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

[schicklett3]

The show was excellent!!!
KUDOS to a great interview by 60 Minutes.

[barackobama4prez]

Wonderful interview.
What a great couple!

[ClinicallyDisgusted]

It just keeps hitting home again and again. Every day I have to pinch myself. Did this really happen?
It seems like such a simple thing and I realize the bar was set so incredibly low, but to once again have a President who can string multiple words together to form coherent complete sentences seems so utterly amazing!
We actually have an intellectual for a President!

[DiBaskin]

Man, I missed it. I hope I can catch it on line somewhere. I am so mad at myself. I was watching a movie and lost track of time.

[ReallyScared]

try cbsnews.com

[obiter]

You can watch it all on www.cbsnews.com

[land of the free]

http://www.cbsnews.com/sections/60minutes/main3415.shtml
FULL VIDEO ON 60 Minutes website above

[ljmoffice]

I am so proud to call him my president...Jan. 20th can't come soon enough. I feel bad though...their life is going to change so drastically. I'm glad Michelle's mom will be there for everybody...she will be a help for all of them. An "anchor in the storm".

He has such an easy and beautiful smile...and he is so intelligent. He never seems perplexed by questions...whether they are serious or just about normal "stuff"...They love each other...and those girls. May God bless them and keep them all.

[songbird02]

On January 20th this great nation gets to celebrate 2 things simultaneously...
We get to celebrate the end of and Error (the Bush Admin)
And we get to celebrate a new beginning. Fellow Obamatrons... I love that term... I will be weeping tears of joy with all of you that day. We did it! We really did it!

[Sugar78]

Badbone

are u talking about those soft ball questions that were thrown at sarah Palin, and she still couldn't answer one! Yes, that is what you meant!

Hannity, threw the B*tch softball questions, and she still sounded du mb! Katie threw her soft ball questions, and she still manage to look bewildered!

DON'T HATE it because Obama is educated and you ha te yourself!!!!

[Sugar78]

Badbone!!

are u talking about those soft ball questions that were thrown at sarah Palin, and she still couldn't answer one! Yes, that is what you meant!

Hannity, threw the B*tch softball questions, and she still sounded du mb! Katie threw her soft ball questions, and she still manage to look bewildered!

DON'T HATE it because Obama is educated and you ha te yourself!

[chewie2008]

No more:"I know the human being and fish can coexist peacefully."

[peag40]

Wonderful to relax, listen, enjoy and actually understand the POTUS. No need to hold my breath waiting for an embarrassing mispronunciation or parts of an intended comment that no one understands.

[pleasethinkcritically]

Did anyone else notice how easily Barack answered the "What are you reading?" question? That's how it's done Sarah! Of course it's easier to answer when one actually reads!!

[toni63]

LOL....!!!
I totally agree......

[marymansour]

I tuned in to see our new president and his wife. Nothing has lessened my love for this man and his family. He is the miracle this country and the world have needed for a long time.

[Damaven]

It was just the greatest, most comfortable interview I've seen done by and with anyone. You name the interviewer and the interviewee and no one, just no one can ever touch this. The Obamas are so natural and that man can smile, genuinely. And bravo stepping away from that mother-in-law thing, you were great. And when he started talking about college basketball Michelle just sealed her lips because she knew that was his baby. See, why can't people just be like that. And loving their kids, just open and out there. And intelligent, thoughtful, logical and having the power of common sense. Man oh man. How proud we all should be of this President-Elect Obama and Family.

[veteran1964]

He wasn't talking about college basketball. He was talking about college football and wants an 8 team playoff......

[jennifur]

You are so well spoken and every word of what you say is also in my heart - EXACTLY RIGHT - I can throw away all my anarchist ideas now, put up my flagpole and indeed become a PATRIOT after decades of being horrified by my government. You can tell this man is REAL. Bravo Damaven.

[Badbone]

Let me take a wild guess. Obama was lobbed questions so soft, they could be used as pillows.

[luvobama]

As soft as the one you have now been crying in for how many days? get over your loser self. What did you expect to happen to your destructive party?

[Badbone]

I for some reason, expected the man to be treated as a president, not a celebrity. You know, asked tough questions. Is this man all style, no substance? Can he not handle the tough questions?

Maybe you should get over your lover self. He's a man, not a messiah.

If he does well, I will congratulate him. If he does badly, will you fault him?

[WRPrintz]

Watch it yourself. It was not an investigative piece, it was a family piece. He was given the same type of questions Bush would have been given, but he managed to sound smart, confident and not choke on a pretzel.

[KNadine]

Why are you here Badbone. Do you like being sour, if so, there are plenty of Conservative blogs to troll around on. I hear they are taking suggestion on how to put that pathetic party back together. Why don't you lend a hand.

[SadieGirl]

Well badbone or is it bonehead, if you havent noticed, the election is over. By the way Obama won! It's time for him and his family to relax and just talk and share themselves with us as people, husband and wife and a family. It was not a job interview! He already got the job. DUH

[VOTER]

President Barack Obama and his wife, First Lady, Michelle Obama live Family Values.

Hey, GOP! How does if feel to see REAL Family Values, instead of just
talking about it like you have?

[sunny555]

You are so right. This family is the best example of family values in the White House we have maybe seen in our lifetime

[luvobama]

I was a little shell shocked listening to president Elect Barack Obama speak. I forgot what it was like to have a leader who has mastered to the English language. I am thrilled that our President will no longer be the laughing stock of the world. That Obama family is a beautiful example for all of us.