SNL finale gets big rating, thanks to JT, Gaga

THE EDGE OF GLORY: In an extremely good sign for Lady Gaga’s Born This Way, which hits today, the season finale of Saturday Night Live scored the highest metered-market household average for a season-closer of the show in seven years and equaled the highest in 11 years, according to household ratings averages in the 56 local markets metered by Nielsen Media Research. The combined appeal of Gaga and host Justin Timberlake resulted in an average 7.0 rating/17 share for the show in metered-market household averages, highest for an SNL season-closer since May 2004, when a telecast hosted by the Olsen Twins and featuring J-Kwon also averaged a 7.0. The last time an SNL finale scored higher was in 2000, when an edition hosted by Jackie Chan and featuring Kid Rock earned a 7.3. The telecast notched a 21% increase over the 2010 finale, which had a 5.8/14; the two previous years each earned a 5.4. The 2007 finale averaged a 4.9. SNL was also Saturday’s #1 prime-time show. (5/23a)