SNL Ratings: Tina Fey's Sarah Palin Helps Propel 46% Growth Over Last Season

Hollywood Reporter:

NEW YORK -- "Saturday Night Live" continues to go on a ratings tear, thanks in part to another appearance by Tina Fey as Sarah Palin and Chris Parnell as presidential debate moderator Jim Lehrer.

"SNL" averaged a 6.0 overnight rating/15 share in the metered markets, Nielsen Media Research said Sunday afternoon. That's up 46% compared to last season's third telecast on 4.1/10 on Oct. 13, 2007. It's also up in the ratings 52% compared to the first three episodes of last season, which began later than "SNL" did this year.

"SNL" was also the highest-rated program of the night on broadcast TV.

Read the whole story: Hollywood Reporter

Comments

[imsosure]

They are brilliant unlike the brunt of the jokes. . .

[demfriend]

Does it not frighten you/me/all of us that Tina Fey doesn't need a script and can say what Palin says and it is coming out as stupid as it sounded the first time? How can people continue to take the Palin/McCain ticket seriously? The very insane way McCain is running around and acting as if he has insider knowledge about what Congress is doing, the GOP is doing while he is campaigning with Palin at the same time and the "suspending" has taken the last nerve and isn't funny but sad to think of what the world continues to see representing people actually running for the top offices. Yet he continues to bounce around and acting self important while he feeds his ego with BS. I can only imagine what McCain has thought since he selected Palin and how she changes the messages from his camp more often than he does.

[mredder4]

I definitely agree that the writing on SNL is at a low point right now, but I give high marks to the current cast. Often times it is the great performances that turn lackluster material into something actually funny. The only thing I am upset about is that Amy Poehler is leaving. But other than a noticable lack of black and asian cast members (who would play Michelle Obama?), the stars of the show are doing very well.

I've also been enjoying those SNL Digital Shorts for a few years now. Those things never seem to disappoint, and a lot of times they are so bizarre as to defy explanation. Laser Cats? Priceless.

[zull2]

And yet, their writers still suck. Well, elections pretty much write themselves, just like that Palin spot there.

[mredder4]

Indeed, some of the funniest parts of that sketch were lifted, word for word, from the CBS interview.

[bootcamp]

Palin-McCain has nowhere to go now but down. He can run away from President Bush, but he can't run away from the Republican Party. The Republicans will be regarded from now on as "the party that wrecked America." Over the weeks ahead, as carnage in the economy and the financial markets ramps up, it will become increasingly clear. It is important that this meme be spread through the internet. I urge all commentators to adopt and spread the idea that the Republicans are "the party that wrecked America." It will work because it is the truth. Use it freely. Just spread the word.

[mnyobpres]

Absolutely, the skit on Palin was HILLARIOUSLY funny... i loved it, and on the debate between Obama and McCain was funny. It then stopped there...the funny left the SNL arena after that.

[BillORights1776]

I flipped on to SNL this saturday...and it was unbelievably dreadful.

Yes, the Tina guess spots of Palin are funny, but the rest...aiech!

[marymansour]

I am in great hopes that SNL will not have their favored target as of the first Tuesday in November. I do hope the cast and crew won't vote for McCain in order to continue their hyped ratings. If that ticket wins, there will be no audience to entertain. We will all be in the Army.

OBAMA/BIDEN'08.

[kc7999]

I sincerely hope I'm wrong, but I wouldn't be surprised if Letterman, Stewart, Colbert, etc were all voting for McCain just to make the next 4 years easier on their writers. I bet Letterman & Carson wanted to vote for Bush/Quayle in '88 and '92 too!

[marymansour]

Bill Maher is the only one honest enough to say that things will be easier in his job if McCain and Palin win. I don't think Bill will vote for them but many of the others probably will. Sad thing, that!