Dwayne Johnson, soon to be seen in Baywatch, had the honor of hosting the season finale of Saturday Night Live on May 20, 2017. Johnson participated in skits that found him riding the rapids at Jurassic Park, promoting an enhancement drug with horrible side effects, debuting his Scorpio superhero costume, doing a WWE promo video in which he spilled his opponent’s very personal secrets, and playing an up-and-coming actor opposite a superstar who couldn’t stop farting.
Johnson was also awarded the exclusive 5-timers club jacket during the opening monologue, presented to him by Alec Baldwin who opened the show singing “Hallelujah” as Donald Trump. However, Baldwin wasn’t the only member of the five-timers club to take the stage with Dwayne Johnson. Two-time Oscar winner Tom Hanks put in an appearance during Johnson’s monologue, and the popular pair decided they’d toss their hats into the ring and run for president and vice president in 2020. The crowd was definitely into it as Johnson and Hanks unfurled a banner declaring Johnson and Hanks 2020.
The 42nd season finale of Saturday Night Live marked the show’s most watched finale of the past six years, earning the highest ratings since Justin Timberlake/Lady Gaga’s May 21, 2011 season finale. The episode was watched by 8.272 million viewers and was the week’s #1 telecast among all broadcast networks for the week.
In year-to-year comparisons, the May 21st episode was up 58% in total viewers versus 2016. Overall, the 42nd season was up 32% in total viewers over 2016. This season ranks as the most watched season in 23 years, thanks in large part to its skewering of what’s going on in the White House.
