“Jeopardy” Jumps Back into Lead in Game Show Race

Jeopardy (7.0 live plus same day national Nielsen rating, up 11% from the week before) came up big in the session ending May 3 and, by a narrow margin, grabbed the game show lead from Family Feud (6.9, down 3%). “Feud” had been first or tied for first among the quiz and give-away programs for the past three weeks, but could not stop Alex Trebek and company this time around.

In earlier dayparts, most strips were blistered with major market preemptions due to reports on the COVID-19 pandemic.  There were a few success stories, however.

Judge Judy (6.2, up 2%) and Hot Bench (four-week high 2.2, up 5%) – both created by Judge Judy Sheindlin – were the two highest rated daytime programs, despite both being partially in reruns.

Among talk shows Live with Kelly and Ryan (2.1, down 5%) extended its winning streak in the category to six weeks.

Dr Phil (1.9, up 6%), the number one talker season to date, drove to second place.  Ellen DeGeneres (1.7, unchanged) and Maury (1.2, down 8%) followed.

Back in access time periods, Entertainment Tonight (2.7, up 4%), which climbed 10% among the key W25-54 demo, and Access Hollywood (1.2, up 9%), which shot up 20% in the advertiser coveted W25-54 age group, scored the biggest rating improvements in the magazine category.