Saying to 'SNL' is a rarity, the show is iconic and it continues to be among the most-watched on cable TV. Fans love how actors and actresses let their guard down, with very few things off the table during their guest spots. However, on the flip side, we've seen some bad sketches and hosting duties in the past, David Spade called Steven Seagal the very worst, though his episode didn't tank in the rating department.
That lackluster honor goes to someone else and it took place most recently, during the season debut. We'll look back on what went down and which reality star helped to steer the ship back to normal.
In addition, we'll take a look at the comedy legend that skyrocketed the ratings during last year's debut episode. Sadly for the show, this year's debut saw almost a 50% drop.
Chris Rock Was A Huge Success During Last Season's 'SNL' Debut
On the flip side, Chris Rock made a huge impact on the show, during the season debut of season 46. The comedian brought in 8.2 million viewers, which was almost double compared to the worst-rated episode, which we'll discuss.
Rock made a big impact but as he pointed out alongside Deadline, he wasn't exactly thrilled to work the episode and it took some convincing, given that it was the first live episode during the pandemic.
"It wasn’t even that they had to convince me to do it. They just had to walk me through the Covid protocols, more than anything. Because SNL, it’s hectic, man. You’re in contact with a lot of people, so I was really concerned. So, they walked me through just, “Okay, we’re going to get tested every day, and only these people will be allowed in this section.” You know, I love SNL, but not enough to get Covid. [Laughs] Not enough to lose my sense of smell and taste."
At the end of the day, the close connections he created in the past turned out to be the major tipping point. '' I have a great relationship with the show; I have a great relationship with Lorne [Michaels]. Maybe someday, my kids will work there: That’s what Lorne always says. I look at it as nothing but a positive. I mean, I’m too old to be complaining about a sketch that didn’t get on in ’92.''
SNL was hoping for the same viewership during its season 47 debut episode, however, they ended up getting the exact opposite.
Owen Wilson's Season 47 Season Debut Was The Lowest-Rated Ever
Perhaps it is the fact that Owen Wilson cooled off in recent years, though some blame it on the cooling political climate (comparative to last season's debut). Nonetheless, Wilson's appearance on the show bombed completely, hitting a record low number in the rating department. It was almost a 50% drop compared to last season's debut with Chris Rock as the guest-host.
Nonetheless, the episode wasn't the worst and far from it, as the comedy actor did a great job in the spot. He wasn't afraid to poke fun at himself either during the opening monologue.
"To be honest, I probably have been guilty at times of coasting a little, taking my foot off the pedal. But I`ll tell you what, when Daniel Day-Lewis retired and all of that pressure landed on my shoulders, everything changed. That`s when I knew I had to do 'Cars 3'."
Thankfully for 'SNL', the low numbers were not an indication of things to come for the newest season. In fact, a certain reality TV star bolstered the ratings back to their average numbers soon after.
Kim Kardashian Got 'SNL' Back On Track
Kim Kardashian created some big buzz hosting the show, especially given that he was her first gig following the divorce to Kanye. The episode soared, scoring 5.27 million viewers.
The episode was well-received and again, nothing was off-limits for Kim, just the way the show likes it. She even briefly discussed her separation from Kanye.
"He's the richest Black man in America, a talented, legit genius, who gave me four incredible kids."
She continued, "So when I divorced him, you have to know it came down to just one thing: his personality. I know it sounds mean, but people keep telling me that comedy comes from truth. And if there's one thing that I always strive to be, it's genuine."
Kim brought in the viewers and without a doubt, Owen Wilson was hoping to get the same treatment just prior.