2017-18 first run season ends on quiet note

Review based on a national syndicated rating report for the week ending August 26.

Preemptions for breaking news, sinking pre-Labor Day viewing levels and a heavy dose of reruns threw off ratings in the summer doldrums session ending August 26, the frame that marked the official end of Nielsen’s 2017-18 syndication season.

Talk shows were once again led by Dr Phil (2.5 live plus same day national Nielsen rating, down 4% from the week before), which extended its winning streak in the category to 103 weeks and rose 10% in the key W25-54 demo.

 Live with Kelly and Ryan (1.9, down 5%) was a force to be reckoned with, securing sole possession of second place for the tenth week in a row and climbing 13% in the demo.  Further behind, Ellen DeGeneres (1.5, unchanged) trailed the top two.

Elsewhere in daytime Judge Judy (6.5, down 2%) out-rated all of the other five nationally measured court shows added together and was the top performing program of the entire season in households and total viewers.

Meanwhile several of the previously beaten down off-net sitcoms showed some spark.  Last Man Standing (2.1, up 5%), Modern Family (1.9, up 6%),Two and a Half Men (1.5, up 7%) and Family Guy (1.5, up 7%) were all in the plus column.  Big Bang Theory (4.1, unchanged) continued to lead the comedies.

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