“Jeopardy” Recovers 2% with Guest Host Stephanopoulos

Jeopardy (4.8 live plus same day national Nielsen rating, up 2% from the week before) — with George Stephanopoulos at the podium — was one of the very few prime time access programs going up in the session ending July 18.

For example the only newsmagazine in positive territory was Access Hollywood (0.8, up 14%), which overtook TMZ (0.7, down 13%).

Top sitcom Big Bang Theory (2.1, down 9%), which entered the off-net syndication universe in 2011, slipped to a new all-time low.

Keeping a lid on shows were preemptions in some markets for the MLB All-Star Game on July 13 and the July 14 telecast of the NBA Finals.

Drew Barrymore (0.5, up 25%), despite being completely in reruns, was the lone daytime talk show of the 14 strips in the category to gain ground.  “Drew” tied Dr Oz (0.5, down 17%).  Live with Kelly and Ryan (1.7, steady) was the highest rated talker for the 10^th week in a row and grew 6% from the same week last year.

Among the seven nationally cleared court shows Hot Bench (three-week high 1.5, up 7%) got the group’s only favorable weekly verdict.