Most shows flat or down as TV headed into slow holiday season

Coverage of the life and death of actress and director Penny Marshall kept losses among the access entertainment magazines to a minimum during the typically slow pre-Christmas week ended Dec. 23.

CBS Television Distribution’s magazine leaders Inside Edition and Entertainment Tonight each slipped 3% to a 3.0 and a 2.9 live plus same day household rating, according to Nielsen Media Research. NBCU’s Access held steady at its season-high 1.3 and took over sole possession of third place among magazines as Warner Bros.’ TMZ lost 8% to a 1.2. The two shows had been tied for the prior three weeks.

Warner Bros.’ Extra, CTD’s DailyMailTV and Twentieth’s Page Six TV all held firm at a 1.1, 1.0 and 0.7, respectively, while Trifecta’s Celebrity Page posted a 0.2 for the 12th week in a row.

CTD’s court leader Judge Judy, which was mainly in repeats, dropped 5% for the week to a syndication-leading 7.0, claiming that title for the 21st straight week.

In second place among the courts, CTD’s Hot Bench cooled 4% to a 2.3 but still ranked third in daytime behind only Judy and CTD’s talk leader Dr. Phil.

Warner Bros.’ People’s Court and Judge Mathis, and Twentieth’s Divorce Court all were unchanged at a 1.4, 1.0 and 0.7, respectively.

Talk shows were all flat to down, with Dr. Phil leading for the 120th straight week with three ties, dipping 3% to a 2.9. Among daytime’s key demographic of women 25-54, Phil also finished first with a 1.2.

Back in households, Disney’s Live with Kelly and Ryan eased 4% after hitting seasons bests in the prior weeks to a 2.2 but snared exclusive claim to second place in talk for the first time since the week of Oct. 29. Live also was second in the target demo with a 1.0.

Warner Bros.’ Ellen DeGeneres, which was in repeats on four of the five days, dropped 17% in households to a 1.9

NBCUniversal’s Maury was unchanged at a 1.4. NBCU’s Steve also held steady at a 1.3. Debmar-Mercury’s Wendy Williams weakened 7% to a 1.3, including viewing on diginet Bounce.

As for the rest of the chat pack, NBCU’s Steve Wilkos withered 8% to a 1.1, tying CTD’s Rachael Ray, which remained at a 1.1. 

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Sony Pictures Television’s Dr. Oz stayed at a 1.0 for a third consecutive week. Warner Bros.’ The Real remained at a 0.7. CTD’s The Doctors stayed at a 0.6. The syndicated run of NBCU’s out-of-production Jerry Springer stayed at a 0.4 for the 15th straight week. Disney’s Pickler & Ben surrendered 20% to a 0.4.

Among the rookies, CTD’s panel talker Face the Truth was unchanged at a 0.8, while Debmar-Mercury’s Caught in Providence was penalized 17% to a 0.5.

Turning to true crime, NBCU’s off-network version of Dateline surged 8% to a 1.4. SPT’s off- A&E Live PD Police Patrol sagged 15% to a 1.1 and off-Investigation Discovery’s True Crime Files was unchanged at a 0.3 for the 15th consecutive week. NBCU’s scripted police procedural, Chicago PD, held at a 1.0 for a third straight week.

Debmar-Mercury’s Family Feud led the games at a flat 6.4 for the second straight week. CTD’s Wheel of Fortune skidded 2% to a 6.2 but still tied CTD’s Jeopardy!, which remained at a 6.2.

Disney’s Who Wants to be a Millionaire broke even at a 1.6, while Entertainment Studios’ Funny You Should Ask stood pat at a 0.5 for the 22nd consecutive week.

Disney’s viral video show RightThisMinute slowed 8% to a 1.2.

Warner Bros.’ The Big Bang Theory upticked 2% to lead the off-net sitcoms at a 4.6. Twentieth’s Last Man Standing slumped 21% to a 2.2. Twentieth’s Modern Family fell 5% to a 1.9. SPT’s The Goldbergs stumbled 6% to a 1.5. Warner Bros.’ Two and a Half Men moved down 7% to a 1.4. Twentieth’s Family Guy fell 7% to a 1.3. Disney’s Black-ish, Warner Bros.’ Mike & Molly, Warner Bros.’ 2 Broke Girls and Mom all were steady with a 1.2, 1.1, 1.0 and 0.9, respectively, while SPT’s Seinfeld shrank 10% to a 0.9, tying Warner Bros.’ Mom.