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Through the first three weeks of the season, Saturday Night Live has seen a 49% increase in viewers over last year in large part due to alum Tina Fey's hilariously spot-on impersonations of Republican vice-presidential candidate, Sarah Palin. With SNL's long history of political lampooning, it's guaranteed that Fey will reprise her role as Sarah Palin again. According to The Associated Press, it may not be long until we see the real Sarah Palin on the sketch comedy show impersonating Tina Fey.

"'All in good time'" is the only response longtime SNL executive producer Lorne Michaels gave in response to the question of when. "Michaels said on Wednesday he wasn't actively seeking Palin, but that the McCain campaign called after the first skit, when Fey's Palin appeared with Amy Poehler's Hillary Clinton on the show's Sept. 13 season premiere, to say they enjoyed it." Michaels prefers keeping political walk-ons a surprise until it happens, but Palin told reporters that she'd love to appear on the show with Fey: "'I love her, she's a hoot and she's so talented. It would be fun to meet her, imitate her and keep on giving her new material.'"

Fey initially needed convincing to appear as the vice-presidential hopeful, primarily because she was busy with production on an episode of 30 Rock with Oprah Winfrey as a guest. Michaels knew he wanted Fey back for the October 4th show, two days after the vice-presidential debate. Palin's interview with CBS's Katie Couric was "so priceless, they had to write a sketch around that."

Some feel that Palin's involvement in the show will only help the cause of a candidate who often seems hopelessly overwhelmed and ill prepared for the spotlight into which she's been thrust. Richard Greene, a public speaking coach and author of "Words That Shook the World: 100 Years of Unforgettable Speeches and Events," said were he a Democratic official, he'd be trying his best to keep Palin off SNL. "'She is so charming and so media savvy. When she has a script, she will completely seduce America.'"