When the Beatles appeared on CBS on February 9, 1964, this episode became most watched episode or event of all time until it was surpassed by the finale of The Fugitive (1963), The Judgment: Part II (1967), on August 29, 1967. The episode was watched by 23.24 million households or 45.3% with a Nielsen share of 60%.
During one of their songs, the four members of The Beatles have their first names posted on-screen. After Paul, Ringo and George, John's name appears on screen as "John - Sorry girls, he's married".
73 million TVs were tuned in to watch.
Also appearing on the show was the cast from the musical "Oliver!" which featured another young man from England named Davy Jones. Two years later, Jones would star in a sitcom inspired by the Beatles' success, The Monkees (1965).
A segment of the National Public Radio series "This American Life" profiles the experiences of husband-and-wife team Charlie Brill and Mitzi McCall who had had a struggling nightclub act when they were booked for this very show. McCall and Brill, who had never heard of the Beatles (and did not recognize John Lennon) found their opportunity to appear on national television overwhelmed by the Beatles' presence that same night. The episode of "This American Life" in which their story is recounted is entitled, appropriately, "My Big Break".