Episode gets record numbers of 6.6 million viewers

Aug 2, 2010 13:56 GMT  ·  By
6.6 million viewers tune in to see Barack Obama on The View, a record for the show
   6.6 million viewers tune in to see Barack Obama on The View, a record for the show

Late last week, we were telling you that US President Barack Obama had put in an appearance on the legendary daytime talk show for women, The View. Though he received plenty of criticism for reportedly “scooping” so low as to do the cheeky show – Oprah would have been more appropriate, critics say, – it seems that his episode was a hit with the target audience, Deadline reports.

In other words, the episode of The View with Obama scored the biggest ratings ever – in the entire history of the show. An estimated 6.6 million viewers tuned in to see the President talk economy, the job market and other issues, together with agreeing to take a celebrity culture quiz (which he failed). Critics may say what they want, but Obama’s appearance on The View was a success – and figures never lie, it is being said.

The “much-hyped edition of The View with President Barack Obama drew the largest audience ever in the history of the ABC’s daytime talk show. The program, which also featured the return of co-host Barbara Walters from heart surgery, was watched by 6.6 million viewers. The View’s previous audience record was 6.2 million, logged on the day after the 2008 Presidential Election, which was won by Obama,” Deadline informs.

“‘A historic interview leads to historic ratings,’ said Brian Frons, President, Daytime, Disney/ABC Television Group. ‘It was wonderful to have Barbara Walters back for the interview with President Barack Obama, her first interview since her heart surgery, and together all five co-hosts did what they do best, ask the questions that are on our viewers’ minds.’ In the interview, President Obama was quizzed about Chelsea Clinton’s wedding, Mel Gibson’s outbursts, Lindsay Lohan’s jail sentence and Jersey Shore star Snooki,” the same media outlet goes on to say.

Among those who didn’t see Obama’s appearance on the show with kind eyes was Sarah Palin, who took to her Twitter to say the President must surely have other, more important problems that should prevent him from sitting down for a joyful chit-chat with the gals on The View. Meghan McCain, daughter of Senator John McCain, shared the belief, saying Oprah’s show would have been a better venue for the kind of talk Obama had with the hosts of The View.

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