Palin delivers for ‘SNL’

By Jennifer J. Foster

They may not care for her politics, but the people of “Saturday Night Live” have to love what Sarah Palin is doing for their ratings.

“SNL” ratings have soared over the past six weeks or so, as the show has featured merciless Palin satire fueled by the spot-on Palin impersonation by “SNL” alum Tina Fey.

But Saturday, the real Palin appeared and took her medicine in person. Palin appeared in the opening segment and poked fun at her own inaccessibility to the media, and as a bonus, she got a dig in at Alec Baldwin—always good red meat for GOP viewers. She then took a seat for the “Weekend Update” segment, which is necessary viewing if for nothing else than to see a very pregnant Amy Poehler get an aerobic workout performing a rap “meant” for Palin.

Oh, yeah; there’s the dancing moose, too. 

If you didn’t see the show, it’s worth a look. Check out the opening sketch here and “Weekend Update” here.

By the way, Saturday’s show was a ratings gold mine, the culmination of the rising viewership “SNL” has drawn throughout the fall: Palin’s appearance powered the show to its highest ratings since Nancy Kerrigan and Aretha Franklin appeared 14 years ago.

And they said “Palin Power” was dead.