“Judge Judy” Rises to Record

Review based on a national syndicated rating report for the week ending December 12, 2021.

Syndication sensation Judge Judy (new season high 5.0 live plus same day national Nielsen, up 6% from the week before) rang up its strongest ratings since early July in the session ending December 12 and cruised to its 1,316^th consecutive victory – or every week for more than 25 years – in the court show race.

Hot Bench (1.5, up 7%), a creation of Judge Judy Sheindlin, was syndication’s second highest courtroom.

Elsewhere in daytime, talk show stars Ellen DeGeneres (new season high 1.1, up 10%) and Kelly Clarkson (new season high 1.0, up 11%) put their best ratings of the year into the record books.

“Ellen” has been the most improved talk show in its 19^th and final season, mushrooming 175% over the past four months as it moved from being mired in a four-way tie for eighth place to a surging No. 3 in its hotly contested category.

“Kelly,” a rising star among talkers in only its third season, finished right behind “Ellen” and was the sole show in the top eight to hold 100% of its household ratings year to year.

The genre leader remained Dr. Phil (1.8, steady) with Live with Kelly and Ryan (1.7, steady) not far behind.

Further down the chart Dr. Oz (0.5, down 17%), which has been canceled effective January 14, tumbled after being dropped beginning December 1 in Pennsylvania and neighboring New York markets as a result of host Mehmet Oz declaring his candidacy for the United States Senate.

Turning to access time periods Entertainment Tonight (three-week high 2.1, up 5%) set the pace among showbiz magazines.