Palin draws big ratings for Saturday Night Live

THE entertainment summit of the season — Sarah Palin and her impersonator, Tina Fey — earned Saturday Night Live its best ratings in 14 years.

Fey was answering questions at a news conference, something Palin hasn’t done yet as the Republican vice-presidential nominee, when Palin walked on the stage. Fey beat a hasty retreat in the opening segment, walking past the real Palin with a barely perceptible nod.

Palin’s guest shot, widely anticipated since Fey began imitating her a month ago, led Saturday Night Live to its highest mark in overnight Nielsen Media Research ratings since March 1994, when assaulted skater Nancy Kerrigan was a guest host.