Barack & Michelle Obama Give "60 Minutes" Largest Viewership Since 1999

NEW YORK — The campaign is over, but Barack Obama is still a TV hit.

CBS' "60 Minutes" had its highest overnight ratings in nearly a decade with Sunday's episode featuring Steve Kroft interviewing the president-elect and future first lady. Nielsen Media Research's preliminary estimate the show was seen by 24.5 million people on Sunday.

That's more than any other episode of a prime-time show seen this season, and the biggest audience for "60 Minutes" since January 1999.

Sunday's "60 Minutes" was likely helped by being immediately preceded by a down-to-the-wire NFL game between the Pittsburgh Steelers and San Diego Chargers.

Comments

[KatDawgATL]

"Where's the change?" -America favored again, Al Qaeda nervous, True Bi-partisanship in play, Presidency returned to the level of "engaged" and "thoughtful" as opposed to the "incurious cowboy" stench,-etc.

It's been two weeks people. Just because he considers SOME staffers from the Clinton Era. (The last moderately SUCCESSFUL administration) doesn't mean he's lost the "CHANGE" mantra.

Did we really expect to see an administration filled with "no name" upstarts?

The notion that BO will govern like the Clintons is just absurd.

[Fongenie]

I agree.

[darkday]

I can't stand Oprah, but shouldn't he be giving Oprah his first interview. There's no question that the million votes she delivered him in the democratic primary is what got him elected:

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/08/31/AR2008083101761.html

http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2007/09/08/opinion/polls/main3244412.shtml?source=

[MountainMarge]

I LOVE THIS COUPLE, I LOVE MY PRESIDENT ELECT--ANYONE WHO DOES NOT IS HEARTLESS! I JUST WATCHED AND LISTENED AND SMILED SO BIG--MY HUSBAND IS GETTING TIRED OF HEARING ME EXCLAIM---"I LOVE THIS GUY!"

[hotwire]

You need help, big time!

[SeanGardner]

It was actually a very good interview, so I'm not surprised so many people kept watching. Once again, he employed intelligence, humor, policy details, and a sense of optimism to help craft another great interview.

[lstl4]

That was a great interview. It is so nice to see everyday people in the White House. I am so proud of this country for getting past race and voting for President-elect Obama and I feel that he will be an excellent president. May God bless and protect this family.

[All4ME]

Here's something new -- a feeling of complete openness and a willingness of the First Couple to communicate and talk to people about their (very normal) lives. There is no sense of 'stiffness', formality, or discomfort.

It really is extraordinary if you think about it. Help me here -- name another First Family that you have felt are normal, honest and open like this, and really not hiding anything?

[cariocamum]

I think everyone is getting a bit overexcited at the moment. I too supported Obama for president, but I think the cult of personality around him is over the top. The comments here about how "I'd love to have dinner with them" and how "adorable" they are as a couple, is just as shallow as the idea that Bush was a "good person to have a beer with". I agree it is a refreshing change to have an articulate and intelligent sounding president, but in January let's hold the Obama Administration up to the same scrutiny and critique as we do all of our elected officials. Otherwise the left wing blogs will become completely redundant and pointless - a sort of Fox News for the Left. So let's not lose ourselves here - as adorable as Sasha and Malia and their new puppy might be!

[starfire426]

We're all very aware of the seriousness that our newly elected President will be facing after Inauguration Day...but can't we take a moment (during the interim) to have the "warm fuzzies" for this family without your rancor? The criticisms and the like will come soon enough (as if its ever ended).

[RachelMc]

EXACTLY!!

[hotwire]

Get your head out of the sand and grow up, "fuzzies" indeed! Stop daydreaming about sucking his toes and listen to the man. You listen to what he's saying now and you will learn how he's going to govern later. My God, can't you see already that we're going to have another Clinton White House? Where's the change?

[yearlin]

i totally agree. we must look at them objectively so we can properly hold him accountable.

[grantlingel]

Haha... miss Tucker Bounds? Hardly.. that guy is a joke... I hope he fades away forever.
http://grantlingel.blogspot.com

[cnick]

Tucker Bounds was McCain's own Baghdad Bob!!!

[TheGuide]

Hey, how many of us miss Tucker Bound? That guy was a hoot in a very bad way. I'm sure he would've had some choice words about the interview.

[tlgeiger62]

It was a great interview. I love it when you can catch a glimpse of the couple in a more relaxed atmosphere. You can tell he isn't measuring his words as much and now and again he lets his humor shine through. Their lives have been upended over the past 2 years. It's nice to hear they are coping.

[Berkeleyan]

I am so glad that they will be in the White House. Now we have to pray for their safety, our cherished First Family.

[BJOregon]

Many of us are praying daily for their safety and health, and for Barack Obama and his team, the wisdom to walk us out of the myriad messes he will be inheriting! I have read that he teaches Constitutional Law. If so, what could be more appropriate at this particular time in history?

[richard from palo alto]

I missed this interview due to fire coverage in California, which pre-empted it. Is there a place I can watch the entire interview?

Many thanks. Please send to [e-mail]

[jingles32]

Here Richard. From the "60 Minutes" site. It's wonderful!

http://www.cbsnews.com/sections/60minutes/main3415.shtml

Sandra~

[yearlin]

its called youtube

[lovejd73]

Absolutely loved the interview -- Barack & Michelle, you gotta love them both! They really are 'everyday people' who actually WORKED to make a living about 10 years ago. They just paid off their student loans in 2005! When was the last time we had a President and First Lady who you actually believed LOVED and CARED about one another? Jimmy & Roslyn? Can't wait till January 20, all eyes around the world will be on this family and in the little corner of our TV screen we will see Dubbya and what's her name making that final wave as they are whisked off to the ranch hopefully NEVER to be seen again, yee haw!

[jnetdnj]

When did we ever have a president who actually had to pay student loans? What an exceptional couple! They are truly awe-inspiring!

[AbyssinianLion]

I love them as a couple too. i love the story about his apartment and his car with the hole in the floor. She dated him with his junk car and bad apartment. Too cute!

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