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Betty White solidified her status as TV’s golden girl of the moment by drawing big ratings for her Mother’s Day hosting gig on Saturday Night Live. But the big draw as well was the reappearances of many of SNL’s most popular comediennes – Amy Poehler, Tina Fey, Ana Gasteyer, Maya Rudolph, Rachel Dratch, and Molly Shannon. Just a reminder that these women are funny. Everyone, and musical guest Jay-Z, averaged an 8.8 household rating/21 share in the metered markets. That is SNL’s highest rating in 18 months (since the telecast on the eve of the 2008 Presidential election). And Betty only got the hosting gig because of that Facebook petition.
Here’s the double entendre NPR sketch with Betty:
And this Amy Poehler-Seth Meyers-Tina Fey news segment:
TV Editor Nellie Andreeva - tip her here.
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I had really high expectations for this episode and I hadn’t watched SNL in a while but other than BW’s opening monologue and the last sketch, the episode was just disappointing. SNL’s writing has just become sooo lazy and not funny at all. The census sketch I thought was great but the other stuff was just blah.
Funniest episode in 18 months too.
Smartest move of the night: ditching an opening with Fred Armison’s
soul-deadening, room-silencing Obama ‘impersonation’.
SNL’s writing staff apparently only wakes up when they have an
engaging, funny host who’s up for anything (as in, Tina Fey, Jon Hamm,Baldwin..) Otherwise they fall back on the droning, endless parade of unfunny Kristen Wiig/Keenan Thompson characters…sending all of America into a deep sleep before ‘Weekend Update’.
Betty should join Alec Baldwin and Christopher Walken as a regular mainstay host.
Word on the street is that Lorne Michaels kids pick every host that goes on the show. The old cast petitioned for years to get Jerry Orbach, RIP, on the show. No go. I’m sure they’ll be back to their old ways shortly and have Justin Bieber on again as the host and musical guest, or some other crap flavor of the month.
sorry Nikki, but women have, and always will be…not funny.
Are you really that bored? Take up gardening, maybe socializing with friends.
Nellie wrote this
I have tried giving women the benefit of the doubt but last night’s SNL was soooo bad. Not even the giggly SNL audience laughed at any of their cast-offs. I had not followed the show much this decade so I was interested in seeing what characters these women were good at, which probably explains for the bump in the ratings. But being annoying and awkward does not guarantee laughs. I do like 30 Rock for it’s ensemble cast and humor but SNL apparently needs a reboot. With more funny men.
Are you on crack, did your mother beat you into misogynist hole? Dude you are losing out on droves of hilarity. But I am sure that you & your tiny penis can laugh it up while you watch a bunch of rednecks on parade and by all means ignore the highest rated comedies on television today, all of which are written, performed, directed and produced by women. Ha ha ha ha ha ha
Isn’t it sad that the main cast is mainly men with only Kristen Wiig as the only woman primary?
Betty’s gig was the best SNL all season! I hope the powers that be realize that classic comedians and stars can still pull in great ratings while bringing the level of the game up for the regulars.
Wouldn’t it be great to see what Carol Burnett (along with Vicki Lawrence and Tim Conway) could do teaming-up with the kids?
And seeing the top SNL women of recent years back Betty up was also a treat. Why not launch an “All-Star Saturday Night Live” prime time series or special bringing back a rotating mix of all the old favorites from all seasons in new material? These seasoned talents need an outlet — and we certainly need the laughs!
Actually, that sounds like THE NEW SHOW, a short-lived primetime series from the 1980′s that featured sketches by a rotating cast of SNL and SCTV alums. As I recall, it wasn’t bad, but even though some of the performers were full-fledged movie stars at that time, it still couldn’t draw ratings. Might be worth trying again though.
Carole Burnett would be great. But no Joan Rivers. I am quite sick of her.
Betty White did a fine job but I also think it helps that most people like her.
I’m very happy for her.
I thought Betty killed last night, even when most of the material she was dealt was merely proficient or middling at best. It was great to see the other funny ladies return as well. Interestingly enough, some of the strongest sketches of the night were retreads of far funnier versions: the NPR ‘shweaty balls’ women that originated with Baldwin and the Census worker sketch originated with Tim Meadows and Chris Walken. Still, easily the best episode of SNL in a long time (not that that’s saying much unfortunately..)
Word on the street is that Lorne is getting ready to do a massive cleaning of the house – performers and writers. I think it’s long overdue. If Lorne could fire Sandler and Farley in their prime, he sure as hell should be able to ditch some of the dead weight that’s on now and infuse the show with some new voices.
SNL’s ratings have not been this high for a long time. So if you didn’t like it good don’t watch. I loved it. The skits were full of gut busting laughs.
