Saturday Night Live (season 39)
| Saturday Night Live (season 39) | |
|---|---|
.jpg) | |
| Country of origin | United States |
| No. of episodes | 21 |
| Release | |
| Original network | NBC |
| Original release | September 28, 2013 – May 17, 2014 |
The thirty-ninth season of Saturday Night Live, an American sketch comedy series, originally aired in the United States on NBC between September 28, 2013, and May 17, 2014.
Cast
Prior to the start of the season, a large number of cast changes occurred. Long-time cast members Fred Armisen, Bill Hader and Jason Sudeikis all departed the show. In addition to them, first-year featured player Tim Robinson left the cast to focus on his new duties in the writing staff, becoming the first performer to join the writing staff after being a cast member without initially being hired as a writer.
In their places six new featured players were hired including SNL writer Mike O'Brien who was upgraded into the cast, as well as new hires Beck Bennett and Kyle Mooney of the sketch comedy group Good Neighbor, John Milhiser of the sketch group Serious Lunch, comedienne Noël Wells (known for her viral videos and impressions featured on sites such as Cracked.com), and stand-up comedian Brooks Wheelan.
O'Brien has written for the show since the 2009–10 season and is the first writer to be upgraded into the cast since Jason Sudeikis in 2005. Mooney and Bennett's fellow Good Neighbor troupe member Dave McCary was also hired to direct Bennett and Mooney's digital shorts.
On May 12, 2013, NBC announced that Weekend Update anchor Seth Meyers would be the new host of Late Night in 2014 succeeding Jimmy Fallon as Fallon will take over as the new host of The Tonight Show. Meyers remained Weekend Update anchor up until his departure from the show on February 1, 2014.[1][2] Cecily Strong was brought up to co-anchor with Meyers. Colin Jost, a writer for the show (and head writer for season 38 and 39), joined the cast on March 1, 2014, as a featured player and as Meyers' successor on Weekend Update.[3] This is the third time a featured player was also a Weekend Update anchor. The first two were Tina Fey and Brian Doyle-Murray. Strong was replaced the next year by former writer and "Daily Show" correspondent Michael Che.
During the season, the show came under criticism from critics (as well as cast members Kenan Thompson and Jay Pharoah) for not including at least one black female cast member, a topic which was addressed on the November 2, 2013 show hosted by Kerry Washington.[4] As a result, Lorne Michaels announced that the show would be holding auditions for a black female cast member, expected to join the show in January as a new featured player.[5] UCB-NY performer Sasheer Zamata was announced as a new featured player on January 6, 2014. She made her first appearance on January 18, 2014.[6]
The addition of eight new cast members is the greatest since the 1995–96 season, during which nine cast members were added, making it the largest cast overhaul in eighteen years. The total of 17 cast members was an SNL record, and some critics argued that the bloated cast contributed to how uneven the season was overall.
Along with the other changes that occurred to the cast, Aidy Bryant, Kate McKinnon and Cecily Strong were all promoted to repertory status.
This would be the final season for Nasim Pedrad, who announced her departure from the show in June 2014 in order to work on the Lorne Michaels-produced show Mulaney.[7] Additionally, John Milhiser, Noël Wells, and Brooks Wheelan were fired from the show after a single season.[8][9] Also, Mike O'Brien left to return to the writer's room.
This would also be the final season for longtime announcer Don Pardo, who died on August 18, 2014, at the age of 96.[10]
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Repertory players
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Featured players
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bold denotes Weekend Update anchors
Writers
For the first half of the season, Seth Meyers, Colin Jost and Rob Klein were co-head writers. After Meyers' departure, Bryan Tucker replaced him as a co-head writer.[11]
Prior to the start of the season, three new writers were hired:
- Claire Mulaney, younger sister of former writer John Mulaney.[12]
- Mikey Day, a member of The Groundlings and cast member on MTV's Wild 'N Out.[13]
- Michael Che, a standup comic who had guest written for five episodes in season 38, was hired as a full-time writer.[14]
Additionally, Tim Robinson was moved to the writing staff after one year as a featured player on the show.[11]
In December, Chicago Second City alum Katie Rich joined the writing staff.[15]
In January, comedians LaKendra Tookes and Leslie Jones were added to the writing staff.[16] Both were part of the December casting call for a black female cast member.
