“Saturday Night Live” Wraps Up Most-Watched Season in Three Years
The latest season of “Saturday Night Live” has just concluded, achieving its highest viewership numbers in three years. Season 50 drew an average of 8.1 million viewers, based on Live + 7 data from Nielsen. This marks a 12% increase compared to the previous season and represents the highest average since Season 47.
Notably, these numbers do not include the viewership from the highly anticipated “SNL50: The Anniversary Special,” which aired on Feb. 16 and attracted a staggering 14.8 million viewers. Over the following 35 days, the total viewership for the special grew to an impressive 22.8 million across various platforms, as reported by NBCUniversal.
Among the coveted demographic of adults aged 18-49, “SNL” claimed the top spot as the No. 1 broadcast series of the 2024-2025 season, excluding sports and news programs. It also maintained its position as the top broadcast or cable comedy for the sixth consecutive season.
Aside from traditional TV viewership, “SNL” also saw significant engagement on social media platforms. Throughout Season 50 and the anniversary special, the show garnered a total of 7.7 billion views, according to NBCUniversal. The episode featuring Ariana Grande and Stevie Nicks on Oct. 12 was particularly popular, racking up 712 million views. The sketch “Domingo: Bridesmaid Speech” from the same episode stood out as the most-watched sketch on social media, with 171 million views.
Katie Hockmeyer, executive vice president of late night at NBCUniversal Entertainment, expressed pride in the show’s ability to honor its legacy while pushing boundaries and resonating with audiences. She remarked, “After five decades, ‘SNL’ remains a powerful force in shaping culture and making us laugh week after week.”
