The three debuting first-run syndicated strips saw growth for the week ended March 19, even as many veterans saw declines and pre-emptions due to the first week of CBS’s telecasts of the NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament.

Twentieth Television’s courtroom show “Judge Alex” grew 5 percent from the previous week to a national household rating of 2.3, a number that includes live-plus-same-day viewing, according to Nielsen Media Research. NBC Universal’s freshman talk strip “Martha” increased 13 percent for the week to a 1.8, while Warner Bros.’ “The Tyra Banks Show” was up 6 percent to a 1.7.

Among young female demos, “Tyra” was the show to beat. In women 18 to 34, “Tyra” scored a 1.3, “Alex” scored a 0.7 and “Martha” rated a 0.5. In women 18 to 49 “Tyra” also scored a 1.3, with “Alex” at a 1.0 and “Martha” a 0.8. In women 25 to 54 “Tyra” and “Alex” tied with a 1.2 and “Martha” came in with a 1.0.

Among debuting off-network sitcom strips, Warner Bros.’ “Sex and the City” was up 5 percent from the previous week to a 2.1 household rating, Buena Vista’s “My Wife and Kids” was down 5 percent to a 2.1, Twentieth’s “Bernie Mac” dropped 9 percent to a 2.0 and Debmar/Mercury’s “South Park” grew 8 percent to a 1.4.

For first-season hour weeklies, Twentieth’s “24” declined 4 percent from the previous week to a 2.5 household rating, while Buena Vista’s “Alias” declined 13 percent to a 2.0. Tying “Alias” was Program Partners’ “Da Vinci’s Inquest,” down 5 percent. Warner Bros.’ “Smallville” was up 6 percent to a 1.8, Sony’s “Stargate: Atlantis” declined 6 percent to a 1.5 and Paramount’s “Star Trek: Enterprise” dropped 7 percent to a 1.3.