This was Seth Meyers' final season as writer. Michael Che initially departed following this season to join The Daily Show as a correspondent,[17][18] but returned for the start of the next season to co-anchor Weekend Update alongside Jost.[19]
This was also the final season for longtime writers Alex Baze (Weekend Update writer since 2004, and head of the segment since 2011), Marika Sawyer and John Solomon (both of whom had been with the show since 2006), as well as the only season for LaKendra Tookes.
Episodes
| No. overall | No. in season | Host | Musical guest | Original air date | Ratings/ Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 746 | 1 | Tina Fey | Arcade Fire | September 28, 2013 | 4.7/12[20] |
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Arcade Fire performs "Reflektor" and "Afterlife" and appears in the "New Cast Member or Arcade Fire" sketch. Beck Bennett, John Milhiser, Kyle Mooney, Mike O'Brien, Noël Wells, and Brooks Wheelan's first episode as cast members.[11] Cecily Strong joins Seth Meyers as the new co-anchor of Weekend Update starting with this episode. Aaron Paul appears in the cold open and the "E-Meth commercial" sketch, reprising Jesse Pinkman from Breaking Bad and appears as Drunk Uncle's nephew during Weekend Update. | |||||
| 747 | 2 | Miley Cyrus | Miley Cyrus | October 5, 2013 | 4.5/13[21] |
| Miley Cyrus performs "Wrecking Ball" and an unplugged version of "We Can't Stop." | |||||
| 748 | 3 | Bruce Willis | Katy Perry | October 12, 2013 | 4.3/11[22] |
| Katy Perry performs "Roar" and "Walking on Air." | |||||
| 749 | 4 | Edward Norton | Janelle Monáe | October 26, 2013 | 3.9/10[23] |
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Janelle Monáe performs "Dance Apocalyptic" and "Electric Lady". Alec Baldwin and Miley Cyrus appear in the opening monologue. Baldwin also narrates and appears in the fake Wes Anderson trailer. Cyrus also cameos in the "12 Days Not a Slave" sketch. | |||||
| 750 | 5 | Kerry Washington | Eminem | November 2, 2013 | 4.9/12[24] |
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Eminem performs "Berzerk" and "Survival" with Skylar Grey. Al Sharpton appears in the cold open. Rick Rubin serves as Eminem's DJ during "Berzerk". An excerpt from a season twelve performance featuring Velvet Underground frontman Lou Reed, who died on October 27, 2013 from liver disease was featured after the show's Update segment. | |||||
| 751 | 6 | Lady Gaga | Lady Gaga | November 16, 2013 | 4.9/12[25] |
| Lady Gaga performs "Do What U Want" with R. Kelly and "Gypsy." | |||||
| 752 | 7 | Josh Hutcherson | Haim | November 23, 2013 | 4.1/10[26] |
| HAIM performs "The Wire" and "Don't Save Me" and appears in the "Josie" sketch. | |||||
| 753 | 8 | Paul Rudd | One Direction | December 7, 2013 | 4.9/12[27] |
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One Direction performs "Story of My Life" and "Through the Dark" and appear in the opening monologue and in the pre-taped "Dan Charles" sketch. Kristen Wiig and Fred Armisen appear in The Sound of Music Live! cold open, reprising their characters from The Lawrence Welk Show sketches. Will Ferrell, David Koechner and Steve Carell appear in the opening monologue. Ferrell and Koechner later reprise their "drunken salesmen" characters for the "Bill Brasky" sketch. | |||||
| 754 | 9 | John Goodman | Kings of Leon | December 14, 2013 | 4.5/11[28] |
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Kings of Leon perform "Temple" and "Wait for Me" and appear in the "Guy Fieri Holiday Special" sketch. Sylvester Stallone and Robert De Niro appear in the "Three Wise Guys" sketch. Wale appears in the H&M music video. | |||||
| 755 | 10 | Jimmy Fallon | Justin Timberlake | December 21, 2013 | 6.3/16[29] |
