I just saw this post on the HELP GET CAROL BURNETT TO HOST SNL fanpage on facebook. Apparently Burnett stated in an interview that she would not want to host SNL. Instead the entertaining legend said she would prefer to make an appearance on GLEE or 30 Rock. Maybe Betty was a one time only deal. Or maybe people now realize that they can make a facebook campaign for any star to make an appearance in any television show ... not just SNL. Here is a link to the full article

What started out as a brilliant marketing strategy may have turned into a new tactic for audience members to make demands on their television shows. A facebook campaign that gathered hundreds of thousands of people to voice their support for Betty White, applied some consumer pressure on Saturday Night Live and landed her a hosting spot on the show.

Now I have a feeling that Lorne Michaels watched in titilating expectation as he saw the number of fans on the campaign go up each day. Knowing that if he held out long enough he would have a million fans who would all watch the episode with the feeling that they themselves affected the show and had an impact on its direction. The show - which had been battling poor ratings for a while - saw a huge surge in ratings and the shows was one of the funniest in a long time.

After the epic episode of Saturday Night Live, facebook campaigns have popped up all over vying to get their own role model/icon on their favorite television show. My friend Amanda has recently started up a campaign to get Betty White to have a guest spot on GLEE as Kirk's grandmother potentially. I have also seen a campaign to get Carol Burnett to host Saturday Night Live. I would actually die if Carol Burnett had the opportunity to host. Her comedic wit and timing is unparallel and she would bring an entirely different feel and element to the show. Similarly, she is a Ginger and therefore according to Ginger law, I obligated to support her and use all of my earthly and heavenly powers to ensure that this happens.

I started doing some research and was amazed to find that many A-List celebrities have yet to make hosting appearances on Saturday Night Live or have not reappeared in years. Blog entries and newspaper articles are commenting on who might be potentially lined up next to host the show. For the moment it is a mute point because the season finale is this Saturday with Alec Baldwin hosting. So I have compiled my own list of celebrities that I would get all sorts of verklempt over hosting Saturday Night Live.

Bette Midler - Keeping within the family, I would totally die if Bette Midler hosted SNL. She hosted back in 1979 and has not been back since. Her brass loud demenor and musical comedy background could be an incredible addition to the show. Bette has so many characters and voices that they could write some really great sketches.

Meryl Streep - I was shocked that Meryl has never hosted Saturday Night Live before. She is one of the most acclaimed actresses of the past two centuries and has a comedic wit and timing that is beautiful. I mean ... for fuck's sake ... it's Meryl Streep, everyone in the known universe would tune in to watch Meryl Streep. Between her movie roles in Devil Wear Prada, Julie & Julia, Adaptation, and She-Devil and her classic operatic background, she would be a great host.

Jane Lynch - I feel that Jane Lynch is the funniest personality in TV and movies today. Her delivery and sharp timing is unmatched and her ability to improv lines off the top of her head only strengthens her already strong comedic presence. Her role in GLEE has made her a household name and personality. She could be a guest host on Weekend Update and they could even do a GLEE spoof and who wouldn't love to see that.

It will be interesting to see how much weight these facebook campaigns hold in determining the lineup for Saturday Night Live and other shows. If they do not give in, will that deter ratings? Or if they do give in, will that increase the power that consumers have? Is that necessarily a bad thing? Satisfying your audience and giving them what they want is essential for the success of the show.