Ratings for the show, in its 34th season, are up 50 percent among all viewers this season, a move that defies every viewing trend in network television. Last week’s episode was seen by more than 10 million people, a figure that would make it a hit in prime time. Looking to capitalize on the surge in interest, “SNL” will have the first of three prime-time specials Thursday at 9:30, devoted specifically to the presidential race.

“There’s never been an election where we’ve been at the center of so much, except possibly Bush-Gore in 2000,” Mr. Michaels said. “It’s great for comedy, and it’s also great for broadcast television because it’s what we do at our best.”

It’s not bad for cable television either, in the form of the twin news-oriented late-night shows on Comedy Central. “The Daily Show With Jon Stewart” and “The Colbert Report” reached record numbers of viewers last month, even topping some of the broadcast networks’ late-night shows.

“I think people are in a highly emotional state because of the election,” Mr. Stewart said. “It certainly is energizing the comedy world.”

“The Daily Show” averaged just under two million viewers for September, by far its best performance ever. For the first time in the course of a month the show had more viewers per episode than NBC’s “Late Night With Conan O’Brien.” That show, since it’s on a broadcast network, is available in about 15 million more homes than “The Daily Show” (although “Late Night” is also on 90 minutes later, in the 12:30 slot, when far fewer viewers are awake and available).