Did you watch Bill Hader on Saturday Night Live this past weekend? You would think that as a former cast favorite the ratings would have spiked even a tiny bit higher then they have been in recent months. Instead, the result was the opposite. Hader's episode was the lowest in SNL's 40-year history — quite an accomplishment, but unfortunately it is in the wrong direction.
The most recent episode garnered a 3.8 rating in metered homes, and in the key 18-49-year-old demographic it only garnered a 1.8 rating. This is the group advertisers look closely at and, clearly, SNL is not instilling much faith in investors. Instead, it is relying on its well-established history to carry it through this extended difficult patch. People have simply tuned out and even the promise of an old favorite is not enough to make them want to tune in. The overall thinking is why sit through the full 90 minutes when the two decent skits will be online within a few hours?
Aside from convincing Justin Timberlake to become a cast regular, what do you think the series needs to do to return to its former powerhouse status? Do you think the right combination of regulars would somehow click with viewers once again, or is it instead the format of the show that no longer works? If you have caught some of the more recent episodes, does the quality of the writing seem to be less than what it once was?
What are your thoughts on SNL? Sadly, even the most die-hard of fans seem to agree that the late night juggernaut is still on the air because of its beloved history more than the skits that are currently airing each week. Did you catch Hader's appearance and, if so, what were your thoughts? Comment below.
