‘SNL 50’ Becomes Most-Watched Season in Three Years, Hitting 8.1 Million Average Viewers After One Week

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“Saturday Night Live” just came off of its most-watched season in three years.

In the seven days following each episode, Season 50 garnered an average of 8.1 million viewers as per Nielsen’s Live + 7 data. This viewership figure signifies a 12% rise compared to Season 49 and is also the highest average since Season 47, which aired from autumn 2021 to spring 2022.

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The average number of viewers for Season 50 was 8.1 million when you factor in the seven days following each episode, as shown by Nielsen’s Live + 7 data. This represents a 12% boost over Season 49 and is the highest average since Season 47, which aired from fall 2021 to spring 2022.

This season’s average viewership is remarkably high, given that it doesn’t factor in the massive audience of “SNL50: The Anniversary Special,” which aired on February 16 and was seen by 14.8 million viewers initially. However, when taking into account views over a period of 35 days across various platforms, the total number of viewers reached an impressive 22.8 million according to NBCUniversal’s reports.

For individuals aged 18 to 49, “SNL” emerged as the top-rated television series during the 2024-2025 season (excluding sports and news shows), and it retained its position as the leading broadcast or cable comedy for a record sixth consecutive season.

Moreover, it’s worth noting that a substantial number of “SNL” viewers tune in through social media platforms. As per NBCUniversal, Season 50 and the special anniversary episodes garnered an impressive total of 7.7 billion views. The October 12 episode, featuring Ariana Grande and Stevie Nicks as hosts, was the most-watched on social media with a staggering 712 million views. Among the sketches from this episode, “Domingo: Bridesmaid Speech,” which was part of Grande and Nicks’ show, was the most popular, amassing 171 million views on social media.

Katie Hockmeyer, executive vice president of late-night programming at NBCUniversal Entertainment, found it remarkable that the show managed to uphold its tradition while simultaneously breaking new ground. The impressive viewership ratings this season prove just how much ‘SNL’ still connects with viewers, demonstrating its enduring cultural impact and ability to amuse us consistently week after week. After five decades, ‘SNL’ continues to be a significant influence in shaping our culture and providing laughter.

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2025-06-02 23:19