Betty White on SNL – Ratings through the Roof

First, you saw the Golden Girl play football with the guys during a 2010 Superbowl Snickers commercial. Now, thanks to Facebook, she’s hosted Saturday Night Live.

After months of campaigning on Facebook by a page titled Betty While to Host SNL (please?)! fans were finally placated in Saturday night’s episode, where Betty White took the opportunity to thank her loyal fans.

“I really have to thank Facebook … I didn’t know what Facebook was, and now that I do know what it is, I have to say, it sounds like a huge waste of time. I would never say the people on it are losers, but that’s only because I’m polite,” she elaborated in her monologue.

As expected, Betty White’s appearance brought in viewers and hiked the ratings through the roof, with the May 8th episode seeing the highest ratings in the past 18 months. The rating haven’t been better since Ben Affleck’s appearance in November 2008.

At 88 years old, White is the oldest person ever to host SNL.

NBC released a series of promos featuring the Golden Girl in anticipation of the episode. Fans responded enthusiastically to her sketches, which included her appearance with Tina Fey in a census sketch and as MacGruber’s grandmother.  However, due to time constraints, a few sketches were cut, such as “Debbie Downer,” which can be found on YouTube.

Jay-Z and Mr. Hudson concluded the show, dedicating their performance of Jay-Z’s single “Young Forever” to Betty White.

The Facebook grassroots campaign began in January 2010, and by March, when it was confirmed that White would be hosting an episode of SNL, the group was reaching 500,000 members.

So what’s next for Betty White?

Oh, I don’t know. Maybe hosting the Emmys? Passionate fans are at it again. Facebook page Getting Betty White to Host the Academy Awards has already gained 6000 followers since its launch on Sunday.

Image by Alan Light via Wikimedia Commons.