Saturday Night Live Season 50 Tops Ratings With 8.1 Million Viewers

Saturday Night Live celebrated its 50th anniversary in 2025 with its most successful season in three years, averaging 8.1 million viewers across all platforms and marking a 12% increase from the previous season. The show was the highest-rated entertainment series of the 2024-2025 broadcast season among adults aged 18-49, maintaining its position as TV's top comedy series for the sixth consecutive year. The star-studded SNL 50: The Anniversary Special attracted 14.8 million viewers at first airing and grew to 22.8 million across platforms within 35 days, while the Homecoming Concert became Peacock's highest-reaching original special. Social media engagement was also strong, with the Ariana Grande-hosted episode garnering 712 million views, and the sketch "Domingo: Bridesmaid Speech" reaching 171 million views. NBC executives highlighted the show's continued cultural impact and ability to resonate with audiences after five decades. Overall, SNL remains a powerful force in late-night entertainment, combining legacy with ongoing relevance and record-setting revenue.