"SNL" is going live simultaneously across the continental United States for the first time in its 42-season history for its final four shows, NBC announced on Thursday.
Taking advantage of the interest in politics since President Donald Trump's election last year, "Saturday Night Live" is riding its best ratings in 24 years, averaging some 11 million viewers, said NBC.
While the late night sketch comedy show has aired live in the Eastern and Central time zones, it has been viewed in the Mountain and Pacific time zones on tape delay. The shows starting April 15 will be aired at its normal 11:30 p.m. time in the east, but 9:30 p.m. in the Mountain time zone and 8:30 p.m. in the Pacific time zone.
"'SNL' — enjoying its most popular season in two decades — is part of the national conversation, and we thought it would be a great idea to broadcast to the west and mountain time zones live at the same time it's being seen in the east and central time zones," said NBC entertainment chair Bob Greenblatt, per Variety. "That way, everyone is in on the joke at the same time."
Variety said "Saturday Night Live" viewership for this season is beating the 2015-16 season by 19 percent in adults 18-49 (3.5 vs. 2.9 rating) and 22 percent in total viewers (10.6 million vs. 8.7 million).
The "The Tonight Show's" Jimmy Fallon will guest host the April 15 "SNL," followed by Chris Pine on May 6, Melissa McCarthy on May 13, and Dwayne Johnson for the season finale May 20.
Variety said McCarthy's past guests appearances portraying White House press secretary Sean Spicer has been one of "SNL's" rating drivers this season.
NBC Entertainment announced earlier in the week that "Saturday Night Live: Weekend Update," starring anchors Colin Jost and Michael Che, will air four episodes primetime starting Aug. 10 at 9 p.m.
"'Weekend Update,' which comments on and satirizes the news and current affairs of the week, has consistently ranked as one of the most popular segments of 'Saturday Night Live' throughout the show's storied 42-year history," said NBC.
"Previous 'Weekend Update' anchors include Chevy Chase, Dan Aykroyd, Jane Curtin, Dennis Miller, Norm Macdonald, Jimmy Fallon, Tina Fey, Amy Poehler and Seth Meyers."
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