Jim Carrey hosted one of most watched and highest rated nights on Saturday Night Live since last May as he rang in the new-year with the comedy sketch show.
Carrey and musical guest the Black Keys delivered a 7.8 in the metered-market household Nielsens, according to Entertainment Weekly. The lead-in from an NFL playoff game also helped deliver a strong viewership.
Carrey, who last hosted in 1996, returned to his slapstick comedy roots on the show. In one sketch he played Lily, an awkward, squawking ballet dancer. Meant to be a spoof of Black Swan, Carrey entered the skit in a black tutu proclaiming, Sorry I'm late. I had to go numbers 3 and 4." He then removed his jacket to reveal red chicken wing tattoos on his shoulder blades, telling his fellow dancers, Get ready to rock, bitches" before beginning an ungraceful and humorous dance performance, his limbs jerking and flailing about.
The Black Keys rocked the night, first playing "Howlin' For You" from their latest album, Brothers. The duo also played "Tighten Up."
Carrey started things off by joking about staying upbeat with the end of the world in sight. "When everyone around you bursts into flames, it's time for s'mores," Carrey reasonably pointed out. He then proposed to an audience member, reminding her that "first of all, I'm Jim Carrey. You know what that means. Mucho dinero."
Carreys later skits presented him as a lost R&B star, a greasy-haired sex expert, and a homeless singer.
Carrey had the biggest night since Betty White hosted the show with performer Jay-Z.
