Culture

"Saturday Night Live" has best premiere since 2001

by Dave Keating | September 15, 2008 at 02:25 am

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Tina Fey's hillarious return to SNL playing Sarah Palin scored the show its highest-rated premiere since 2001, and the most-watched episode of the US sketch comedy show, for years thought to be in decline, since December 17, 2002.

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.