TV's Fall Ratings Hit: Meet the Obamas

The media's fall ratings hit is a retro family show with a distinctively 21st century cast

Illustration by Francisco Caceres for TIME; Obamas: Stan Honda / AFP / Getty (2); Sasha & Malia: Jae C. Hong / AP

Barack Obama may or may not save the auto industry or the banking system. But he's already a one-man stimulus package for the media (present publication included). Magazines with his face on the cover fly off shelves by the millions. Publishers hawk instant dvds and books. An MSNBC ad invites viewers to "experience the power of change." For one glorious day, Nov. 5, Americans actually wanted to buy a newspaper.

After that remarkable Grant Park tableau introducing America to its black First Family, Barack had to share Obamamania with the wife and kids. Us Weekly ran a cover story on BARACK...

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