President Obama Visit Breaks Ratings Records For ‘The View’; 6.6 Million Tune In

Yesterday’s 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.

“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.

Comments (39)

  • Um. Also, Afghanistan, the economy, Kagan, etc. It was actually a fairly substantive hour in terms of the questions asked. I think both the show, as well as the President, defied expectations. The media seems to have focused on the “fluff” stuff, but at least a half an hour of the show was dedicated to policy questions – and the president did a great job of speaking accessibly about them. He just signed the Tribal Law Act today, btw. Love my president.

    Comment by Mark — Friday July 30, 2010 @ 3:48pm PDT  Reply to this post
  • 6.6 Million? That’s FOUR TIMES as many viewers as Fox News gets. LOL

    Looks like the wrong wingers were wrong when they said nobody would watch it.

    Comment by David — Friday July 30, 2010 @ 3:50pm PDT  Reply to this post
  • Oh yes what a great guy. Go on the View to field softball questions and rehash talking points for an hour? As any poll will show you, he’s lost touch with his “base” and any other neutral observer who elected him…this was a desperation grab to try and get his female base back, nothing more.

    Comment by Doc Michaels — Friday July 30, 2010 @ 4:03pm PDT  Reply to this post
    • HATERS GONNA HATE

      Comment by serti — Friday July 30, 2010 @ 4:12pm PDT  Reply to this post
    • So, you watched the View right? Or are you just regurgitating what you heard other people say about it? Because parroting other people’s opinions is pure idiocy and gives you no leg to stand on when you are trying to have your criticism taken seriously. Just sayin.

      Comment by viewmaster — Friday July 30, 2010 @ 4:20pm PDT  Reply to this post
      • Can’t speak for “Doc”, but I saw it and Doc’s right. I can NOT believe I voted for this. I realize there’s a sucker born every minute, but it’s depressing to truly believe in something when you/we need it the most only to watch it fizzle away into this. Bring on the “I told you so’s”.

        Comment by I did — Friday July 30, 2010 @ 4:56pm PDT  Reply to this post
        • They most likely invited him on the show, and he went. So what? He can’t control the questions that are asked of him there anyways. You guys make it sound like he went on Jerry Springer for Christ’s sake.

          Comment by JohnDoe — Friday July 30, 2010 @ 11:12pm PDT  Reply to this post
        • I don’t believe you voted for him because if you actually had you wouldn’t be griping.

          Comment by Ro — Sunday August 1, 2010 @ 3:21pm PDT  Reply to this post
  • Uhh…no, it’s about double. I’m sure Fox would get around the same viewers if they had Obama, they are afterall #1 in all of cable news by a huge amount. =D

    Comment by Tribunal — Friday July 30, 2010 @ 4:54pm PDT  Reply to this post
    • Yes, yes, Fox is #1 in cable news… but unlike Glenn Beck’s fans, I’m pretty sure no one watching THE VIEW is going to get in a shoot-out with cops while on their way to massacre the Tides Foundation.

      Comment by cst — Friday July 30, 2010 @ 6:47pm PDT  Reply to this post
      • Awesome. cst for the win.

        Also: Unlike Bill O’Reilly’s fans, they won’t murder a doctor.

        Also: Unlike Hannity & Coulter’s fans, they won’t murder two people in a church ’cause the church is traditionally liberal.

        Comment by Greg — Saturday July 31, 2010 @ 1:12am PDT  Reply to this post
        • Bill O’Reilly, Glen Beck and the like have a lot of fans so there are bound to be a few nuts that watch them. Keith Olbermann Rachel Maddow and the like would probably be glad to have a couple of criminals watching them, at least it would mean that someone was watching.

          Comment by Bill H — Sunday August 1, 2010 @ 5:46pm PDT  Reply to this post
  • Yes, a place where a President can call AAs “Mongrels” and not one word from the press except Drudge and Fox. Imagine if it had been Bush. There’s a reason he needs a teleprompter at all time. Let’s face it: the Dems were fools to pass over Hilary.

    Comment by DenverDean — Friday July 30, 2010 @ 4:57pm PDT  Reply to this post
    • Do you even know what he meant when he said the word “mongrels” or were you so fixated on the possibility of how much of an “insult”
      it might be to black people to even get the point?

      (hint : Black people were not offended because they know what he meant)

      Comment by Fremen — Saturday July 31, 2010 @ 1:03am PDT  Reply to this post
  • President Obama was incredible on THE VIEW. FOX has got to be killing itself over the prediction that his appearance would bomb. When Sean Hannity and Glen Beck leave broadcast media the world can exhale. I predict that Obama will win a second term. HAPPY BIRTHDAY MR PRESIDENT!

    Comment by prince — Friday July 30, 2010 @ 5:06pm PDT  Reply to this post
  • Was Arsenio Hall cancelled? ….. for 14 years?

    Comment by Welchy — Friday July 30, 2010 @ 5:14pm PDT  Reply to this post
  • Behar looked like a pig during that whole interview, with her fat greesy legs out. Disgusting!

    Comment by Derrick — Friday July 30, 2010 @ 5:32pm PDT  Reply to this post
    • HA! I missed it, did Joy dry hump him? :)

      Comment by Alex — Saturday July 31, 2010 @ 4:28am PDT  Reply to this post
  • they should have just asked,

    “so, President Obama, how much longer till your dream is finally realized, that of turning the greatest country on Earth, the United States of America, to Socialism?”

    And let the comments rollllll

    Comment by jack-o — Friday July 30, 2010 @ 5:44pm PDT  Reply to this post
    • Trolling 101: if you’re trying to bait people into responding, don’t tell people you’re trying to bait them into responding.

      Comment by Michael — Friday July 30, 2010 @ 8:31pm PDT  Reply to this post
  • Hillary Clinton for President.

    Comment by Coop — Friday July 30, 2010 @ 6:08pm PDT  Reply to this post
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