Tina Fey as Sarah Palin on SNL this Saturday?

How do you top a Saturday Night Live season premiere already slated to pair Michael Phelps as host and Lil Wayne as musical guest (UPDATE: And Barack Obama)?

Get Sarah Palin—as played by Tina Fey.

If only. People involved with the show have remained conspicuously mum on the prospect, other than longtime producer Lorne Michaels’ dismissive acknowledgment of the rumors (“There have been discussions. They are ongoing.”). But the gossip has speculative stories popping up everywhere, and the institutional silence insures curious viewers will turn out for the season premiere, set for tomorrow night.

Fey, of course, returned to her famed post as the head anchor of the Weekend Update segment last season and tore through a now-famous monologue on Hillary Clinton and her place in the primary battle. It was an instant hit—Clinton liked it so much she later appeared on the show—and it revived in a major way the languid, second-hand role the show has often played in recent political satire.

It also didn’t hurt the show’s ratings, which clearly wasn’t lost on the producers. Palin, for her part, just gave her first post-nomination interview, which no doubt provided plenty of material to mine ahead of the show this weekend.

SNL heads into its new season with more eyes on it than ever, and though it's been a while since late-night Saturday television was an event, this could be it.

Related links:
News: Michael Phelps picked up for SNL and VMAs
News: Steve Carell goes on a Date with Tina Fey
Ctrl-V: Does a McCain/Palin ticket equal a Tigh/Roslin Battlestar ticket?

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