Barack Obama Spurs "The Daily Show" to New Viewership Heights with 3.6 Million Viewers

Last night's appearance by Senator Barack Obama lifted "The Daily Show with Jon Stewart" to record levels as the Emmy� and Peabody� Award-winning series posted its most-watched and highest-rated episode in its history with 3.6 million total viewers and a 2.6 HHLD Rating. This episode beats the prior most-watched episode record set on October 8 when Jon's guest was Michele Obama, by 700,000 total viewers.

Also setting a new record for most-watched and highest rated episode in series' history was "The Colbert Report," which saw host Stephen Colbert boldly cross party lines and endorse Senator Obama. The Emmy� and Peabody� Award-winning series topped its prior record (October 8) by 400,000 total viewers drawing 2.4 million total viewers and a 1.8 HHLD Rating.

To view Senator Obama's interview on "The Daily Show," click here.

To view Stephen Colbert's endorsement of Barack Obama, click here.

"The Daily Show with Jon Stewart" (October 29, 11:00 p.m. � 11:30 p.m.)

3.6 million total viewers

2.2 million P18-49 viewers

2.6 HHLD Rating

2.0 P18-49 Rating

"The Colbert Report" (October 29, 11:30 p.m. � 12:00 a.m.)

2.4 million total viewers

1.7 million P18-49 viewers

1.8 HHLD Rating

1.5 P18-49 Rating

� This is the first time The Daily Show has averaged more than 3 million viewers for a single episode.

� The Daily Show outperformed its previous best by +22% (2.9 million viewers on October 8, 2008).

� The Colbert Report outperformed its previous best by +23% (2.0 million viewers on October 8, 2008).