Dana Edelson/NBCIt looks like people are still gaga for Lady Gaga!
The pop star matched Saturday Night Live's best ratings of the season when she pulled double duty as host and musical guest on Saturday, Nov. 16. The episode brought in 4.9/12 in household results, which made it the night's top-rated program, and a 2.6 in the all-important adults 18-49 demo, matching the numbers Kerry Washington and musical guest Eminem pulled in.
Gaga's numbers also match the show's highest rating in the demo since its March 9 episode, which was hosted by Justin Timberlake, and puts it on par with Miley Cyrus' Oct. 5 episode.
And though many fun sketches made it to air (Our personal favorites included Gaga as a nerdy Apple store employee during "Waking Up With Kimye" and the sketch about an album called Whaat: The Worst Cover Songs Of All Time), one sketch that did not feature Gaga received plenty of buzz: A parody ad for "Paxil," an anti-depressant designed to be "strong enough for an embattled second term." The ad, featuring Obama impersonator Jay Pharoah, lists a number of "symptoms," including Benghazi, the NSA, the IRA—and, naturally, "Obamacare website problems."
NBC also released a sketch titled "Female Sea Captains" that didn't make the cut.
In the funny sketch, Gaga, along with SNL cast members Cecily Strong, Nasim Pedrad and Aidy Bryant, are, you guessed it, female sea captains who must take helm of their husband's ships as all the men fall ill to herpes. Gaga even works in a "Work, b--ch!" when the ladies make someone walk the plank!
But Gaga's episode wasn't without its controversy as her performance of "Do What U Want" with R. Kelly, during which they simulated sex on stage, drew quite the response from critics. Basically, Miley Cyrus and Robin Thicke are so five minutes ago after Saturday night!
(Saturday Night Live and E! are a part of the NBCUniversal family.)