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Justin Timberlake performs "Only When I Walk Away" and "Pair of Wings" and appears in the "Wrappinville" sketch, the Celebrity Family Feud sketch (parodying Fallon), and The Barry Gibb Talk Show sketch. Paul McCartney appears in the opening monologue. Madonna and Barry Gibb appear in The Barry Gibb Talk Show sketch. Madonna also co-introduces Timberlake's first performance. Michael Bloomberg appears during Weekend Update. Chris Rock appears during the goodnights. | |||||
| 756 | 11 | Drake | Drake | January 18, 2014 | 4.7/12[30] |
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Drake performs a medley of "Started from the Bottom and "Trophies" and a medley of "Hold On, We're Going Home" and "From Time" with singer-songwriter Jhené Aiko. Sasheer Zamata's first episode as a cast member | |||||
| 757 | 12 | Jonah Hill | Bastille | January 25, 2014 | 4.8/12[31] |
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Bastille performs "Pompeii" and "Oblivion". Leonardo DiCaprio appears during the opening monologue. Michael Cera appears in the pretaped "me" sketch. | |||||
| 758 | 13 | Melissa McCarthy | Imagine Dragons | February 1, 2014 | 5.4/13[32] |
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Imagine Dragons perform "Radioactive" with Kendrick Lamar and "Demons". Amy Poehler, Bill Hader (in character as Stefon), Andy Samberg, and Fred Armisen (reprising his David Paterson impersonation) appear during Weekend Update. Seth Meyers' final episode as cast member.[2] A still of Pete Seeger, who had died five days earlier, was shown in complete silence following Weekend Update. | |||||
| 759 | 14 | Jim Parsons | Beck | March 1, 2014 | 4.6/12[33] |
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Beck performs "Blue Moon" and "Wave". J. Tillman sang backing vocals and played guitar for both of Beck's performances.[34] Colin Jost's first episode as a cast member and Weekend Update anchor.[3] | |||||
| 760 | 15 | Lena Dunham | The National | March 8, 2014 | 4.1/11[35] |
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The National performs "Graceless" and "I Need My Girl". Liam Neeson appears in the cold open. Jon Hamm appears in the "What are You Even Doing? You're Being Crazy" sketch. Fred Armisen appears during Weekend Update in character as one of "Vladimir Putin's Best Friends from Growing Up". | |||||
| 761 | 16 | Louis C.K. | Sam Smith | March 29, 2014 | 4.0/10[36] |
| Sam Smith performs "Stay with Me" and "Lay Me Down". | |||||
| 762 | 17 | Anna Kendrick | Pharrell Williams | April 5, 2014 | 4.0/10[37] |
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Pharrell Williams performs "Happy" and "Marilyn Monroe" and appears in the "Pharrell Audition" sketch. Hans Zimmer conducts the orchestra during Pharrell Williams' second performance. Icona Pop appears in the pre-taped "Dongs All Over the World" sketch. The song "Louxor j'adore" by Katerine was played during the Les jeunes de Paris sketch. | |||||
| 763 | 18 | Seth Rogen | Ed Sheeran | April 12, 2014 | 3.9/10[38] |
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Ed Sheeran performs "Sing" and "Don't". Zooey Deschanel, James Franco and Taylor Swift appear in the opening monologue. Franco also appears in the pre-taped "Monster Pals" sketch. | |||||
| 764 | 19 | Andrew Garfield | Coldplay | May 3, 2014 | 3.9/10[39] |
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Coldplay performs "Magic" and "A Sky Full of Stars". Additionally, Chris Martin appears in the "Spider-Man Kiss" sketch. Emma Stone appears in the opening monologue and in the "Spider-Man Kiss" sketch. Kiefer Sutherland and Mary Lynn Rajskub appear in the pre-taped "Beygency" sketch. SNL writer Leslie Jones appears during Weekend Update. | |||||
| 765 | 20 | Charlize Theron | The Black Keys | May 10, 2014 | 3.8/10[40] |
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The Black Keys perform "Fever" and "Bullet in the Brain". Barbara Walters appears during Weekend Update. | |||||
