'Saturday Night Live' Gets Steady Ratings Return With Seth MacFarlane

Dana Edelson/NBC

Saturday Night Live returned in good shape this weekend, despite the exits of high-profile cast members Kristen Wiig and Andy Samberg.

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Final tallies won't be available until Nielsen issues national numbers on Thursday, but ratings for the 38th season opener have it on par with last year, improving among adults 18-49 in markets with Local People Meters.

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The Seth MacFarlane-hosted episode pulled a 4.8 households rating and 12 share, just shy of 2011's 5.1 rating/13 share that ran a week later after a week that saw more primetime premieres.

In markets reporting adults 18-49, the show is up a tenth of a point for a 2.8 rating in the demo.

Though on par with the previous premiere, they are outmatched by last season's biggest episodes -- Charles Barkley (7.4 HH rating) and Lindsay Lohan (5.5 HH rating) -- which gave the show its strongest overnight showings in a year.

Saturday Night Live doubles up this week, with the first of two election-themed Saturday Night Live Weekend Update Thursday airing Sept. 20.