Syndie series hit season peaks
King World's 'H'w'd Squares' among biggest gainers
One of the most dramatic gainers was King World's "Hollywood Squares," which jumped 13% to a 4.4 household rating from the previous week's 3.9, while its adults 18-49 demo rating rose 25% to a 2.0.
The latest incarnation of "Squares" is on a roll in its first November sweep, and the drawing power of celeb players like Robin Williams and Billy Crystal -- who are appearing on the show this week -- figure to boost the numbers even more.
Paramount's "Entertainment Tonight," another access show, hit its highest rating in nine months with a 6.3, a 7% increase over the previous week. "ET's" adults 18-49 demo was up 4% to a 2.8. Worldvision's "Judge Judy" proved gravity-resistant for a another record-setting week, climbing 5% from the previous week to a 6.7 household mark, while its adult demo hiked 7% to a 3.1.
On the off-network sitcom front, Warner Bros.' "Friends" rose to a best-yet 6.7 household rating. "Friends" in recent weeks has edged out "Seinfeld" to become the syndie demo leader across the board; for the week, it notched a 7% increase to a 4.7 in adults 18-49.
Courtshows hot, talk is not
King World's "The Roseanne Show" saw its national household rating increase by 13% from the previous week to a 1.8, but the talker is still pacing far behind the household and demo numbers its station affils were pulling in this time last year.
Par's "Howie Mandel" is fighting an increasingly uphill battle, in spite of a week-to-week 15% increase to a 1.5 national household rating. Columbia TriStar's "Donny & Marie" is averaging a sub-par 1.3.
In the courtroom, Worldvision's "Judge Joe Brown" jumped 16% from the previous week to a 2.9; Rysher Entertainment's "Judge Mills Lane" rose 4% to a 2.8; and Warner Bros.' sophomore "People's Court" rose 8% to a 2.6.
Warner Bros.' frosh dating gamer combo of "Change of Heart" and "Love Connection" also hit their best numbers for the season to date with a 1.9 and 1.8 household rating, respectively. In the young adult demo of 18-34, both skeins rose to a 1.3. Twentieth TV's "Forgive or Forget" notched a best-ever 1.7 household rating.
Among the established daytime talkers, King World's "Oprah Winfrey" muscled past the "Jerry Springer Show" (6.6) with a 15% week-to-week gain to a 6.9 household rating. In the key daytime demo of women 18-49, "Oprah" rose 14% to a 4.2, although "Springer" was ahead demo-wise with a 4.3 with femmes 18-49.
Paramount's "Montel Williams" jumped 14% to a 4.1, while its femme demo spiked 17% to a 2.7. Studios USA's "Sally Jessy Raphael" and Warner Bros.' "Rosie O'Donnell" were tied in households with a 3.7, but "Rosie" had the demo edge with a 2.4 versus "Sally's" 2.3.
Columbia TriStar's "Ricki Lake" was flat on the demo front at a 2.3. Warner Bros.' "Jenny Jones" rose 5% to a 2.1 with femmes 18-49. Studios USA's "Maury Povich" boosted its femme demo 6% to a 1.8.
Buena Vista TV's "Live with Regis & Kathie Lee" upticked 6% to a 3.6 household rating, while its femme demo climbed 13% to a 1.7. "Live's" ranking among the top 5 of syndie yakkers in the household measure is notable because the show airs exclusively in morning timeslots, where the available aud pool is smaller than in later dayparts.
