'SNL' set for first-ever episodes that are actually live across America after record-setting season
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Molly Driscoll Staff writer
鈥淪aturday Night Live鈥� will soon really be live for everyone in America, and the news zingers found in the show鈥檚 鈥淲eekend Update鈥� will continue this summer as 鈥淪NL鈥� experiences its best ratings in more than twenty years.聽
Beginning with its April 15 episode, 鈥淪NL鈥� will air at the same time everywhere in the US, the first time the almost-42-year-old show has ever done so, for the season's last four episodes. The program will begin at 11:30 p.m. as usual on the East Coast, but air at 10:30 p.m. Central Standard Time, 9:30 p.m. Mountain Standard Time, and 8:30 p.m. on the West Coast.聽
In addition, the 鈥淲eekend Update鈥� segment, which currently features Michael Che and Colin Jost remarking on current events, will air four episodes of 鈥淯pdate鈥� in August, when 鈥淪NL鈥� is normally off the air.聽
鈥淪NL" has a history of creating some of its most popular material during presidential elections 鈥� see Tina Fey as vice-presidential candidate Sarah Palin 鈥� and the material the program has aired during this most recent season, which included the most recent presidential election and the first weeks of President Trump's time in office, has made it the most-viewed 鈥淪NL鈥� season in 24 years.聽
Culture writers point to the Trump era as the reason for viewers鈥� interest.聽
wrote in early February, following positive ratings news, that 鈥渢he Not Ready for Primetime Players should probably give thanks to the ever-critical POTUS for the ratings boost,鈥� referencing the president鈥檚 criticism of the program and actor Alec Baldwin鈥檚 portrayal of Mr. Trump on the show. 鈥淏aldwin鈥檚 impression of the tycoon-turned-commander-in-chief is a likely audience draw,鈥� she noted.聽
And called the decision to bring on 鈥淕hostbusters鈥� actress Melissa McCarthy to portray White House press secretary Sean Spicer 鈥済enius鈥� after Ms. McCarthy debuted in that role on Feb. 4.
鈥淚t was the kind of moment 鈥楽aturday Night Live鈥� history was made of: an unannounced guest appearance so perfect that it took even the live audience a few moments to register what was actually happening,鈥� Ms. Gilbert wrote, concluding, 鈥淚n one eight-minute scene 'Saturday Night Live' reminded viewers that there鈥檚 no more potent institution when it comes to political satire.鈥�
