Ratings Continue to Soar for SNL

Perhaps the failing economy benefiting someone: Saturday Night Live continued its ratings renaissance over the weekend, a surefire sign that no one is going out and spending money on Saturday nights. Or maybe everyone just loves Tina Fey.

The Anne Hathaway-hosted episode was seen in 7.4 percent of the Nielsen households, up 23 percent from last week and a whopping 42 percent from a year ago. The numbers were only slightly lower than the Saturday Night Live season premiere, making this weekend's one of the highest rated editions in six years.

Of course everyone who tuned in did so to see Ms. Fey's so-good-it's-now-clichéd Sarah Palin impression during an 11-minute opening skit (embedded above) about the Vice Presidential debate. Saturday Night Live did a good job of getting audience expectations at a fever pitch, as late last week they slipped out that not only would Ms. Fey be returning, but Queen Latifah would appear as well, playing debate moderator Gwen Ifill.

Clearly the election, and most importantly John McCain's decision to pick Sarah Palin for VP, has been great for the show. But we have to ask: Does anyone realize that Tina Fey isn't actually on Saturday Night Live anymore? While it's all well and good to assume that she can appear in the remaining episodes leading up to Election Day (Josh Brolin hosts October 18^th, Mad Men's Jon Hamm hosts on October 25^th), what happens if, God-forbid, a Sarah Palin impression is needed post November 4^th? As much as we love Casey Wilson and Kristin Wiig, the idea of one of them putting on Ms. Fey's frameless glasses would be quite a letdown.

We know: stop worrying! Fine. For now, Saturday Night Live is on top, and everyone is laughing . And we're happy Tina Fey is getting so much press. The season premiere of 30 Rock is only a few weeks away. Her baby needs more viewers!