"SATURDAY NIGHT LIVE" SCORES ITS TOP METERED-MARKET HOUSEHOLD RATING OF THE PAST YEAR

HOSTED BY CHARLES BARKLEY AND FEATURING MUSICAL GUEST KELLY CLARKSON, 'SNL' SWEEPS TO ITS HIGHEST HOUSEHOLD OVERNIGHT RATING SINCE JAN. 8, 2011

IN THE LOCAL PEOPLE METERS, 'SNL,' DELAYED BY AN NFL OVERRUN, TACKLES ITS TOP RATING SINCE THE SHOW'S SEASON FINALE LAST MAY

UNIVERSAL CITY, Calif. - January 8, 2012 - The January 7 edition of "Saturday Night Live" has scored the show's highest overnight household ratings of the past 52 weeks and the top "SNL" young-adult rating in the Local People Meters since its 2010-11 season finale in May, according to "live plus same day" viewing figures from the 56 local markets metered by Nielsen Media Research and the 25 markets with Local People Meters.

Last night's telecast, hosted by Charles Barkley and featuring musical guest Kelly Clarkson, dominated its 11:52 p.m.-1:22 a.m. ET slot with a 7.4 rating, 18 share in metered-market households as measured from 11:45 p.m.-1:15 a.m. It's the highest "SNL" average in local-market households since the January 8, 2011 edition hosted by Jim Carrey with musical guest The Black Keys (7.8/18).

Note that "Saturday Night Live" was delayed by the overrun of the Lions-Saints NFL Wild Card Playoff Game covered by NBC Sports in primetime.

In the 25 markets with Local People Meters, "Saturday Night Live" averaged a 4.3 rating, 18 share in adults 18-49, its strongest score since the May 21, 2011 "SNL" season finale with host Justin Timberlake and musical guest Lady Gaga (4.5/18).

National ratings, including viewer totals, for last night's "Saturday Night Live" are due from Nielsen on Thursday, January 12.