President Barack Obama’s visit to Comedy Central’s The Daily Show — which has set up shop in Washington, D.C., for the week in anticipation of host Jon Stewart’s rally tomorrow — drew 2.8 million viewers to the program Wednesday night, according to the New York Times. It was the first time a sitting president has appeared on the show and currently ranks as The Daily Show‘s third highest-rated episode ever, behind two episodes in October 2008 — one that featured then-candidate Obama and another that featured his wife, Michelle. Not surprisingly, of the 2.8 million viewers, 1.7 million of them — or a hefty 61 percent — were between 18 and 49, the advertiser-coveted demographic. So far this year, The Daily Show has been averaging 1.9 million viewers.
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I’m as sick of Obama popping up everywhere on TV as I am of Betty White and jane Lynch. His job is running the country not being a pop culture fave.
Common sense is slowly creeping up on the American people…slowly but surely
Your version of the common sense. I love how the majority of people see things with selfish colored glasses.
Be honest. If he didn’t appear on TV you’d complain he was an elitist snob who thought he was too good for the American people, or that he was secretive or some other nonsense.
There is literally no right amount of television for him to appear on in your mind, is there?
I’m not saying Obama should or shouldn’t be anywhere, but I’m sure no one would complain that he isn’t on an entertainment show. No president has ever been on the 4 or 5 entertainment shows he’s been on.
President Obama could take over Michael Scott’s role on The Office, and it still wouldn’t be half as bad as Ronald Reagan inviting Michael Jackson and his chimp Bubbles to the Oval Office.
“No president has ever been on the 4 or 5 entertainment shows he’s been on.”
That’s because they were not trying to reach out that audience. Young people are part of the electoral process and it is great that he is not ignoring them.
First let me say, I fully support President Obama, voted for him and will vote for him in 2012. But I think he is a politician of the age, TV/internet is where a lot of potential voters get there information so you have to be where they are and I think he tries to do that.
You Socialist. 66 years ago you probably would have voted for Adolph. Your entitled to your opinion, but Barry is a verified socialist/communist.
You’re by yourself. I can’t get enough of Jane Lynch and Betty White. Love them. Want to see more of them.
And hopefully people are beginning to realize that it will take more than 24 months to undue 8 years of utter crap.
When the Bush administration took office, there was a 2 trillion dollar surplus.
When the Bush administration left office, there was a 3 trillion dollar deficit.
He spent 5 trillion dollars in 8 years and all we got was higher unemployment and a market crash. WooHoo
There was a 2 trillion dollar surplus? Really? Are you sure about that?
The debt clock was covered with an American Flag during President Clinton’s second term because our country was in a surplus. That same clock had to be replaced with one that allowed for more zeroes during President Bush’s second term. These are simple facts. Remember, Mr. Bush decided to give everyone checks from the Federal bank right after taking office. Not very fiscally responsible, I would say.
You people are insane. We have not had a national surplus since the Andrew Jackson administration. There was an annual surplus during the last few years of the Clinton administration, but it still grew from about 3 Trillion in 1992 to 3.4 Trillion in 2000.
I think you meant to say the national debt grew, but anyway, thanks for pointing this out. I am a Democrat, but still it drives me nuts when people talk about how there was a supposed surplus during the Clinton years. We have been in debt since I can remember (do not know if you said Andrew Jackson in jest or if this is true, but I would believe that it is true).
You guys are talking about two different things. Having a budget surplus means for the term, the country brings in more money than it spends. It has nothing to do with the national debt. Having a surplus would imply that we are not adding to the debt.
Exactly. Fixing what was destroyed in 8 years is not gonna happen in 22 months. It’s just not possible.
Seriously, it’s been less than 2 years. So much damage had been done in the 8 years before, it is impossible to recover so fast. People are so impatient and place all the blame on Obama. Is he the perfect president? No, but he does know what he is doing.
Julie you half right, yes Bush spent $5T in eight years; but where is your complaint about the almost $3T Obama has spent in deficit spending in two? Some thing seem a little lopsided in your reasoning.
This number is kind of surprising. I don’t care what anyone thinks about the current administration or anything, but you would think that anything featuring the president would draw phenomenal ratings…not a measly 2.8 million…when Jersey Shore gets way more than that…
I was wondering how this rates compared to a normal press conference or SOTU.
This is because The Daily Show is on a cable network not broadcast. Don’t try reading too much into the numbers here.
What I mean is that most older adults (the ones that tune into the SOTU wouldn’t have known it was on). They were trying to reach young adults and they accomplished their task.
yeah…but Jersey Shore gets like 6 million views right? And they aren’t the President…they are nobodies.
President Obama is making all of these appearances so he can be as transparent as possible, allowing any question to be asked. President Bush gave the fewest number of press conferences compared to any President in history. Just a fact. While many may be sick of the President being seen on tv, he’s doing it so he can keep everyone informed.
I agree. The Republican media (Fox News) spreads so much crap that he has no choice but to get his message across through every avenue possible. Heck I still have a friend that thinks Obama is socialist muslim under control by the illuminati.
Your comparing apples and oranges. Jersey shore is a series. This was just one appearence on a variety show.
