‘SNL’ gets a bump from Trump

Donald Trump continues to be the best form of ratings kindling.

The Republican presidential candidate’s controversial hosting stint on “Saturday Night Live” boosted the long-running NBC sketch comedy show to its best rating since 2012.

The show averaged a 6.6 metered-market household rating, according to Nielsen, its highest since host Charles Barkley and musical guest Kelly Clarkson garnered a 7.0 in January 2012.

Among adults 18-49, the show posted a 2.7, its best since Feb. 1, 2014, when Melissa McCarthy hosted with musical guest Imagine Dragons.

The show was up 53 percent compared to last year’s November average, and it was the top-rated program of the day on any network in households.

Trump has sparked strong numbers for a number of TV appearances this fall, from talk shows to the three Republican presidential debates, which have been the most-watched programs ever on Fox News, CNN and CNBC.

But NBC, which cut ties to Trump over the summer following his controversial comments about Mexican immigrants, faced protests from Hispanic groups over Trump’s presence on the show. The League of United Latin American Citizens organized a protest outside the “SNL” studio to protest Trump’s appearance.

The demonstrators even had a piñata that looked like Trump’s head.

The show made reference to the protesters throughout the program.

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