Syndication Ratings: Holzhauer-Powered Jeopardy! Falls Short of Judge Judy in May Sweep

It turns out that James Holzhauer not only lost to Emma Boettcher, he also lost to CBS Television Distributions Judge Judy since the skyrocketing numbers for CTDs Jeopardy! were not enough to topple syndication's highest rated show in the important May sweep (April 25-May 22). The results of which were released Wednesday.

Although most strips were down from last May, the declines were relatively minor compared to the steep drops for the networks, which, for example, reportedly saw average losses of 27% among adults 18-49 over the past two years due mainly to heated competition for viewers from streaming video services.

Judge Judy, the season-to-date household ratings leader, which has been the top ranked show in every May sweep since 2010, lit up the Nielsen chart with a steady, compared to last May, 7.1 live plus same day national sweep average for the survey period. Still going strong in this its 23rd season, the 7.1 matches Judys second-highest May rating in the past five years.

Related: Greg Meidel Joins Judge Judy Sheindlins Queen Bee Productions

None of the other court shows improved. The next highest gaveler was CTDs Hot Bench, which held its ground year-to-year at a 2.3 average and was the No. 3 in daytime for the rating period behind only Judy and CTDs Dr. Phil. After that, Warner Bros. People's Court slid 7% to a 1.4 average. Warner Bros. Judge Mathis remained at a 1.0, and Twentieths Divorce Court sank 22% to a 0.7.

In access, Jeopardy!, which was ignited by James Holzhauer appearances in half the sweep, raced ahead 19% to a 7.0, taking the runner-up spot to Judge Judy overall, and easily leading the game shows. By the May 22nd end of the survey period, the show's ratings had ballooned at times to levels not seen in more than a decade as the Jeopardy! phenom won 25 straight games and nearly $2 million.

Related: Jeopardy! Host Alex Trebek Near Remission in Cancer Fight

Debmar-Mercurys Family Feud and CTDs Wheel of Fortune were neck and neck at a 5.9 average with Feud fading 5% and Wheel, which is paired with Jeopardy! in many markets, inching up 2%. Further back, Disneys the canceled Who Wants to Be a Millionaire broke even at a 1.6. While Entertainment Studios Funny You Should Ask rose 25% from a 0.4 last May to a 0.5.

Disneys viral video show RightThisMinute moved down 14% to a 1.2.

Dr. Phil was the top talker in May for the eighth year in a row by a wide margin despite backing off 13% to a 2.8. This marks the 23rd consecutive sweep victory for Phil, which has led the category for an Oprah-like 142 weeks in a row with five ties. Among women 25-54, Phil was also first with a 1.2 sweep average in the key demo.

Returning to the ratings, Disneys Live With Kelly and Ryan, which had been tied with Warner Bros. Ellen DeGeneres last May, jumped 5% and landed in sole possession of second place with a 2.2. Ellen declined 5% to a 2.0. Debmar-Mercurys Wendy Williams, which had been tied for fifth place last May, leapfrogged over Maury with a 17% spike to a 1.4 in fourth position. NBCUniversals Maury was minus 7% to a 1.3.

Related: Ellen DeGeneres Renewed Through 2021-22 Season

Rounding out the top six was NBCUs Steve, starring Steve Harvey, with a steady 1.2. Going out on a high note, the popular talker heated up in markets like Los Angeles where it ranked second to General Hospital in its 2 p.m. time period and grew 13% from last May.

The bottom half of the chat pack saw NBCUs conflict talker Steve Wilkos perk up 10% to a 1.1. CTDs Rachael Ray retreated 9% to a 1.0, tying Sony Pictures Televisions Dr. Oz, which also dropped 9% to a 1.0. Warner Bros. The Real stayed at a 0.7. CTDs The Doctors fell 14% to 0.6. Disneys Pickler & Ben banked a 33% increase from a 0.3. to a 0.4, tying NBCUs the out-of-production Jerry Springer, which sagged 64% to a 0.4.

The rookie crop saw CTDs Face the Truth confronting a 13% decline from its September debut to a 0.7 while Debmar-Mercurys Caught in Providence was even with its opening week, capturing a 0.5.

Magazines were mostly lower than last May when ratings were boosted by big viewer interest in the royal wedding. Also dragging shows lower was competition with the stratospheric ratings for James Holzhauer on Jeopardy!. CTDs Entertainment Tonight and CTDs Inside Edition tied for the lead at a 2.8 average with both shows slipping 7% from last year.

NBCUs Access was one of only two shows in the top seven to avoid any losses despite directly competing with Jeopardy! in five of the top 20 markets. Access held steady at a 1.2, tying Warner Bros. TMZ, which softened 8% to a 1.2. Warner Bros. Extra ran head-to-head with Jeopardy! in six of the top nine markets and gave back 9% to a 1.0 although it rang up higher ratings in numerous other metered cities such as Providence, Rhode Island, where it climbed 13% to a 4.4 rating, 7 share on WJAR at 7:30 p.m.

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CTDs sophomore DailyMailTV held its ground at a 1.0, tying Extra, and was renewed for year three. Twentieths canceled Page Six TV revealed a 14% slide to a 0.6 while Trifectas Celebrity Page was flat at a 0.2.

NBCUs Dateline was the sweep's true crime champ, gaining 8% to a 1.3. SPT's off-A&E Live PD Police Patrol posted a 1.0 in its initial May tour, which was on par with its September opener. While Discoverys True Crime Files disclosed a 0.3 in its first May case, which was even with its September premiere.

NBCUs scripted police procedural Chicago PD earned a 1.0 in its first May, shooting up 25% from its September debut.

Among sitcoms, Warner Bros. The Big Bang Theory weakened 2% to a 4.3 average in its eighth season but easily led the group. Twentieths Last Man Standing slumped 5% to a 2.0 in year three. Twentieths Modern Family faded 19% in year six to a 1.7. SPTs The Goldbergs, in its second go-around, was off 7%

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