Meant to respond to comment above.
sad – fighting over spilt milk. You are all very sad, sick individuals. You are the type of people that both Dems & Repubs like to take advantage of. The surplus vs deficits have built up since Reagan (other than during the brief time that the debt was refinanced). It has never stopped and we are in trouble. Take Action now and protect yourself! It is over for Washington and they know it – that is why we have this hip-hype dude doing TV shows – read the signs. MEGA-inflation is coming…. Borrow now or have worthless cash in your pocket.
How anyone can think Bush did a good job and Obama isn’t then they must really be as ignorant as Hillbillies!
You are so right! Who cares about his ratings! Everything is thought of as a perception – how does it make you feel? if enough people like me, then I can go on doing what I do. It is insane – our Elected Officials pandering to the masses with “no balls” (sorry) whatsoever. Oh well – pander to whomever you must; illegal immigrants, the Mexican elite, the Europeans, any special interest groups or to these lying comedians who spend their lives twisting respectable people’s words. j is right – it will stop when we are bankrupt and good people have to take control again. I pray that their will not be mass chaos on that day…. No really – just pray
This sounds like the prologue to StormTroopers.
thanks for listening
anyone that watched this would realize that Obama said exactly what alot of people here are saying, The changes are going to take time. He inherited alot of problems, and he is trying to fix those problems. Blaming Obama for the unemployment and market crash is just plain stupid.
Agreed. I wish Stewart asked more questions. It sounded very rehersed to me. The president made sure he got through all his agenda
Great interview. Jon Stewart didn’t hold back at all. Obama handled himself incredibly well. It’s sad when a comedian can ask stronger/intelliegent questions then anyone at Fox News.
Wow its scary how many of you think Barrack is this gift from God. He is prob the worst President we ever had. Sure Bush made mistakes, but Barrack has made so many more. He said during his campaign that the problems would be fixed in 18 months and that the unemloyment would not go above 8%. His health care plan is a joke. I own my own small business and will prob have to lay off about 10% of my employees because of how much this plan is going to cost me. His policies are what is causing more layoffs and people not willing to spend any money. He spent more in his first 2 terms than Bush spent in 4. What does that tell you about this guy. Vote for real change on Tuesday.
You might want to check your facts. Nobody associated with the Obama campaign, including him, said that they would be able to fix all of the country’s problems in 18 months. And why blame Obama for not getting everything turned around in 18 months, when Bush used all 8 of his years in office to screw up this country?
“You might want to check your facts”
Do you seriously believe a person like “NObama” cares about facts or reason?
How can you mispell Barack Obama’s name? It’s in the article!
Tell that to the 5,000 dead American troops and these results: No WMDs, bin Laden still alive and free and no dismantling or disruption of Al Qaida.
Mission Accomplished!
But yes, he’s such a bad president that your here on an entertainment news site blogging about the Daily Show. Yup, you’re really struggling champ.
Yeah, because it’s not like Clinton sent the military on any missions that got them killed, right?
Yea a couple of missions and got a few killed.. Not a couple of wars with thousands aof dead americans and hunderdsof thousand dead Iraquis (half innocent civilains).
I didn’t think Stewart got to ask all the questions and/or counterpoints he wanted to make out of respect to the prseident. I think the conversation was much to rehersed and defensive. The dem’s agenda and plea for time (again). I think the prez missed an opportunity to be “interviewed” and talk to the psople he needs to reach being; (Stewards demographic) audience.
Well, the show is only a half-hour. Give the guy some credit!
If only “real” journos asked tough questions of the prez like Stewart did. Stewart had Obama backpedaling and stumbling over his answers. Bad decision by “O” to do the show. He was being laughed at by Stewart and the audience. It made him look small. “O” is not so good without his trusty teleprompter at his side.
wow. What interview did you watch? I saw an interview with a lot of applause towards Obama and while Stewart did ask tough questions was it in no way “too bad” for the Prez. He may have boosted his party’s chances on Tues.
I think the president was just being honest and real. His answers did not come out as rehearsed to me. He just wanted to have a heart to heart conversation with Jon, the daily show audience and the 2.8 million people who tuned in. Jon Stewart is a comedian and he tried very hard to make light of the situation and even called the president “dude”, but Obama owned the interview. Good job, sir.
Jack, you don’t know jack. There is a difference between laughing at someone, and laughing with.
Liberals, let it go. You can’t make a valid argument without bringing Bush up. Time to move on, your constant whining is getting old.
Seriously? Bush’s policies has no effect on our current economic situation?
All President’s has to deal with the prior administrations policies. Stop whining about, that’s all you liberals do.
Mr. Obama plans to increase the debt by at least $9.1 trillion over the next decade. In that period of time, Mr. Obama’s programs will increase federal spending by $400 billion to $500 billion per year over what his predecessor, President George W. Bush, planned. Far from keeping his promise, this is the largest peacetime increase ever in government spending.
I’ve voting for the lessor of two evils on Tuesday, I have never expected this president to fix things overnight as some people have that things change magically with each new election, The republicans have made it very clear what they plan to do, AMERICANS do not complain when its done then. They have been pretty clear what their agenda is, and its not US, sorry. Unfortunantly we vote blindly instead of our better intrest, and they played on it. Were gullable and we beleive who screams the loudest, Death Panels I cant beleived some beleived that but you did so you’ll get what you deserve in Jan!