All of this created the phenomenon of EVENT TV. This idea is evident in LOST, certain American Idol finales, HBO programming and the collapse of Jon and Kate Plus 8 are some recent examples of events that benefited from widespread knowledge or a cult-like following.
In these instances you have something more than a HOUSE season finale, where there isn't the same devotion or general interest. It may pique the curiosity of tv viewers, and probably even win its time slot, but it doesn't rile people up or attract nonviewers.
EVENT TV brings is responsible for bringing in new viewers or inducing an asthmatic incident in regular viewers. (Think LOST fans freaking over the series finale.)
The most recent EVENT TV i can think of is the Masters, which benefited from the return of Tiger Woods. His infidelities gripped the nation, generating a lot of conversation and introducing him to people who don't watch golf, wear Nike apparel or drink Gatorade. As a result, ratings for the Masters were up as casual golf fans and non-golf fans tuned in.
This phenomenon repeated itself on Saturday, when SNL drew its highest ratings since John McCain and Tina Fey appeared in November of 2008. I'm pretty sure this wasn't a product of Rachel Dratch's return or having Jay-Z as the musical guest.
The product SNL put out was admirable, as they effectively utilized Betty White by having her say things that sounded shocking from the mouth of an 88 year old. To that end, though, i think my great aunt Madeline could have performed as admirably.
But White was given a chance to shine, cracking old jokes (she communicates with people her age, not through facebook, but with a Ouija board), playing old straight talkers and generally just smiling. She really could no wrong, as her first sighting was met with thunderous applause, which continued throughout the night.
My favorite segment featured Amy Poehler and Maya Rudolph recreating an old classic, where they host a show called Bronx Beat. They're a pair of Bronx mothers who talk about their lives and usually react to an offbeat guest. Their accents are sensational and their thought progressions are uproariously surprising and funny. ()
This skit was followed closely by the last bit of the night, which revolved around a visit from a census worker. It was pure screwball comedy, with Betty White playing a reluctant participant who doesn't give any easy answers. ()
I really enjoyed the return of the female alums, who offered flashes of what we're now missing on the show. They dazzled compared to the women who are currently on the show, including Kristen Wiig. She used to be one of my favorites, but now she feels over exposed and simply repeating the same performance. When that happens i think it means it is time to move on, so you can come back years later with a fresh performance. By the end of the episode, though, i was left wondering what Anna Gasteyer has been up to all these years? (Besides playing Lindsay Lohan's mom in Mean Girls. Obviously.)
On the whole I was satisfied with the final product. I'm not sure it lived up to the hype, but I don't know what anyone really expected from Betty White. The most important thing is that I don't feel let down, which is often what happens in instances like this. (Think Spiderman 3, the Pam Anderson and Tommy Lee sex tape,and Jay Leno's Variety show)
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