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U.S. NEWS A3
Monday 9 November 2015
Good, not spectacular, preliminary ratings for Trump on SNL
FRAZIER MOORE During his monologue, Taran Killam, left, Republican presidential candidate and guest host Donald Trump, center, and
AP Television Writer Trump promised his host- Darrell Hammond perform during the monologue on “Saturday Night Live”, Saturday, Nov. 7, 2015.
NEW YORK (AP) — Don- ing appearance would be Trump’s 90 minutes in the “SNL” spotlight followed weeks of growing anticipation, increasingly
ald Trump hadn’t gotten “something special,” while sharp criticism and mounting calls for him to be dropped from the show.
far into his opening mono- noting that many people
logue before trouble oc- had asked him why he ac- (Dana Edelson/NBC via AP)
curred. An off-screen heck- cepted the gig.
ler interrupted with a cry of He said they had told him,
“You’re a racist!” “You’re brilliant, you’re
But the “heckler” was co- handsome, you’re rich. The
median Larry David, who world is waiting for you to
before Trump arrived on- be president. Why?”
stage had been seen im- His answer:
personating Democratic “I had nothing better to
presidential hopeful Bernie do.”
Sanders. “But part of the reason I’m
“Larry, what are you do- here,” he added, “is to
ing?” Trump asked with a show I can take a joke.”
trace of exasperation. In one sketch, Trump was
“I heard if I yelled that, willing to mock his pen-
they’d give me $5,000,” chant for tweeting insults
said David with a shrug, about people with whom
echoing an offer made he differs.
publicly by one of the His- “I hate to break it to you
panic groups protesting guys,” he told viewers,
Trump’s appearance. “but I’m not going to be
“As a businessman,” Trump in the next sketch.” In-
told him, “I can fully respect stead, off-camera, he live-
that.” tweeted comments that
Trump’s 90 minutes in the were flashed on the screen
“SNL” spotlight followed about “SNL” cast members
weeks of growing anticipa- performing a skit:
tion, increasingly sharp criti- “Cecily Strong is not a nice
cism and mounting calls for person.”
him to be dropped from “Kate McKinnon was born
the show. But the Republi- stupid.”
can presidential candidate “I love SNL ... SNL loves me.
hosted Saturday’s “SNL” as But everyone in this sketch
scheduled. is a total loser who can bite
And, at least in NBC’s Stu- my dust.”
dio 8H, there was no more Another sketch imagined
unrest — orchestrated or Trump in the Oval Office in
otherwise. (Deport Racism, 2018 — two years into his
the group that made the presidency — savoring his
$5,000 offer, tweeted that many successes.
David would get the boun- By then, Syria is at peace.
ty, “joke or not.”) China is borrowing money
Only hours after the broad- from the U.S. Trump’s real-
cast, Trump was back on life daughter, Ivanka, is the
television and characteris- administration’s secretary
tically bullish about his per- of the interior, and an-
formance, calling it “very nounces the Washington
well received and prob- Monument will be covered
ably got very good ratings, with gold.
who knows.” Did it all sound too good to
Very good, but not spec- be possible?
tacular. Preliminary Nielsen “If you think that’s how it’s
ratings measuring house- going to be when I’m presi-
holds in 56 U.S. markets dent, you’re wrong. It’s
gave Saturday’s “SNL” its going to be even better,”
highest rating only since Trump said, addressing the
January 2012. audience.
Basketball great Charles “I said to the writers of this
Barkley was host that night. sketch, ‘Keep it modest.’”
Full results, including view- His preference, he insisted,
ership figures, will be re- was to keep expectations
leased Thursday, NBC said. low for his presidency and
Trump also told CNN’s not overpromise.
“State of the Union” that Until Saturday, just eight
some sketches were cut politicians had served as
because they were “a little guest hosts in the NBC
risque.” He did not go into sketch comedy series’ 40
details. years.q
