“Deal or No Deal” and “The Doctors” hit season highs in syndication ratings during the week of Oct. 13-19, extending a gap among the freshman class of first-run strips.
NBC Universal Television Distribution’s “Deal” drew a 1.8 household rating, increasing 8% week-to-week. CBS Television Distribution’s “Doctors” grew 15% to a 1.5.
The rest of the pack, including Warner Bros. Domestic Television Distribution’s “The Bonnie Hunt Show” (0.8), Sony Pictures Television’s “Judge Karen” (1.0), Program Partners’ “Family Court With Judge Penny” (0.6) and Debmar-Mercury’s “Trivial Pursuit: America Plays” (0.6), all held flat from the previous week.
Several interruptions might have affected ratings during the week, including pre-emptions for division championship baseball and the third presidential debate, mostly affecting shows in the access time period directly before prime time.
Magazine shows saw some back-and-forth movement, as CBS’ “Entertainment Tonight” (4.1) declined 2%, while “Inside Edition” gained 4% to a 2.8 from the previous week.
CBS’ “The Insider” and WB’s “TMZ” tied with a 1.8, flat from the week before, while NBCU’s “Access Hollywood” saw several pre-emptions and declined 11% to a 1.7.
WB’s “Extra” stayed the same with a 1.6.
In game shows, CBS’ “Wheel of Fortune” nabbed a season high with a 3% increase to a 6.9. “Jeopardy!” declined by the same amount to a 5.6, while ABC-Disney’s “Millionaire” held flat with a 2.5. Debmar’s “Family Feud” dipped 7% to a 1.4.
For talkers, CBS’ “Oprah” is the only show to decline week-to-week, stumbling 11% to a 4.7. WB’s “Ellen” improved 11% to a 2.1, joining NBCU’s “Maury” (1.7, up 6%) and “The Steve Wilkos Show” (0.9, up 13%) as the only shows to grow week-to-week.
The big name in courts was one of only two in the genre to dip from last week, as CBS’ “Judge Judy” fell 2% to a 4.2, still handily outpacing “Judge Joe Brown” (2.2, flat). The other show to fall was Radar’s “Jury Duty,” declining a tenth of a ratings point to a 0.2.
WB’s “Judge Mathis” increased 13% to a 1.8, while Twentieth Television’s “Divorce Court” (1.5, up 7%) and “Cristina’s Court” (1.1, up 10%) also grew. The rest of the pack stayed flat.