Obama Drives ‘Daily Show’ to Record Ratings

By Vlada Gelman

Sen. Barack Obama’s appearance on Comedy Central’s “The Daily Show With Jon Stewart” last night was the program’s most-watched episode ever.

The episode attracted 3.6 million total viewers and a 2.6 household rating, besting its previous record—when Michelle Obama was a guest on Oct. 8—by 22%.

The half-hour also garnered 2.2 million viewers and a 2.0 rating among people ages 18-49.

“The Colbert Report” broke its previous record too, bringing in 2.4 million total viewers and a 1.8 household rating for the Oct. 29 episode.