was flat at a 1.2.

CTD’s Dr. Phil topped all talkers for the seventh week in a row with a 3.2, tying its season high thus far, and marking a 3% gain for the week and 7% for the year. Phil also led among women 25-54 with a 1.6, up 6% from the prior week.

Disney-ABC’s Live with Kelly and Michael remained at a second-place 2.8, a 4% increase from last year. Warner Bros.’ Ellen rebounded 8% to a 2.6, up 4% from last year. NBCU’s Maury was steady at a 2.0. NBCU’s Steve Harvey gained 6% to a 1.9.

Wendy Williams, leaping ahead several spots, climbed 13% for the week and 29% for the year to its new series-high 1.8.

NBCU’s Steve Wilkos continued to strengthen in its eighth season, spiking 7% to a 1.5 and surging 25% from last year. CTD’s Rachael Ray rallied 8% to a 1.4, tying SPT’s Dr. Oz. NBCU’s Jerry Springer was steady at a 1.2. SPT’s Queen Latifah matched its season high with a 10% gain to a 1.1. CTD’s The Doctors was unchanged at a 1.0. Meredith’s The Better Show dropped 50% from a 0.2 to a 0.1.

In access, the magazines were all steady to higher. CTD’s leader Entertainment Tonight grew 3% from the prior week to a 3.3. CTD’s Inside Edition improved 4% to a 2.9. Warner Bros.’ TMZ ticked up 5% to a 2.0. NBCU’s Access Hollywood jumped 6% to a 1.8, its best rating since the week of Sept. 8. Warner Bros.’ Extra maintained its prior week’s 1.5. CTD’s The Insider was flat at a 1.2. Twentieth’s Dish Nation bounced 22% off its season low the week before to a 1.1. Trifecta’s OK! TV strengthened 50% from a 0.2 to a 0.3. 

MGM’s video variety show RightThisMinute held at a 1.6.

CTD’s Wheel of Fortune remained at a 6.4, dipping 3% from last year. Jeopardy! dipped 2% to a 6.1, but was up 5% year to year. Family Feud, with host Steve Harvey, gained 5% for the year to its new season high 6.1, a 33% increase from last year. Disney-ABC’s Who Wants to be a Millionaire added 5% from the prior week’s decline to a 2.0 in its sixth week with new host Terry Crews. That was still down 5% from last year at this time.

Warner Bros.’ The Big Bang Theory continued to lead the off-net sitcoms, inching up 2% from the prior week to a 5.8. Twentieth’s Modern Family added 8% to a 3.9. Warner Bros.’ Two and a Half Men motored ahead 7% to a 3.2. Twentieth’s Family Guy slipped 4% to a new season low 2.3, tying Twentieth’s How I Met Your Mother, which was flat. Warner Bros.’ Mike & Molly gained 5% in its fourth week to a new season high 2.1. Twentieth’s The Cleveland Show was flat at a 1.8. SPT’s Seinfeld sagged 6% to a 1.7, tying Warner Bros.' The Middle, which gained 6%. Twentieth’s King of the Hill was flat at a 1.6.

Paige Albiniak

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.