Tina Fey, center, again returned to \Tina Fey, center, again returned to "Saturday Night Live" Oct. 4, 2008 to play Republican vice presidential candidate Sarah Palin as the sketch comedy show continued to pull out all the stops in its election year season. Queen Latifah, right, dropped by to portray Thursday's debate moderator, PBS's Gwen Ifill, and cast member Jason Sudeikis stepped into the role of Democratic vice presidential candidate Joe Biden. (NBC- Dana Edelson/Associated Press)

Late-night sketch comedy series Saturday Night Live is seeing a dramatic spike in ratings early in the fall TV season as flocks of viewers tune in for its continuing satirization of Republican vice-presidential candidate Sarah Palin.

This past weekend saw SNL alumnus Tina Fey play the Alaska governor in a third consecutive Palin skit — this time, drawing material from Thursday night's debate between U.S. vice-presidential candidates.

According to preliminary data from tracking firm Nielsen Media Research, the viewership (in metered markets) for SNL 's 34th season has increased 49 per cent in comparison to the same period last year.

SNL began winning acclaim for its strong, political skits earlier this year, with material that often skewered the battle between Barack Obama and Hilary Clinton as they vied for the Democratic presidential nomination.

For the new season, which began Sept. 13, politics has remained on the front burner with Fey — who bears an uncanny resemblance to Palin — returning for a trio of spot-on spoofs.

Saturday's program opened with a segment that equally poked fun at Palin (portrayed by Fey), her Democratic rival Joe Biden (portrayed by regular SNL cast member Jason Sudeikis) and debate moderator Gwen Ifill (portrayed by guest star Queen Latifah).

Palin herself has also referenced the show on the campaign trail, even joking that she once dressed up as Fey for Halloween.

During a speech in Omaha on Sunday, Palin joked self-deprecatingly that her verbal missteps while campaigning were her attempt "to give Tina Fey more material — job security for Saturday Night Live."

The show will also expand on its political parodies and satire with Saturday Night Live Weekend Update Thursday — a trio of live, half-hour, prime-time specials beginning Oct. 9 — and Saturday Night Live Presidential Bash 2008 on Nov. 3, the eve of the U.S. election.