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In Ho-Hum Week ‘Ellen’ Hits High

Jan 2, 2006  •  Post A Comment

For the week ended Dec. 18, the majority of top-rated syndicated first-run strips were either down or flat compared with their performance the previous week, with the notable exception of Warner Bros.’ “The Ellen DeGeneres Show,” which scored a series high.

“Ellen” hit a high with a 2.7 national household rating for the week, according to Nielsen Media Research. That was up 4 percent for the week and 13 percent over its performance in the week last season. But “Ellen” was still eclipsed by the top talk strips, including the genre leader, King World’s “The Oprah Winfrey Show.” Down 7 percent for the week, “Oprah” grew 2 percent for the year. “Oprah” spinoff “Dr. Phil” declined 6 percent for the week and 2 percent for the year to a 5.0, while Buena Vista’s “Live With Regis and Kelly” declined 3 percent for the week to a 3.8, a 6 percent increase over last year. NBC Universal’s “Maury” was even for the week with a 2.8, which was a 7 percent decrease from last year.

Among the debuting talk strips, NBC Universal’s “Martha” was down 5 percent for the week to a 1.8, while Warner Bros.’ “The Tyra Banks Show” declined 6 percent to a 1.7.

In the courtroom genre, Paramount’s “Judge Judy” was once again tops with a 5.0, up 2 percent for the week but down 4 percent for the year. The No. 2 court show, Paramount’s “Judge Joe Brown,” declined 6 percent for the week and 11 percent for the year to a 3.2.

The sole new courtroom strip, Twentieth’s “Judge Alex,” was also the highest-rated first-run rookie, dropping 4 percent for the week to a 2.3.

Among debuting off-network strips, Buena Vista’s “My Wife and Kids” grew 4 percent to a 2.4, while Warner Bros.’ “Sex and the City” was even with a 2.3. Twentieth’s “The Bernie Mac Show” (2.2) and Debmar/Mercury’s “South Park” (1.7) also were both even for the week.

The highest-rated program in syndication for the week was King World’s “Wheel of Fortune,” which declined 2 percent from the previous week and 3 percent for the year to an 8.6.