Timberlake Brings SNL Highest Ratings In A Year

International superstar Justin Timberlake had proven his adeptness at spectacularly hosting NBC late-night mainstay Saturday Night Live with his four previous very successful hosting gigs (and numerous guest spots in between), but his fifth time out netted him the highest ratings for the show in over a year - 14 months to be exact!

The "Suit & Tie" chart-topper performed double-duty on Saturday's show, acting as both host and musical guest and the 18-49 audience definitely tuned into to see him strut his stuff - to the tune of a whopping 3.5 rating in that demographic. For comparison, recent host Adam Levine - the heretofore highest-rated of 2013 - nabbed just 2.7.

Showing off his ample triple-threat abilities, Timberlake excelled especially with his VeganVille, tofu-themed musical sketch.

Also, Timberlake was also given some aid from former members of the "five-time" club, among them SNL veterans Chevy Chase, Dan Aykroyd, Martin Short and recent THE BEST MAN on Broadway star Candice Bergan (the only woman to host five times thus far).

During the first of two musical performances - he trotted out both current schizophernic hit single "Suit & Tie", as well as his most recent release, the ballad-ish "Mirrors" - Timberlake was ably abetted by rap mogul Jay-Z, with whom he will share duties on new joint-tour in promotion of the soon-to-be-released THE 20/20 EXPERIENCE.

Also of note to hip hop fans, Timberlake performed some newly altered lyrics to "Suit & Tie" that seemed pointedly aimed at rap mega-star Kanye West, who recently expressed that he was less than impressed with his mentor's involvement with Timberlake on THE 20/20 EXPERIENCE and Jay-Z's upcoming joint tour with JT.

Timberlake suavely recanted, "My hit's so sick, got rappers acting dramatic." And how!

Total viewers for the episode topped out near 10 million, with DVR numbers still being calculated at this time.

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