'Last Man Standing' Syndie Ratings Soar

Two months into the fall season and syndicated TV shows -- like those of broadcast network TV programming -- are showing few, if any, gains.

From September 3 through November 11, industry leader “Judge Judy,” from CBS Television Distribution, is showing flat results versus the same period the year before, averaging 9.83 million Nielsen-measured total viewers.

CBS’ “Wheel of Fortune” -- the second-ranked overall syndicated show -- is up 1% to 9.43 million. The “Wheel” companion game show “Jeopardy” is next, down 1% to 9.13 million. In fourth place overall, “Family Feud,” distributed by Twentieth Television, is off 4% to 9.09 million.

Warner Bros.' “The Big Bang Theory” remains in its top spot among off-network sitcoms at 6.57 million, down 11% versus the same two-month period of a year ago.

Rocketing up the ranks in the off-network area is “Last Man Standing,” boosted by its revival this season on the Fox network with new first-run episodes in prime time. The show, distributed by Twentieth Television, is up a big 43% to 3.2 million viewers. The show was previously on ABC.

CBS’ “Inside Edition” has moved up the ranks as the top entertainment magazine show, edging past the network's “Entertainment Tonight. “Inside Edition” is 1% higher to 4.26 million viewers; “Entertainment Tonight” is down 6% to 4.16 million viewers.

Big talk shows are all down as well.

CBS’ “Dr. Phil" lost 16% to 3.89 million viewers; Warner Bros’ “Ellen Degeneres” fell 6% to 2.89 million, while Disney-ABC Domestic Television’s “Live with Kelly & Ryan” gave up 6% to 2.85 million.