Madoff TV Interviews Spur Great Ratings, Lousy Book Sales

A flurry of Bernie Madoff-related publicity tied to the release of two new books involving Madoff family members delivered high ratings for ABC's20/20and CBS' 60 Minutes, but failed to entice viewers to buy the books.our editor recommends'60 Minutes': Ponzi Scheme Perpetrator Bernie Madoff and Wife Attempted SuicideBernie Madoff Defends $60 Billion Ponzi Scheme to ABC News' Barbara Walters (Video) Truth and Consequences: Life Inside the Madoff Family by Laurie Sandell and written with the cooperation of the convicted Wall Street Ponzi-schemer's son Mark sits at No. 65 on the Barnes & Noble online sales rankings and No. 76 on Amazon. The End of Normal: A Wife's Anguish, A Widow's New Life by Stephanie Mack Madoff resides at No. 102 on Amazon but is at No. 58 on Barnes & Noble. VIDEO: Bernie Madoff's Son, Wife Open Up to '60 Minutes' ABC aired the first Madoff family member interview on October 21, when Mack, the widow of Bernie's son, Andrew, appeared on 20/20. The show scored its best ratings since February 2010, with 7.6 million viewers overall and a 2.1 rating in the 18-49 demographic. The End of Normal, published by Blue Rider Press,hit bookstores on October 20. Neither Madoff Mack nor Blue Rider commented on the size of Ms. Madoff Mack's advance. ABC tried to build on being the first to air a Madoff family member interview by having Barbara Walters report on a two-hour jailhouse interview with Bernie Madoff himself onWorld News with Diane SawyerandNightline. Since prison rules forbid filming interviews, the story consisted solely of Walters reporting what Madoff said. 60 Minutesaired interviews with Ruth, Bernie's wife, and Mark Madoff promotingTruth and Consequenceson October 30. That broadcast was watched by 18.5 million viewers, the show's largest audience in almost a year and its best performance in the 25-54 demographic in nearly three years. Truth and Consequences, published by Little Brown,went on sale on October 31. STORY: Bernie Madoff's Future Daughter-in-Law Only Person to Profit From New Book (Report) Though neither mother nor son has a financial stake in the success ofTruth and Consequences, Sandell wrote the book with Mark's cooperation. Some reports have said that Mark's fiancé Catherine Hooper, who brought Sandell into the project, is getting a share of the book's profits. Neither publisher Little Brown, Sandell, nor Hooper has commented on any financial arrangement, including the amount of the publisher's advance. Ruth agreed to an interview in the hopes of repairing her fractured relationship with Mark. Ruth Madoff followed the60 Minutesinterview with an exclusive print interview with journalist Diana Henrique's inThe NY Times. That story appeared online the night of October 30 and in print on October 31. The Wizard of Lies: Bernie Madoff and the Death of Trust, Henriques' April 2011 book on the Madoff scandal, languishes far down on Amazon and Barnes & Noble's sales charts. Related Topics