new york live unscripted unpredictable first 2016 u.s. presidential debate monday expect set new television audience record commentators forecast super bowl-sized viewership around 100 million americans face-off republican donald trump democrat hillary clinton hofstra university new york city suburb hempstead carry across multiple u.s. broadcast cable network without commercial break 90 minutes political media experts say extraordinary nature campaign feature trump outspoken n.y. businessman former reality tv star vie vote clinton former u.s. secretary state first woman run white house expect break record tv audience 80 million 1980 debate jimmy carter ronald reagan accord nielsen prediction 100 million audience maybe say paul levinson communications professor new york fordham university author mcluhan age social media super bowl show something really special something command people interest something want see big screen television enormous power reach levinson say national football league annual super bowl watch television event year unite state 2015 game hold record 115 million viewers 1983 finale comedy series hold record non-sporting event 105 million viewers per nielsen year academy award ceremony watch 34 million americans optimistic predictions monday debate fuel primaries record audience 24 million first republican primary debate august 2015 attribute trump presence alan schroeder author presidential debate risky business campaign trail say audience 100 million seem possible especially give trump wild-card nature normally see candidates choreograph settings situations fully control debate give make attractive viewers sense danger know play add media hype cable news channel show count-down windows days advance first debate become must-see tv schroeder journalism professor boston northeastern university compare allure trump versus clinton 2008 vice presidential debate republican sarah palin democrat joe biden 69.9 million u.s. viewers rank second view campaign debate ever palin also really compel tv figure sense danger around say monday debate broadcast time popular monday night football espn levinson doubt would make big dent debate audience crucial game super bowl playoff ... think football fan feel afford miss game levinson say presidential debate could score super bowl-sized audience