Diane Sawyer's Rihanna Interview Brings "20/20" Huge Ratings

Diane Sawyer's interview of Rihanna on Friday's "20/20" was a ratings hit and enough to lift ABC to first in the Adults 18-49 demographic for the night.

"20/20" averaged 8.2 million total viewers — its biggest audience in over 7 months — and garnered a 2.7 A18-49 rating (9 share). Also, its 2.7 A14-34 rating was the show's best since December 2006. The show also added 3.4 million total viewers from its lead-in.

The New York Post called Sawyer's Rihanna interview "what may be one of the last, big-time celeb rity interviews she does before taking over as anchor of ABC's evening newscast."

Comments

[talkingdog]

08:40 PM on 11/10/2009

I'm SO glad I missed this!
Diane,....­..please go away!!!

[ladydragon]

08:34 AM on 11/10/2009

I re-post what I previously said:
I did not watch the interview, I would not be moved by Rihanna's crocadile tears. Rihanna has taken no responsibi­lity in this unfortunat­e incident, and the perception of her still remains. Twice she mentioned her corporate sponsors so there was monetary incentive for this interview, that made me think she had ulterior motives for speaking out at this time.

[mbroo]

12:39 PM on 11/10/2009

The GMA interview was Friday. She did a interview yesterday to promote the new cd.

[tlgeiger62]

04:30 PM on 11/10/2009

Not to mention the new CD coming out - I agree with you 100%. I didn't see it and have no desire to see her anywhere anytime soon.

[oceanlover]

08:01 AM on 11/10/2009

What impressed me most about Rihanna in the interview with Diane was how thoughtful­ly she spoke. For someone of her age, let alone anybody, she showed herself to be someone with great intellect, compassion­, understand­ing, strength of character, faith and forgivenes­s. What more could Chris Brown or any of her fans ask for? She is not only beautiful in the physical sense, but far more importantl­y, she is beautiful in the emotional and spiritual sense. She's an amazing lady.

[worldviewer]

11:14 AM on 11/10/2009

agreed.

but beauty aside, she is still overrated as a performer and recording artist.

[mbroo]

12:41 PM on 11/10/2009

It was scripted!

[hwoodude]

07:54 AM on 11/10/2009

Rihanna? Big time celebrity? Huh? What universe would that be in?

[Balzac]

06:01 AM on 11/10/2009

Rihanna looks great. Regardless­, I'd like to see her try a short afro next.

[lukebenward]

04:33 AM on 11/10/2009

This would have felt actually genuine if it hadn't come on the cusp of a new album. If she couldn't do it right after the b e a t down, fine, I can understand that.... but doing it now? Just tacky and proof she's not the role model for other young ladies to go by. I know she never asked to be one, but it happened and choosing this time to do it is soooo glaringly obvious. I never watched, but if Diane uttered ONE word of a plug ("...And BTW, Rihanna has a new album coming out. It will be in stores on [blank date]."), then you might as well be L O S E R Deb Norville on 'Inside Edition' doing fluff stories like overweight pets and Jim Carrey/Cam­eron Diaz dinner sightings.

[balancedsolution]

12:44 AM on 11/10/2009

in 10-20 years she'll look back at that hair style and cringe.

i'm cringing now!

[lukebenward]

04:29 AM on 11/10/2009

I think they cringed back in 1987 when Roxette made it famous and are cringing that it would exist beyond December 31st, 1989. I mean, singer Pink, brought an essence of the 80's, but this look by Robin is like dousing yourself in it and setting yourself on fire!

[THE JEDI 69]

12:32 AM on 11/10/2009

CHris Brown shouldn't have hit her..aight but if she keeps punching me ion the face after a while your gonna hit back..dude should have just this litle girl alone.....­men get abused by women a lot..and it's never reported or if the guy does he's weak..will if it's a man or a women and you get hit inthe eye with a knuckle it hurts.....­.with her phony self

[SeaShell226]

07:52 AM on 11/10/2009

Agreed. My parents taught me that a man should not hit a female.
They ALSO taught me that a woman should not hit a man and not expect to be hit back...

Only hearing one side of things leaves me still with an open mind for Chris Brown.
.

[newyorkjoe]

11:45 PM on 11/09/2009

This is a woman who at one time questioned Richard Nixon during his Watergate-­era press conference­s.

How does she sleep at night?

Oh, I guess very well, on an incredibly expensive mattress bought by a smidgen of all those millions of $$ ABC pays her to "interview­" people like Rhiana.

Quite a "get," Diane. Heckuva job.

[Dr Jimmy and Mr Jim]

09:00 PM on 11/09/2009

Why would anyone watch anything with Diane Sawyer? Last week, during an interview with Al Gore, she played a tape of Glenn Beck talking about methane and cheeseburg­ers.

Diane Sawyer giving Glenn Beck air time? Are you kidding me? This is where I get off. I would NOT tune in to Diane Sawyer for any credible informatio­n; just a bad joke which is what she is.

ABC News has to rely on Glenn Beck for informatio­n? Sh@me on you, ABC News. Sh@me on you Diane Sawyer.

[Morocco]

11:11 PM on 11/09/2009

What do you expect from an ancient beauty queen?

[Dr Jimmy and Mr Jim]

09:25 PM on 11/10/2009

You're right. I wouldn't expect much.

[samilli3]

07:48 PM on 11/09/2009

SHE'S NOT NAKED...WO­W...

[worldviewer]

06:56 PM on 11/09/2009

now that this interview has brought closure to this unfortunat­e incident (my full sympathies go out to her as a past victim of domestic abuse myself) we can get back to the real issues at hand regarding rihanna...

this pop tart cannot sing worth a damn, she is overly produced, writes not a single word or note of any of her hits, and she, like so many other pop stars who lack in the musical department­, objectifie­s herself, and women by extension, to gain attention and sell albums.

not to mention, her single "russian roulette" glorifies suicide to the young fans that she in this interview admits to knowing she has a profound influence on.

she's stunningly beautiful when she's all made up tho.

[alieninvader]

07:07 PM on 11/09/2009

I never saw her as beautiful, but what do I know? I'm just a woman.

[Back2Life]

07:47 PM on 11/09/2009

She can't sing, dance, or entertain. What is she good for? I am so tired of seeing her titays displayed everywhere­. Some role model for young girls...Sh­e can't keep her clothes on or her story straight.

[EducatedObserver]

06:16 PM on 11/09/2009

Of course this was a ratings hit - that was the intention all along.

Now Rihanna's minders (PR people, coaches) will no doubt receive generous Christmas bonuses. :-)

[dct1999]

05:47 PM on 11/09/2009

Where are all the posters who claimed that no one wanted to hear her story? LMAO

[ZimboChick]

08:20 PM on 11/09/2009

they r so full of it tsk!

[johnnygoodwud]

05:41 PM on 11/09/2009

notice the pure white blouse,,,,­,,,,all buttoned up. give me a break. this was an image repair stunt.