I believe Betty White would have been just fine without the SNL’s alumni. They took away from Betty, but she still rocked. If the SNL ladies wanted to have a reunion, they could have come back on another episode of their own.
Does anyone know what the exact number of viewers that tuned into SNL?
I thought the reason for having the alumni on board was because there was a concern Ms. White couldn’t carry the show herself; and yet, she was in each and every sketch, proving they had nothing to worry about. What it did show was that other than Wigg, the female cast members are truly unmemorable.
Betty White and the female alumni of SNL truly ruled the night. Much of the humor may have been low brow but it was hilarious. The only thing that bothered me was the shameless self-promotion of the unfunny “MacGruber” skits. If that film is successful I will be shocked. I was hoping that Bill Hader would reprise his role as Vincent Price in a Mother’s Day Special. Those skits have been some of SNLs funniest moments in recent history. I was well entertained for most of the show’s 90 minutes. Bring Betty back soon!
Hey SNL: Kristen Wiig is NOT funny!
It may have been the best episode of SNL ever. Betty White rocked. And the surprise return of former cast members was a welcome delight. I’ve never laughed so much, and so often, at SNL. This may mark a rebirth at SNL. As another poster said, let’s hope NBC pick other seasoned comedians for future hosting gigs.
The female alumni were obviously a way of trying to lighten Betty’s load. She proved that she didn’t need the help.
Easily the best host of this season, Betty also brought as much energy to the show as any host in recent years.
Betty White was great but SNL’s writing has been in a lull this season. And I thought too many of the sketches were degrading to Betty. They kept repeating the same gag over and over again: poking fun at the incongruity of an old woman saying off-color things. lowest common denominator.
Isn’t that how Judd Apatow got rich? Having shy/polite characters talk dirty and find themselves in explicit situations. And repeat, repeat, repeat, repeat, repeat…
people’s responses here about snl are so tired. it’s all retread of old responses that people have been saying for 20 years. same thing over and over again. you guys have no originality. you posters are boring and i really can’t see the point of continuing. why keep going whining about the same stuff and presenting it in the same way?
posters who hate snl haven’t been interesting in years. now and then i’ll read a post hoping someone will write something new or interesting but i’m always disappointed.
I agree, people always bitch and complain about SNL sucking, I thought this season was better than the previous season. But I will say that the best SNL era was between the late 80s and early 90s, classic episodes.
Well played, Dmon!
Ya know, your post ain’t that original either.
Was Jan Hooks deemed insufficiently funny to join the group?
maybe too old…but Tina Fey isn’t fit to hold Jan Hooks’ cue cards…one of the few standout women of SNL, along with Gilda, Curtin, and probably Julia Sweeney…each of them had range and could do ridiculous characters quite well
I’ve known about Betty White since the 1980s, why all the hype and whats the big deal! I don’t get it.
As a gay man, let me tell you that it’s mostly a gay thing. I think our love for her exploded during the last election. Up until then, I too knew who she was but didn’t much care. Then she went on Craig Ferguson and he asked her what she thought of Sarah Palin. She gave him her kindly grandma stare, pursed her lips and said something to the effect of “Wow, that Sarah Palin, what a crazy bitch!” Personally, that’s when I fell in love.
my favorite one is ‘Thank You for Being A Friend’ goes horribly bad with Betty White, Adam Samberg, etc: Thank You for Being A Friend – SNL Digital Short
OK, looking at this from a business point of view, Betty White’s SNL was the funniest in two decades. For once NBC management didn’t mess it up by sticking their nose into it. Last night it was the Betty White Show with special guests the Cast of SNL and musical guest JayZ. The hip-hop kings dedication of “Forever Young” nearly brought me to tears. It was the highlight of the musical portion of the night. Preliminary ratings report promise to prove that Betty lived up to the hype and ultimately p[roves that Reality TV may be cheap but it just doesn’t fulfill our thirst for quality entertainment. So agents and actor’s unions. Take heart. Betty may just have broken that glass ceiling and made you folks hot once again.
hulu has up sketches that were cut presumably for time reasons. one is debbie downer. it was funny. definitely better than a few of the later sketches. betty has a small appearance at the end of it.
I’m a long-time fan of Betty White (since Golden Girls) and I thoroughly enjoyed last night’s SNL. I believe the (all female) returning alums idea was a nod to Mother’s day since most of them became mothers after leaving the show. All in all, a hilarious episode, probably the best I’ve seen in recent years. As for the current SNL cast, my favorite -by a long shot- is Kristen Wiig, who doesn’t seem to be getting much love from many. To each their own I guess.
I love this website! It keeps me up to date on the habits and opinions of people with nothing to do on Saturday nights.