NBC earned a 7.4 overnight Nielsen rating for this weekend's "SNL" hosted by Charles Barkley with musical guest Kelly Clarkson, "the highest mark since the episode hosted by Jim Carrey with musical guest The Black Keys" on Jan. 8, 2011. The start of the show was pushed back due to the Saints-Lions playoff game, and the overrun "may have boosted 'SNL'" as the show earned its best overnight among adults 18-49 since the May 21, 2011, season finale (HOLLYWOODREPORTER.com, 1/8).
Barkley opened his monologue noting that it was his third time hosting the show, saying, "I bet none of y’all thought I’d do it three times. But that’s okay, I did. I bet Scottie Pippen and now he owes me $75,000. ... Some of y’all might be looking up and saying, ‘Sir Charles is less gigantic.’ Thank you very much. As you might have heard I teamed up with Weight Watchers. ... Some of you might be saying, 'Charles, isn’t Weight Watchers for ladies?' But I tell them, ‘Shut up, Michael Jordan!’ Oh, and congrats on your engagement. That’s gonna go great, Mike. … Weight Watchers worked for me. I feel great, except for one thing. I am so hungry. I am starving. So please forgive me if I eat one of you tonight. You all look like turkey legs to me” ("SNL," NBC, 1/8). Read more about today's hosting of "SNL" in today's issue of THE DAILY.
