SNL Ratings: Michael Keaton-Hosted Episode Delivers Mixed Results

First on LateNighter: Viewership trends for this weekend’s Saturday Night Live were much like the episode itself: So-so.

According to Nielsen Live-plus-same-day data, the show’s October 19, 2024 episode drew 4,777,000 total viewers to NBC. Week-over-week, that’s down 795,000 viewers (or -14%) from the previous week’s episode — the show’s most-watched in three years (hosted by Ariana Grande with musical guest Stevie Nicks).

On the plus side, this week’s episode, which was hosted by Beetlejuice Beetlejuice star Michael Keaton alongside musical guest Billie Eilish gained 1,101,000 total viewers (or +52%) from the year-ago SNL (Nov. 11, 2023). That episode, hosted by Timothée Chalamet with musical guest Boygenius, was the show’s lowest-rated of Season 49,

Among viewers 18-49, this weekend’s SNL averaged 946,000 viewers. That’s down 319,000 viewers (or -25%) from the week before, but up 160,000 viewers (or +61%) from the year-ago episode. This week’s episode’s 946,000 P18-49 viewers represents the show’s smallest key demo audience of the season to-date.

Note that all of the numbers above (for this week and past episodes for comparison) are same-day-plus-live measurements. Average episode viewership will increase once delayed-viewing Nielsen data arrives in the coming days.

This weekend’s episode marked Michael Keaton’s fourth time hosting the legendary sketch series, making him the rare star to have hosted the show over four different decades. (His first hosting stint was in 1982.) Billie Eilish has also appeared on the show four times.

After kicking off Season 50 with four consecutive episodes, Saturday Night Live is on a one-week break. The program returns on Nov. 2 with five-time host and SNL alum John Mulaney joined by first-time musical guest Chappell Roan.

Ratings data © The Nielsen Company, used under license.