SNL

Tina Fey's Sarah Palin skits were viewed twice as many times online and via DVR recordings than in original broadcasts, according to a recent study by Integrated Media Measurement Inc. Now NBC and Saturday Night Live executive producer Lorne Michaels are in talks to develop a new on-demand video Website that would feature online clips from SNL, Broadcasting & Cable reports. According to their sources, the site would include a mix of original comedy sketches (similar to SNL's web series The Line), clips from past episodes and gems from dress rehearsal skits that have never aired. Some worry that NBC won't be able to monetize the site and it may launch too late to capture the SNL buzz from Ms. Fey's spoofs and other pre-election skits. Sources say the site is modeled after Funny or Die, the video Website co-founded by Will Ferrell which "isn't doing that great,” according to an "NBC insider."

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During a conference call yesterday afternoon to promote the 34th season of Saturday Night Live, Grand Poobah Lorne Michaels confirmed what everyone thought two weeks ago. The show is in what Mr. Michaels termed as "on-going discussions" with Tina Fey to have her return to play Republican Vice Presidential candidate Sarah Palin.

However, Mr. Michaels also expertly hedged his bet by saying the possibility existed that, in lieu of Ms. Fey, SNL cast member Casey Wilson would take the role of the Alaskan Governor this week. We'll get our answer this weekend, when eight-time Olympic Gold Medalist Michael Phelps grins his way though hosting duties on the season premiere.  read more »

When Jimmy Fallon takes over Conan O'Brien's seat in 2009, he'll have a familiar face behind the cameras to help him. His Saturday Night Live buddy Michael Shoemaker will be Late Night's showrunner next year.

Mr. Shoemaker ran Weekend Update on SNL when Mr. Fallon giggled his way through the segments as co-anchor. He also consults with Mr. Fallon on other appearances, like his 2002 MTV Video Music Awards performance (which included possibly the funniest opening ever).

"Jimmy and I work together all the time, and we've always had fun in the process," Mr. Shoemaker told Variety. "I have a nice job here at 'Saturday Night Live' but I couldn't turn down the chance to work on something like this."  read more »

Lorne Michaels told reporters Sunday that he plans to premiere Jimmy Fallon as the new host of Late Night on the internet. He plans five or six months of webcasts prior to the 2009 debut of Mr. Fallon's version of the show, according to TV Week.

The Observer interviewed Mr. Michaels about preparing Mr. Fallon for the dubious taks of replacing Conan O'Brien last May:  read more »

The Huffington Post notes that NBC Nightly News had almost a million more viewers last week than the week before, putting it back on top in the ratings--and attributes the bump, plausibly, to anchor Brian Williams' much-hyped November 3 appearance on Saturday Night Live.

The obvious lesson the networks will draw is that the best way to promote their news anchors to a younger audience is by putting them on shows that young people actually watch. In other words, brace for Charlie Gibson on Dancing with the Stars.