Hands up those who thought Saturday Night Live would be culturally relevant again in 2017? Sure, SNL has always been an incubator for future comedy stars, and that’s not changed. But it’s been a long time since its last great era. Thanks in no small part to the giant tangerine in the White House, though, SNL is posting its best ratings in 22 years.
Of late Alec Baldwin’s Donald Trump impression has become a major recurring segment in the show. This past week Melissa McCarthy also appeared in a sketch lampooning White House Press Secretary Sean Spicer. The Trump administration is giving SNL no shortage of comedy ammunition, and the ratings for its 42nd season are up 22 per cent on the season before.
McCarthy appearance this past week earned SNL a 2.5 rating in the key 18-49 demographic. If you’re wondering why that’s important, the 18 to 49 age range is the juiciest to advertisers because they have the most disposable income. According to Page Six, that put SNL behind only The Big Bang Theory in its demographic.
With season 42 raking in 10.6 million viewers, it looks like the rise of Trump and the end of civilisation as we know it might be good for comedy.
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