'Judge Judy' topples 'Oprah' from top daytime spot

[September 25, 2010]  LOS ANGELES (AP) -- "Judge Judy" won a ratings verdict over "Oprah" last season to rank No. 1 among daytime series.

According to Nielsen figures, Judy Sheindlin's courtroom show averaged 6.3 million daily viewers, compared with 5.7 million for Oprah Winfrey's talk show. "Judge Judy" became the first show to knock "Oprah" out of the top spot in a decade -- and it was "Judge Judy" that did it the last time, too.

Winfrey relied on more reruns than usual last season, which affected her ratings.

Sheindlin is in her 15th year with the legal show. Winfrey, who's in the 25th and final season of her syndicated show, will launch a new cable network in January.

"Judge Judy" has been renewed through 2013.

[Associated Press]

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