| 766 | 21 | Andy Samberg | St. Vincent | May 17, 2014 | 4.0/10[41] |
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St. Vincent performs "Digital Witness" and "Birth in Reverse". Maya Rudolph appears during the cold open (reprising her impression of Beyoncé), the "Vogelchecks" sketch, and the second SNL Digital Short (reprising her impression of Oprah Winfrey). Seth Meyers, Bill Hader, and Martin Short appear in the opening monologue. Hader also appears during the "Vogelchecks" sketch. Lil Jon appears in the first SNL Digital Short. Paul Rudd appears during Weekend Update and the "Vogelchecks" sketch. Kristen Wiig and Fred Armisen appear in the "Vogelchecks" sketch. Wiig also appears during the "Bvlgari watch" sketch. Tatiana Maslany, Akiva Schaffer, Jorma Taccone, and Pharrell Williams appear during the second SNL Digital Short. 2 Chainz appears in the "Blizzard Man" sketch. Nasim Pedrad, John Milhiser, Noël Wells, Brooks Wheelan and Mike O'Brien's final episode as cast members. Cecily Strong's final episode as anchor of Weekend Update. Don Pardo's final episode as the announcer.[10] | |||||
Specials
| Title | Original air date | U.S. viewers (millions) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| "Saturday Night Live Halloween" | October 31, 2013 | 5.32[42] | |
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A collection of Halloween-based sketches and scary movie parodies, including:
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| "Saturday Night Live Thanksgiving" | November 27, 2013 | 4.87[43] | |
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A collection of Thanksgiving sketches including:
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| "Saturday Night Live Christmas" | December 4, 2013 | 7.42[44] | |
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A collection of Christmas and December holiday-based sketches including:
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| "SNL Best of This Season" | January 4, 2014 | 5.6/14[45] | |
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A collection of sketches from seasons 38 and 39, including:
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| "SNL Presents: SNL Sports Spectacular" | January 30, 2014 | 4.79[46] | |
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A collection of sketches from episodes hosted by professional athletes and other sports stars, hosted by Seth Meyers, including:
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| "SNL Shorts" | April 24, 2014 | ||
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A collection of filmed shorts including:
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References
- ↑ Busis, Hillary (May 16, 2013). "Seth Meyers will return to 'SNL' this fall, leave for 'Late Night' in 2014". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved May 19, 2013.
- 1 2 "Seth Meyers talks 'Late Night' nerves, 'SNL' exit - Inside TV - EW.com". EW.com. Retrieved 22 September 2014.
- 1 2 Goldberg, Lesley (January 23, 2014). "'SNL' Names New 'Weekend Update' Co-Anchor". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved January 23, 2014.
- ↑ Evans, Bradford (October 2, 2013). "Jay Pharoah on 'SNL's Diversity Issue: "They Need to Pay Attention"". SplitSider. Retrieved December 14, 2013.
- ↑ Evans, Bradford (December 12, 2013). "'SNL' Held an Audition of Exclusively Black Female Performers Last Week". SplitSider. Retrieved December 14, 2013.
- ↑ "‘Saturday Night Live’ Cast — Sasheer Zamata First Black Female in Six Years - TVLine". TVLine. 6 January 2014. Retrieved 22 September 2014.
- ↑ "Nasim Pedrad implies that she's leaving 'Saturday Night Live'". Erin Strecker. Retrieved June 13, 2014.
- ↑ "Noël Wells & John Milhiser Also Leaving ‘SNL’, Michael Patrick O’Brien Future Unclear". Nellie Andreeva. Retrieved July 15, 2014.
- ↑ "Brooks Wheelan states he was fired from Saturday Night Live". NY Daily News. Retrieved July 15, 2014.
