Coverage of Mel Gibson's DUI arrest and anti-Semitic tirade sent ratings significantly higher for most newsmags. Four out of the five were up in the week ended Aug. 6.
Genre leader "Entertainment Tonight" scored its highest ratings in five weeks, rising 5% week to week and jumping 10% year to year to a 4.6 -- the skein's strongest performance since the week of June 26, when Star Jones Reynolds resigned from "The View" on the air.
"Inside Edition" earned a 3.5, up 13% for the week and 21% from last year. "The Insider" gained 4% both week to week and year to year at a 2.5. "Access Hollywood," which had only limited coverage of the Gibson story on Monday and Tuesday, was down 4% to a 2.2, although still up 5% from last year. "Extra," with full coverage of Gibson, shot up 11% to a 2.1 and was even with last year.
Elsewhere during the week, the two remaining dating shows, neither of which will be back next season in firstrun, were lower. "Blind Date" dropped to a 1.0, down 9% week to week and year to year, while "ElimiDate" tumbled to a 0.9, down 10% for the week and 18% from last year.
Talk, court and game shows were narrowly mixed during the week. "Oprah" was down 7% to a 5.2 and down 5% year to year but still led talkers. "Dr. Phil" was up 5% to a 4.5 and up 10% from last year. while "Live With Regis and Kelly" was unchanged at a 3.2 and down 3% from last year.
"Judge Judy" presided over the courtrooms, up 2% to a 4.6 although flat year to year. "Judge Joe Brown" was up 3% to a 3.0 but unchanged from last year. and "The People's Court" was flat at a 2.7 but still up 8% from last year.
Top gameshow "Wheel of Fortune" was up 1% to a 7.1, although down 1% year to year, while "Jeopardy" was down 7% to a 5.4 and down 8% from last year.
Contact Addie Morfoot at
news@variety.com