Viewers had #allthefeels when Tracy Morgan returned to "Saturday Night Live" to host, marking his first appearance on the show since a multi-vehicle car crash left him in a coma last year.
The "SNL" alum helped the show score a 4.2/11 in metered market households, according to early Nielsen ratings. It was ranked as the night's No. 1 telecast on the big four networks, both in metered-market households and the key 18- to 49-year-old demographic in local people meters.
The episode, which also featured musical guest Demi Lovato, matched the show's highest rating since Jan. 31, when J.K. Simmons hosted and D'Angelo and the Vanguard performed.
Morgan was joined by "30 Rock" co-stars Jack McBrayer, Tina Fey, Alec Baldwin, and Jane Krakowski. Larry David also made an appearance to play Bernie Sanders in the Democratic debate cold open.
Welcome back, Tina Fey. #SNL pic.twitter.com/85FxCAYOU8
— Saturday Night Live (@nbcsnl) October 18, 2015"Let me smell your sour ears!" https://t.co/gQd2jkW9xj #SNL pic.twitter.com/BFkJ8Qbu6S
— Saturday Night Live (@nbcsnl) October 18, 2015He's a man of the people. https://t.co/RK9NT7l0ky #SNL https://t.co/aUBu7rWUjp
— Saturday Night Live (@nbcsnl) October 18, 2015The episode sparked 105,029 tweets a couple of hours before, during and a couple of hours after the broadcast, according to Nielsen TV ratings.
Of the tweets, 43,089 -- about 41% -- contained "reactions," or tweets with emotions, according to Canvs, a social TV platform. The company uses relevant tweets, provided by Nielsen, to gauge what emotions people have about TV. The tweets are then broken down into reactions.
An estimated 50% of the reaction tweets were emotions of "love," much of that geared toward "SNL," Morgan and more presidential election-related skits. About 13% expressed that the episode was "good" and 6% said it was funny.
Morgan was mentioned in about 6% of "reaction" tweets.
So happy to see Tracy Morgan!
— RICHELLE CAREY (@RichelleCarey) October 18, 2015Happy to see Tracy Morgan back hosting #SNL! Even happier there was a return of Astronaut Jones! #MyFavoriteTracyMorganSketch
— Ryan Howard (@TheRyanHoward) October 18, 2015Happy to be watching Tracy Morgan on SNL! Glad to see him getting better
— Stephen Denis (@Stephen_Denis) October 18, 2015@nbcsnl Heading exploding! After brilliant opening, now the cast of 30 Rock!? Can hardly breathe from the pure joy. Yay Tracy Morgan!!
— Pam Brandt (@pgbrandt) October 18, 2015This 30 Rock reunion is funny and sweet. Welcome back, Tracy Morgan! #SNL @nbcsnl Larry David as @BernieSanders -- perfect!
— Elaine Liner (@LinerElaine) October 18, 2015Thanks, Tracy. #SNL
https://t.co/474TM67YeD
— Saturday Night Live (@nbcsnl) October 18, 2015For more news on the entertainment industry, follow me @saba_h
