Audio issues interrupt NBC's Obama interview

NEW YORK (Hollywood Reporter) - NBC's exclusive interview with President Barack Obama on Super Bowl Sunday was interrupted by technical difficulties.

The president, in shirtsleeves, spoke for about 20 minutes to "Today" co-host Matt Lauer from the White House. But there was occasional dropping of audio in the interview after 5 p.m. EST.

Super Bowl host Bob Costas apologized after the interview for technical difficulties from Washington.

"We kept with it because we knew you wanted to hear from the president," Costas said.

Obama spoke about the stimulus package, his favored team in the Super Bowl (the Steelers), the BlackBerry he uses and how he felt about being cut from the cover of US Weekly on which his wife and daughters appear.

"It's a little hurtful," Obama said.

"You got replaced by Jessica Simpson," Lauer said.

"Who's in a weight battle, apparently," Obama said.

Reuters/Hollywood Reporter