COURT SHOWS GENERATE ADDED APPEAL

The verdict on court shows was sharply higher ratings in the week ending May 4, which included the first full week of the May sweep.

The gains came despite many shows being preempted or joined in progress on April 29 due to the president’s daytime press conference on the economy.

Although four of the top five courtrooms were up week to week, CBS Television Distribution’s Judge Judy continued to roll over all judicial competition with a 4.9, which equaled the second- and third-highest-rated gavelers combined and represented its strongest ratings in eight weeks. That was a 4 percent increase from the week before and a 9 percent gain over last year at this time, making Judy the only court strip banking year-to-year improvement.

Colleague CBS Television Distribution’s Judge Joe Brown scored its highest ratings in six weeks, climbing 4 percent to a 2.6; Warner Bros.’ People’s Court was flat at a 2.3; but Warner Bros.’ Judge Mathis rebounded 12 percent from a season low in the prior week to a 1.9; and Twentieth’s Divorce Court was awarded a 6 percent boost to a 1.8 as a special two-parter with 40-year-old former child star Gary Coleman and his wife of eight months 22-year-old Shannon Price brought ratings up 12 percent to a 1.9 on both May 1 and 2.

Talk Shows
Most talk shows were narrowly mixed. CBS Television Distribution’s Oprah inched up 2 percent to a 5.1; CBS Television Distribution’s Dr. Phil dipped 4 percent to a 4.4; Disney-ABC’s Live with Regis and Kelly remained at its season low 2.6 for a third straight week; Warner Bros.’ Ellen DeGeneres and NBCU’s Maury each held steady at a 2.1 and a 1.9, respectively.

CBS Television Distribution’s Rachael Ray eased 5 percent to a 1.8; CBS Television Distribution’s Montel Williams sank 8 percent to a new season low 1.2, tying NBCU’s Jerry Springer, which sprang up 9 percent to a 1.2.

Warner Bros.’ Tyra Banks slipped 9 percent to a 1.0, while NBCU’s Martha and rookie NBCU’s Steve Wilkos Show each surged 11 percent to a 1.0, with both shows seeing 22 percent spikes on April 28 to 1.1s.

Twentieth’s The Morning Show with Mike and Juliet was also up 11 percent to a 1.0 after getting a 22 percent increase to a 1.1 for its April 29 episode which featured surprise American Idol castoff Carly Smithson.

Magazine Shows
In access, CBS Television Distribution’s Entertainment Tonight, the No. 1 magazine, earned its highest ratings in seven weeks, rising 5 percent to a 4.5 as a show featuring a report on the embarrassing Miley Cyrus photo in Vanity Fair sent ratings up 16 percent to a 5.0 on April 28.

CBS Television Distribution’s Inside Edition crept up 3 percent to a 3.1; rookie leader Warner Bros.’ TMZ added 5 percent to hit a 2.2; CBS Television Distribution’s The Insider and NBCU’s Access Hollywood both held steady at a 2.1; while Ex rose 6 percent to a 1.8.

Game Shows
Game shows were mostly higher with CBS Television Distribution’s Wheel of Fortune spinning a 4 percent increase to a 7.5, followed by CBS Television Distribution’s Jeopardy! and Disney-ABC’s Who Wants to be a Millionaire, each with 7 percent gains to a 6.3 and a 2.9, respectively. Debmar-Mercury’s Family Feud, was up 6 percent to a 1.8; rookie Program Partners’ Merv Griffin’s Crosswords was down 13 percent to a 0.7, tying its series low; and newcomer Twentieth’s Temptation was flat at a 0.4.

Off-Net
The surprise among off-net sitcoms was one-time powerhouse CBS Television Distribution’s Everybody Loves Raymond hitting a new season low 3.3, down 3 percent. That was well off the pace set by rookie Warner Bros.’ Two and a Half Men at a 5.2, up 4 percent. Fellow freshman Twentieth’s Family Guy was next at a 4.3, up 2 percent, with the vet Sony’s Seinfeld third at an unchanged 3.7.

Weekend
Off-net weekly hours were led by CBS Television Distribution’s CSI: Miami at a 4.2, up 2 percent, with NBCU’s Law & Order: SVU up 10 percent to a 3.2; Warner Bros.’ Cold Case up 14 percent to a 2.4; Warner Bros.’ Without a Trace up 10 percent to a 2.3; and Trifecta’s American Idol: Rewind up 21 percent to a 1.7.

Among the off-net weekly half-hours, Sony’s Seinfeld Weekend was down 17 percent to a 3.0; Warner Bros.’ Two and a Half Men Weekend was up 8 percent to a 2.6; Sony’s King of Queens Weekend was down 7 percent to a 2.5 and was tied by Warner Bros.’ George Lopez Show Weekend, which was up 9 percent to a 2.5; while CBS Television Distribution’s Everybody Loves Raymond Weekend was down 5 percent to a 2.1.