‘Saturday Night Live’ ratings: Bill Hader – Hozier numbers somewhat of a letdown

The numbers are in for this weekend’s new edition of “Saturday Night Live,” and if there is one thing that we could say right now, it is that we almost expected so much more for an actor as popular as Bill Hader is.

Overall, the episode drew just a 1.8 rating in the 18-49 demographic, which is actually down from the show the week before hosted by Sarah Silverman. Is this a sign of more decay for the franchise? We feel like it is mostly a response to a bad year or so of episodes before this one, which you can practically watch in its entirety right here. When you struggle, it sometimes takes a while to convince others that you have a show that is really worth going back to and checking out all over again. Maybe this is what we are running into here.

Also, it’s not like anyone could have known in advance that we were going to see Kristen Wiig practically serve as a co-host, or that we would also have the glorious return of Stefon, even if Seth Meyers did not show up. (Seth instead had a stand-up gig that he was performing.)

Maybe the DVR numbers will help to pick this up a little bit, but we feel pretty confident that the return of Jim Carrey in two weeks to help host the show will be a bump. Carrey is not the draw that he was probably around 15 years ago, but he is still a funny, energetic performer with a big fan base. To go along with that, you have a well-known musical act joining him on the show in Iggy Azalea. Sadly, no more Hader and his impressions / crazy sketch ideas.

Why do you think the “SNL” numbers are sagging a little bit so far into the fall? Share with a comment, and head over here to get some further TV updates on everything we cover, courtesy of our CarterMatt Newsletter. (Photo via NBC.)