NEW YORK (Hollywood Reporter) - With a little help from Tina Fey doubling as Sarah Palin and from guest host Michael Phelps, "Saturday Night Live" logged its best season premiere since 2001.

It was also the most-watched "SNL" for any date since December 17, 2002, when former vice president Al Gore was the guest host and jam band Phish was the musical guest.

"SNL" averaged a 7.4 household rating/18 share in the top 55 "metered" markets, Nielsen Media Research said Sunday. Saturday's program was up 64 percent compared to last year's season premiere on September 29. The top market was Baltimore, the hometown of Olympics hero Phelps.

Final ratings will be out Thursday.

Reuters/Hollywood Reporter


http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20080915/tv_nm/snl_dc

i thought last year's premiere was a better show, I never really enjoy it as much when they get athletes to host - they always seem out of place in every skit.

Yeah, the only funny part of the whole show was the first 5 minutes - Tina Fey was a remarkable Sarah Palin (I didn't even know it was her at first-LOL), and the whole scene with her and Hillary was hilarious. Michael Phelps sucks at hosting - that's what they get for getting a sportsman to host - and the rest was just your usual SNL.

i liked most of the sketches on saturdays show but as far as michael phelps hosting i think any one of the members here at sitcoms online could have hosted the show and done as well or even better than he did he was one of the most bland hosts that they have ever had

i liked most of the sketches on saturdays show but as far as michael phelps hosting i think any one of the members here at sitcoms online could have hosted the show and done as well or even better than he did he was one of the most bland hosts that they have ever had

He was bland, boring, and not funny. They should have known - if anyone's seen him on a talkshow before, you'd know then that he's not the most outgoing person in the world-LOL

i never watch that much of snl anymore. update for sure, but the rest on fast forward.