Sans-Sarah, initial ratings for 'SNL' fall short this election

NBC aired a special edition of Saturday Night Live on Thursday, the first prime time episode of the general election season. The ratings for the kick off were much lower than they were in the 2008 election, according to the New York Times:

The “S.N.L.” special managed just a 1.6 rating in the 18-49 age group that determines much of prime-time ad sales. That audience was vastly down from the first prime-time edition four years ago, which scored what now looks like an astronomical 5.1 rating. The 2008 show was fueled by intense interest in Tina Fey’s portrayal of Sarah Palin. This year, there is no comparable character driving interest.

The world is a little duller without Palin.

[New York Times]