OBAMA RATINGS DOWN - AT 5:21 P.M. ET:  The show went on, but may need some work:

Most TV shows start strong in the ratings, then decline as their novelty wears off.

Apparently that trend also holds true for the president's primetime telecasts.

According to the national Nielsen ratings, Barack Obama's Tuesday-night press conference lost viewers compared with his two most recent heavily covered evening events.

The news special drew 40.4 million viewers -- down 18% from from his Feb. 9 press conference, and down 23% from his Feb. 24 address to Congress. The numbers are the combined viewership from 11 cable and broadcast networks that carried the event.

COMMENT:  How often can you see the same movie?  They need a sequel, and pretty soon they may need a new star. 

The White House must make these appearances more substantive.  People are getting the sense that no news is made, and that they really don't have to listen.

March 25, 2009