When McCain's running mate, Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin, appeared on the show Oct. 18, "Saturday Night Live" earned its best ratings in 14 years. Former star and head writer Tina Fey, a Palin lookalike, has been at the center of the show's recent parodies of the campaign.
"SNL" regular Darrell Hammond impersonates McCain on the late-night show, now in its 34th season.
McCain last appeared on "Saturday Night Live" in May, after clinching the nomination and while the Democratic primary continued. The 72-year-old Arizona senator joked about his age, saying: "I ask you, what should we be looking for in our next president? Certainly, someone who is very, very, very old."
When McCain hosted "SNL" in 2002, he mocked singer Barbra Streisand's political advocacy by performing a medley of her songs.
Obama appeared on "Saturday Night Live" briefly last season but canceled a return for its season opener in September, citing the devastation brought to parts of the country by Hurricane Ike.
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On the Net:
"SNL": http://www.nbc.com/Saturday-Night-Live/