(Image source: SportsGrid)

BY NATHAN BYRNE

So how did Charles Barkley do in his third hosting appearance on Saturday Night Live?

Here’s a clip from NBC...

“Let’s start with Dylan and Casey. Even though they bought their tickets separately, they assumed the airline would know -- quote -- they always sit together.”

Critics gave mixed reviews.

“Mediocre,” if you ask The Huffington Post.

“Barkley scores...” says the Orlando Sentinel.

And “Don’t quit your day job...” the Daily Mail tells Barkley -- saying he “...completely drops the ball …”

But what do the numbers say?

According to The Hollywood Reporter, the Barkley-hosted SNL episode posted the show’s best ratings in a year.

Then again, The Examiner says the show had one helluva lead-in.

“...credit NBC for thinking smart. The network had a huge lead-in audience courtesy of an NFL wild-card playoff game, and they booked a host in Charles Barkley who is a memorable figure in the field of sports (even if it is not basketball).”

Known as the “Round Mound of Rebound” in his playing days, a decidedly more svelte Barkley even poked fun at himself for moonlighting as a Weight Watchers pitchman.