Top Talkers Rule Ratings Roost
A handful of top talk shows led by Oprah (CTD), Dr. Phil (CTD) and Ellen DeGeneres (WBDTD) bucked a general downtrend among most syndicated strips and scored significant gains in the week ending May 23.
Talk Shows
As the May sweep wound down, Oprah picked up 13% to a 5.1 and topped this season's daytime leader Judge Judy for only the second time in the past 10 weeks.
Phil, the No. 2 talker, continued to sparkle with its fifth consecutive weekly increase, rising 3% to a 3.0, its highest rating in 11 weeks. And Ellen jumped into third place for the first time ever, tying Live with Regis and Kelly (Disney-ABC) with a 4% improvement to a 2.5, while Live was unchanged at a 2.5.
Compared to last year at this time, Oprah was up 11%, Phil grew 7%, Ellen surged 32%, the fastest year-to-year growth of any talk show, while Live slipped 4%.
In addition, Maury (NBCU) was down 5% to a 2.1, but up 31% from last year; and the prognosis was good for The Doctors (CTD), which pumped its Nielsens up 6%, both week to week and year to year to a 1.8 in households and grew 17% from the prior week and prior year in the women 18-34 demo.
Court Shows
In court, Judy cruised to an easy ratings verdict with a 4.5, which was more than twice as high as any other gaveler. Judy was down 4% for the week, but still up 15% over last year. Judge Joe Brown (CTD) dipped 5% to a 2.1, while People's Court (WBDTD) and Judge Mathis (WBDTD) were flat at 2.1 and 1.7, respectively.
Freshman Shows
In rookie action, Dr. Oz (Sony) was down 4% to a 2.4; Are You Smarter Than a 5th Grader? (Twentieth) remained at its series low 1.3 for a second week, tying Wendy Williams (Debmar-Mercury), which was unchanged at a 1.3; while Street Court (Litton) was far back after sinking 17% to a 0.5.
Off-net standout The Office, the top newcomer overall, eased 7% to a 2.7, but was the No. 1 show in syndication among women 18-34, tying Family Guy (Twentieth) at a 2.6.
Game Shows
Game shows were mostly lower. Wheel of Fortune (CTD) followed a bumpy path, down 5% to a 6.2; Jeopardy! (CTD) declined 4% to a 5.4; Who Wants to be a Millionaire (Disney-ABC) was up 5% to a 2.3; and Family Feud (Debmar-Mercury) faded 6% to a 1.5.
Magazine Shows
Entertainment Tonight (CTD) downticked 3% to a 3.9, but still led the magazines by a wide margin. Inside Edition (CTD) was second, falling 6% to a 2.9; TMZ (WBDTD) lost 5% to a 1.9; Access Hollywood (NBCU) dropped 5% to a 1.8; and right behind, The Insider (CTD) and Extra (WBDTD) held steady at 1.7s.
Off-Net Sitcoms
Off-net sitcoms were dull, with leader Two and a Half Men (WBDTD) slipping 4% to a 4.6. Family Guy (Twentieth) gave back 6% to a 3.2; Everybody Loves Raymond (CTD) was down 6% to a 2.9; Seinfeld (Sony) skidded 4% to a 2.7; and George Lopez Show (WBDTD) lost 7% to a 2.5.
Off-Net Weekly Hours
Off-net weekly hours were mixed. A surprise was newcomer Grey's Anatomy (Disney-ABC), which looked ready for intensive care after plunging 32% to a new series low 1.3. At the head of the class, CSI: NY (CTD) rose 11% to a 3.1; Law & Order: Criminal Intent (NBCU) gained 4% to a 2.6; and CSI: Miami (CTD) spiked 16% to a 2.2, while Bones (Twentieth) weakened 5% to a 2.1 and House (NBCU) depreciated 14% to a 1.8.

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