- 1 2 Genzlinger, Neil; Carter, Bill (August 19, 2014). "Don Pardo, the Voice of ‘Saturday Night Live,’ Dies at 96". The New York Times. The New York Times Company. Retrieved August 19, 2014.
- 1 2 3 Carter, Bill (September 15, 2013). "New Course for ‘Update,’ and All of ‘SNL’". The New York Times. Retrieved September 16, 2013.
- ↑ "Chicago comic Claire Mulaney picked for 'Saturday Night Live'". July 17, 2013. Retrieved July 18, 2013.
- ↑ "'Wild N Out's Mikey Day Hired to Write for 'SNL'". Splitsider. 23 August 2013.
- ↑ Evans, Bradford (2013-09-03). "Michael Che Is Writing for 'SNL' Full-Time This Season". Splitsider.
- ↑ "Katie Rich headed to 'SNL'". Chicago Tribune. 26 November 2013.
- ↑ Goldberg, Lesley (January 8, 2014). "'Saturday Night Live' Adds Two African-American Female Writers". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved January 8, 2014.
- ↑ "'The Daily Show' hires 'SNL' writer Michael Che as correspondent". EW.com. Retrieved 22 September 2014.
- ↑ "Colin Jost on Twitter: "Congrats again to @CheThinks on a well-deserved opportunity. We're losing a great writer and 80 percent of our sweatshirts. He's the best."". Retrieved 22 September 2014.
- ↑ Carter, Bill (September 11, 2014). "New Comic to Anchor ‘Update’ on ‘S.N.L.’". New York Times. Retrieved September 11, 2014.
- ↑ Kondolojy, Amanda (September 29, 2013). "'Saturday Night Live' Premiere With Tina Fey & Musical Guest Arcade Fire Equals Finale Rating". TV by the Numbers. Retrieved September 29, 2013.
- ↑ Bibel, Sara (October 6, 2013). "'Saturday Night Live' With Miley Cyrus Matches Its Highest Local People Meter Result Since April 27". TV by the Numbers. Retrieved October 6, 2013.
- ↑ Kondolojy, Amanda (October 13, 2013). "‘Saturday Night Live’ With Host Bruce Willis and Musical Guest Katy Perry Falls From Last Week". TV by the Numbers. Retrieved October 18, 2013.
- ↑ Bibel, Sara (October 28, 2013). "'Saturday Night Live' With Host Edward Norton and Musical Guest Janelle Monae Delivers Average Ratings". TV by the Numbers. Retrieved October 28, 2013.
- ↑ Bibel, Sara (November 3, 2013). "'Saturday Night Live' With Host Kerry Washington and Musical Guest Eminem Delivers Its Highest Rating Since October 5". TV by the Numbers. Retrieved November 3, 2013.
- ↑ "Lady Gaga-Hosted SATURDAY NIGHT LIVE on Par with Miley Cyrus Episode in Adults 18-49". BroadwayWorld. November 17, 2013. Retrieved November 17, 2013.
- ↑ Bibel, Sara (November 25, 2013). "'Saturday Night Live' With Host Josh Hutcherson and Musical Guest Haim Delivers Season Low Ratings". TV by the Numbers. Retrieved November 25, 2013.
- ↑ "SATURDAY NIGHT LIVE with Paul Rudd Matches March High in Metered-Market Households". BroadwayWorld. December 8, 2013. Retrieved December 8, 2013.
- ↑ Bibel, Sara (December 15, 2013). "'Saturday Night Live' With Host John Goodman and Musical Guest Kings of Leon Delivers Below Average Ratings". TV by the Numbers. Retrieved December 15, 2013.
- ↑ Kondolojy, Amanda (December 22, 2013). "'Saturday Night Live' With Host Jimmy Fallon and Musical Guest Justin Timberlake Delivers Highest Overnight Ratings in Two Years". TV by the Numbers. Retrieved December 22, 2013.
- ↑ Kondolojy, Amanda (January 19, 2014). "'Saturday Night Live' With Host and Musical Guest Drake is the #1 Telecast of the Night on "Big 4" Networks". TV by the Numbers. Retrieved January 19, 2014.
