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IN JULY of this year, President Obama was to speak to the American people on prime-time television to announce details of important changes to the healthcare system in the US. He requested the usual 9pm slot from the NBC network. NBC replied by saying that they would be delighted to offer the president the 8pm slot. The president said thanks, but 9pm is the traditional time for addressing the nation. NBC said the 8pm slot is great – you’ll love it, Mr President. Obama asked whether there was a problem. NBC said there was indeed a problem, Mr President. And its name was Susan Boyle, writes BRIAN BOYD

That evening at 9pm, NBC was showing America’s Got Talentand the exclusive on the show was an interview with the Britain’s Got Talentrunner-up. Despite the fact that President Obama knew it was a pre-recorded interview with Boyle, he confessed to NBC that he was a fan and didn’t want to upset the viewing public by bumping the very popular show back to a later slot. The president talked to the nation about healthcare reform at 8pm, before being roundly trounced in the ratings by Susan’s Boyle pre-recorded interview at 9pm.