Written by: methodshop
on October 20, 2008.
Show nabs best overnight numbers in 14 years
A special appearance by Gov. Sarah Palin has lifted NBC’s “Saturday Night Live” to its best overnight numbers in 14 years.
According to Nielsen’s metered-market results, repping 56 of the nation’s biggest cities, the Peacock latenight program averaged a 10.7 rating/24 share — a whopping 161% improvement vs. the show’s October average of a year ago (4.1/10).
Through Saturday, it stood as the week’s No. 3 rated-program in the overnights, behind only ABC’s “Dancing With the Stars” and CBS’ “CSI.”
“Saturday Night Live” hasn’t generated a higher overnight score since a March 1994 episode featuring Nancy Kerrigan as host and Aretha Franklin as musical guest.
Saturday’s episode, hosted by Josh Brolin, featured the Alaskan governor appearing as herself in the opening sketch alongside executive producer Lorne Michaels, surprise guests Alec Baldwin and Mark Wahlberg, as well as Palin’s “SNL” doppelganger, Tina Fey. Palin also appeared during the “Weekend Live” segment.
For its first five originals this season, “Saturday Night Live” is averaging a 7.4/18 in the metered-market overnights, up 76% vs. its year-ago average at this point (4.2/10).
[Understand:
Variety]
™
