Long-running and respected CBS news magazine show “60 Minutes” recently hit it big last week with their sit-down with the president elect Barack Obama and his wife, the future First Lady Michelle Obama. The interview garnered 24.5 million viewers that Sunday night according to Nielson estimates. That gave “60 Minutes”, which as been running 1968, its biggest audience since its 1999 season.

“60 Minutes” is an investigative television news magazine which has been running on CBS News since 1968. It was created by long time CBS News producer Don Hewitt, who helped to establish its unique format of in-depth investigative journalism coverage. “60 Minutes” has been among the top-rated TV programs for much of its life, and the fall of 2008 will see its 40th anniversary.

Despite being involved in some controversies in its long run, such as their expose on the US Customs Service and the Kennewick Man controversy, “60 Minutes” currently holds the record for the longest continuously running program of any genre scheduled during American network prime time.

Barack Obama is the former Democratic presidential candidate and now President-Elect of the United States of America, elected November 4th 2008 and will be in following George W. Bush into office.

Photo courtesy of The LA Times

By Costa Koutsoutis