via NBC press release:
‘SATURDAY NIGHT LIVE’ MATCHES ITS HIGHEST SEASON-FINALE OVERNIGHTS IN FOUR YEARS
HOSTED BY WILL FERRELL AND FEATURING MUSICAL GUEST GREEN DAY, ‘SNL’ EQUALS ITS HIGHEST METERED-MARKET RATING FOR A SEASON CLOSER SINCE MAY 2005
UNIVERSAL CITY, Calif. – May 17, 2009 – “Saturday Night Live” has equaled its highest metered-market household rating for a season finale in four years, according to in-home viewing figures from the 56 local markets metered by Nielsen Media Research.
With a telecast hosted by Will Ferrell and featuring musical guest Green Day, last night’s “Saturday Night Live” averaged a 5.4 household rating, 14 share in the metered markets, to match the year-ago “SNL” season finale (5.4/13 on May 17, 2008, hosted by Steve Carell with musical guest Usher and an appearance by Senator John McCain). The last season finale to rate higher was the May 21, 2005 telecast (6.2/15), hosted by Lindsay Lohan with musical guest Coldplay.
“Saturday Night Live” dominated its time period last night with the show’s highest metered-market rating since January 10. “SNL” was the #1 telecast of the night, topping all primetime programs on all networks in the metered markets. In fact, it was the highest-rated Saturday program on any network since an NCAA Tournament semi-final college basketball telecast on CBS April 4.
“SNL” is up 20 percent this season versus last in metered-market ratings for original telecasts, with an average 6.1 versus last season’s 5.1.
The May 16 telecast of “Saturday Night Live” featured performances from show alums Norm Macdonald, Maya Rudolph and Amy Poehler, and special guest appearances by Tom Hanks, Anne Hathaway and Paul Rudd.
National ratings, viewer totals and demographic results for last night’s “Saturday Night Live” are due from Nielsen on Thursday, May 21.
I didn’t even know it was the finale, and I watched it all the way through from beginning to end. ( I caught the first episode ever. George Carlin. ” I’ll bet Jesus has a middle-class hypocrite hanging off HIS rear-view mirror. ) Like the rest of the intelligent universe, watched every episode, usually as part of a big conglomerate MU party, for year after year after year … Anyway, I howled with laughter over the Lawrence Welk skit, and I think some of my small intestines were on the carpet by the end. Amy and Tina – what a class act they always were, and Amy did her usual miraculous job handling what could have been a pull-the-punches or piss all over yourself with righteous indignation commentary on the ASU/Notre Dame Obama honorray degree rhubarb. ” Uh, doesn’t ASU have a 95% acceptance rate? ” ( I think MU’s was at least maybe 85% Aw, who am I kidding. We were the Arizona State of the Midwest, without the sunshine.) The skit at the end, with Will F. getting out paying the tabh by invoking his vacation in Vietman three years before, was brilliance, as was each aned every part of the ensemble. I know a lot or quite a few Vietman veterans, and I know they loved the shit out of that. Anyway, wonderful job. And I’m really rooting for Parks and Recreation now.
After 20 minutes… I turned it off.. it was so boring. Will F… not that great.. very DARK….. ME ME ME… nope not funny… I was not happy.
It was very funny!!! JEOPARDY was great!!!
Start to finish, the best episode of SNL in many years.