Ratings: Will Ferrell Sends SNL Season 51 Out on a High Note

Will Ferrell SNL — Photo: Lloyd Bishop/NBC

First on LateNighter: Will Ferrell and Paul McCartney helped Saturday Night Live deliver its second-largest audience of the season for its Season 51 finale.

Per Nielsen Live+Same Day data, SNL‘s May 16 episode drew an average of 5.3 million total viewers and 1.1 million among viewers aged 18–49.

That’s a 13% increase in total audience and an 18% jump in the advertiser-coveted demo over last week’s Matt Damon-hosted May 9 episode.

Year-over-year, compared to SNL‘s May 17, 2025 season finale (with host Scarlett Johansson and musical guest Bad Bunny), this weekend’s episode was up 9% in total viewers and up 28% in the demo.

Among the 20 SNL episodes to air this season, Ferrell’s episode ranks No. 2 in total viewers (behind the Ariana Grande-hosted Christmas episode) and No. 3 among viewers aged 18–49 (with only the Christmas episode and the Bad Bunny / Doja Cat season opener faring better).

As always, overall viewership will rise when Live+3 numbers—which include delayed viewing—come in. (For example, per Nielsen, the show’s May 9 episode gained 1.8 million total viewers in the three days following its broadcast, with Live+3 figures topping out at 6.5 million total viewers, while demo viewership grew by 56% to 1.5 million viewers.)

It’s also worth noting that linear ratings are just one piece of the pie, especially among younger viewers. Live+Same Day figures do not include live viewing on Peacock or social media, nor do they account for the show’s YouTube performance, where this weekend’s “Jeffrey Epstein Ghost Cold Open” had accumulated 3.4 million views as of Tuesday afternoon.

Among the headlines to emerge from this weekend’s season finale was a surprise appearance from SNL alum Molly Shannon, and Colin Jost and Michael Che’s lucky No. 13 “Weekend Update” Joke Swap.

Saturday Night Live returns for its 52nd season this fall. The show has not yet officially announced a premiere date.

Episode-by-episode Nielsen ratings charts for SNL’s 51st season follow below.

Live+SD Ratings – All Viewers (P2+)

Date	Host / Music Guest	Avg Viewers (000’s)	Avg Share %
5/16/26	Will Ferrell / Paul McCartney	5,303	16.03
5/9/26	Matt Damon / Noah Kahan	4,679	13.87
5/2/26	Olivia Rodrigo	4,993	15.89
4/11/26	Colman Domingo / Anitta	4,148	13.00
4/4/26	Jack Black / Jack White	4,500	13.12
3/14/26	Harry Styles	4,792	13.70
3/7/26	Ryan Gosling / Gorillaz	4,342	14.31
2/28/26	Connor Storrie / Mumford & Sons	4,611	19.26
1/31/26	Alexander Skarsgård / Cardi B	4,820	15.18
1/24/26	Teyana Taylor / Geese	4,437	14.42
1/17/26	Finn Wolfhard / A$AP Rocky	4,140	15.19
12/20/25	Ariana Grande / Cher	5,404	16.83
12/13/25	Josh O’Connor / Lily Allen	3,949	13.08
12/6/25	Melissa McCarthy / Dijon	4,304	12.62
11/15/25	Glen Powell / Olivia Dean	4,165	14.41
11/8/25	Nikki Glaser / sombr	4,023	13.75
11/1/25	Miles Teller / Brandi Carlile	3,496	7.47
10/18/25	Sabrina Carpenter	4,248	14.67
10/11/25	Amy Poehler / Role Model	4,369	14.05
10/4/25	Bad Bunny / Doja Cat	4,634	14.99

Live+SD Ratings – In the Demo (P18-49)

Date	Host / Music Guest	Avg Viewers (000s)	Avg Share %
5/16/26	Will Ferrell / Paul McCartney	1,120	14.11
5/9/26	Matt Damon / Noah Kahan	952	11.60
5/2/26	Olivia Rodrigo	1,104	16.94
4/11/26	Colman Domingo / Anitta	842	12.43
4/4/26	Jack Black / Jack White	1,040	13.74
3/14/26	Harry Styles	942	12.16
3/7/26	Ryan Gosling / Gorillaz	817	12.87
2/28/26	Connor Storrie / Mumford & Sons	1,029	15.19
1/31/26	Alexander Skarsgård / Cardi B	950	14.32
1/24/26	Teyana Taylor / Geese	695	11.06
1/17/26	Finn Wolfhard / A$AP Rocky	858	14.53
12/20/25	Ariana Grande / Cher	1,224	17.71
12/13/25	Josh O’Connor / Lily Allen	710	11.23
12/6/25	Melissa McCarthy / Dijon	746	9.87
11/15/25	Glen Powell / Olivia Dean	799	13.48
11/8/25	Nikki Glaser / sombr	733	11.97
11/1/25	Miles Teller / Brandi Carlile	605	4.98
10/18/25	Sabrina Carpenter	938	14.92
10/11/25	Amy Poehler / Role Model	893	12.91
10/4/25	Bad Bunny / Doja Cat	1,125	16.33