“Family Feud” Beats “Wheel of Fortune,” Now Top-Rated Syndicated Game Show

ABC/Adam Taylor(LOS ANGELES) — Wheel of Fortune is dead.  Long live Family Feud.

Okay, that’s an overstatement, but Family Feud has stolen the #1 ratings spot from Wheel of Fortune, making it the most popular game show currently in syndication. It’s the first time Family Feud has caught or surpassed Wheel of Fortune since Nielsen began using People-Meters in 1987 to track ratings.

According to Variety, it’s a close race, with Family Feud — hosted by comic Steve Harvey since September, 2010 — earning a 6.1 rating the week of June 8-12, compared to 6.0 for Wheel of Fortune and 5.9 forJeopardy!

More impressive: Family Feud also beat Judge Judy, which scored a 6.0 rating during the same Nielsen survey period, making the game show the most popular show in syndication, period.

ABC last Sunday launched the six-week summer series Celebrity Family Feud.

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