The combined power of Tina Fey as Sarah Palin and guest host Michael Phelps has earned Saturday Night Live its best season premiere since 2001.
In fact, the premiere was the most-watched SNL episode since December 2002, when another politician, former vice president Al Gore, was the guest host.
It seems there is just no stopping the mania of Sarah Palin. Even though celebrities like Lindsay Lohan and Matt Damon have explicitly attacked her, everyone else seems captivated by the former beauty pageant queen.
Record TV Premieres
Sarah Palin & Michael Phelps Boost SNL Ratings
Trend Themes
1. Increased TV Premieres - The success of SNL's season premiere indicates a trend towards higher viewership for TV premieres.
2. Celebrity Guest Hosts - The presence of popular figures like Sarah Palin and Michael Phelps as guest hosts suggests a trend towards using celebrity power to boost TV ratings.
3. Political Satire - The popularity of Tina Fey's portrayal of Sarah Palin indicates a trend towards increased interest in political satire on TV.
Industry Implications
1. Television - TV networks may take advantage of the trend of increased TV premieres and invest in new shows or capitalize on existing popular ones to attract more viewers.
2. Entertainment - The trend of using celebrity guest hosts can provide opportunities for entertainment companies to create shows or events that capitalize on the star power of popular figures.
3. Comedy - The trend of political satire can create opportunities for comedians and writers to develop new comedic content centered around current events and political figures.