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Newsmagazines Up, Other Syndies Mostly Flat, Down

Feb 9, 2005  •  Post A Comment

Propelled by audience interest in the death of Johnny Carson and the marriage of Donald Trump, newsmagazines made gains during the week ended Jan. 30. Magazines bucked a trend that saw the majority of syndicated fare drop or remain flat for the week after the previous week’s generally strong performances and the Martin Luther King Jr. holiday.

Paramount’s “Entertainment Tonight” scored a 5.9 household rating, according to Nielsen Media Research. That was up 4 percent from the previous week, giving the genre leader a season high. “ET’s” Monday, Jan. 24, show scored a 6.9, its highest single-day rating since March 2004.

The No. 2 newsmagazine was King World’s “Inside Edition,” which scored a 4.0, up 11 percent week to week to a season high. “ET” spinoff “The Insider” matched its series high of 2.9, growing 4 percent from the previous week. NBC Universal’s “Access Hollywood” tied its season high with a 2.8, also growing 4 percent week to week. Telepictures’ “Extra” was unchanged with a 2.4, matching its season high.

“ET’s” weekend edition also scored, hitting a season high of 4.2 and growing 14 percent from the previous weekend. The Monday edition of “ET,” its weekend run, and Monday’s “Insider” featured video from Mr. Trump’s wedding.

None of the top five talk strips saw gains, with King World’s “The Oprah Winfrey Show” dropping 5 percent to a 7.7 for the week. “Oprah” spinoff “Dr. Phil” lost 2 percent from the previous week to a 5.3, while Buena Vista’s “Live With Regis and Kelly” was down 8 percent for the week to a 3.6.

The top two shows in syndication both declined, with King World’s “Wheel of Fortune” down 2 percent to a 9.9 and “Jeopardy!” down 4 percent to a 7.9. Paramount’s “Judge Judy” bucked the trend in its genre, growing 2 percent to a 5.4, the only top-five court show to gain from the previous week.

Among rookie first-run strips, “Pat Croce: Moving In” was the only talk show to grow, gaining 17 percent from the previous week to a 0.7. NBC Universal’s “The Jane Pauley Show” was down 11 percent for the week to a 1.6, while Buena Vista’s recently renewed “The Tony Danza Show” was down 7 percent to a 1.4. Twentieth’s “Ambush Makeover” was down 8 percent week to week to a 1.2, Telepictures’ “The Larry Elder Show” dropped 9 percent to a 1.0 and Sony’s “Life & Style” was unchanged for the week at an 0.5.

Among new off-network strips, Twentieth’s “Malcolm in the Middle” was down 3 percent to a 3.6, while both NBC Universal’s “Fear Factor” and Paramount’s “Yes Dear” were unchanged at 1.9. Paramount’s “Girlfriends” was down 11 percent for the week to a 1.6.

The top-rated off net weekly, the first-year “CSI,” was down 12 percent for the week to a 5.7.