- ↑ Bibel, Sara (January 26, 2014). "'Saturday Night Live' With Host Jonah Hill and Musical Guest Bastille Delivers Average Ratings". TV by the Numbers. Retrieved January 26, 2014.
- ↑ Kondolojy, Amanda (February 2, 2014). "'Saturday Night Live' With Host Melissa McCarthy and Musical Guest Imagine Dragons Delivers This Season's Third-Best Ratings". TV by the Numbers. Retrieved February 2, 2014.
- ↑ Kondolojy, Amanda (March 2, 2014). "'Saturday Night Live' With Host Jim Parsons and Musical Guest Beck is #1 Telecast of the Night on the "Big 4" Networks". TV by the Numbers. Retrieved March 2, 2014.
- ↑ Beauchemin, Molly (March 2, 2014). "Watch Beck Perform "Blue Moon" and "Wave" on "Saturday Night Live"". Pitchfork Media. Retrieved March 2, 2014.
- ↑ Bibel, Sara (March 9, 2014). "'Saturday Night Live' With Host Lena Dunham and Musical Guest The National is The Number 1 Telecast of the Night on the Big 4 Networks". TV by the Numbers. Retrieved March 9, 2014.
- ↑ Kondolojy, Amanda (March 30, 2014). "'Saturday Night Live' With Host Louis CK and Musical Guest Sam Smith Even With Last Original". TV by the Numbers. Retrieved March 30, 2014.
- ↑ Bibel, Sara (April 6, 2014). "'Saturday Night Live' With Host Anna Kendrick and Musical Guest Pharrell Williams Up From Last Original". TV by the Numbers. Retrieved April 6, 2014.
- ↑ Cantor, Brian (April 13, 2014). "Seth Rogen, Ed Sheeran "SNL" Ratings Tie Season Low in Households". Headline Planet. Retrieved April 13, 2014.
- ↑ Cantor, Brian (May 4, 2014). ""SNL" Delivers Season Low Ratings for Andrew Garfield, Coldplay Episode". Headline Planet. Retrieved May 4, 2014.
- ↑ Cantor, Brian (May 11, 2014). ""SNL" Hits Season Low Ratings for Charlie Theron, Black Keys". Headline Planet. Retrieved May 11, 2014.
- ↑ Bibel, Sara (May 18, 2014). "'Saturday Night Live' With Host Andy Samberg and Musical Guest St. Vincent Matches Highest Rating Since April 5". TV by the Numbers. Retrieved May 18, 2014.
- ↑ Bibel, Sara (November 1, 2013). "Thursday Final Ratings: 'The Vampire Diaries', 'The Millers' & 'Elementary' Adjusted Up; 'Sean Saves the World' & 'Parenthood' Adjusted Down". Zap2it. Retrieved November 3, 2013.
- ↑ Bibel, Sara (November 28, 2013). "TV Ratings Wednesday: 'Criminal Minds', 'Survivor', 'The X Factor' & 'CSI' Down on Soft Thanksgiving Eve". Zap2it. Retrieved December 2, 2013.
- ↑ Kondolojy, Amanda (December 5, 2013). "Wednesday Final Ratings: 'Arrow' & 'Modern Family' Adjusted Up; 'The Tomorrow People' & 'Super Fun Night' Adjusted Down". Zap2it. Retrieved December 7, 2013.
- ↑ "‘Saturday Night Live’ With Host Melissa McCarthy and Musical Guest Imagine Dragons Delivers This Season’s Third-Best Ratings - Ratings - TVbytheNumbers.Zap2it.com". TVbytheNumbers. Retrieved 22 September 2014.
- ↑ Kondolojy, Amanda (January 31, 2014). "Thursday Final Ratings: 'Big Bang Theory', 'American Idol', 'The Taste', 'Vampire Diaries', 'Parks & Recreation', 'Two and a Half Men' Adjusted Up; 'The Millers', 'Elementary', & 'Reign' Adjusted Down". Zap2it. Retrieved February 13, 2014.