Republican vice presidential candidate Sarah Palin appeared this weekend live from New York on the sketch comedy show that has been mercilessly mocking her these past few weeks and it was not half bad.

In fact, Sarah Palin took the jokes made at her expense quite lightly and gracefully and joined in the general humor, prompting actor and fellow special guest Alec Baldwin to tell the public she had been a “good sport” about the whole deal.

Saturday’s edition began with a mock press conference held by former head writer and cast member Tina Fey doing her fourth impersonation of Palin since first opening the season premiere of SNL in September in character as the carefully coiffed, square-eyeglasses wearing Palin, complete with her specific accent and mannerisms.

Saturday, Fey-as-Palin held the press conference and gingerly bashed the Alaska governor, who meanwhile was watching the skit backstage on a monitor with SNL producer Lorne Michaels. At one point, actor Alec Baldwin walked up to Michaels and Palin whom he thought to be Fey and pleaded with the executive to not let “our Tina” out with that “horrible woman.”

Michaels told the actor this was the real Palin and an unruffled Baldwin countered his previous risqué comment with a compliment, “You are way hotter in person.” To which Palin replied that of all the Baldwin brothers, Stephen was her favorite. (Alec Baldwin wrote on the Huffington Post Monday that Palin had been “a good sport” on the show as well as “polite, gracious.”)

The actor then led Palin to where Fey was holding her pretend-conference and the women, who were dressed identically, just barely crossed paths, after which the Alaska governor said the famous intro, “Live from New York, it’s Saturday Night!”

The spoofing continued later in the show but Palin appeared unfazed and seemed to enjoy herself even as Amy Poehler performed a rap song about the politician’s vice presidential campaign, which included Eskimos, a moose dancing and being shot, snow and lyrics such as, “From my porch I can see Russia and such.”

Palin’s guest appearance on NBC’s late-night show drew a record number of viewers according to preliminary figures. Around 14 million viewers turned their TV sets on to see what Fey and Palin would deliver, making this the show’s best ratings in 14 years.

Fey had not previously confirmed she would be on the show to portray Palin. In fact, the Emmy Award winning comedienne had said that she would not be up for four years of spoofing Palin, should John McCain and his running mate win the Nov. 4 elections. In fact, she would rather leave Earth.

Confirmation of Sarah Palin’s participation came Thursday night, when Larry King made the announcement during his show.

Palin had previously said she would “love” to meet Tina Fey, “imitate her and keep on giving her new material.”

Other guests Saturday night included “W.” director and star Oliver Stone and Josh Brolin, respectively, as well as “Max Payne” actor Mark Wahlberg, who spoofed himself over a statement he made last week, that he would “bust open” SNL cast member Any Samberg’s head over an impersonation he did of the actor.