First on LateNighter: Alexander Skarsgård’s debut as Saturday Night Live host marked one of the show’s strongest performances of the season, driven by a significant surge among adults 18–49.
According to just-released Nielsen Live+Same Day ratings, the show’s January 31 episode drew an average of 4.8 million total viewers, up nine percent from a week ago. The jump was even more pronounced in the demo, with 950,000 viewers aged 18–49 tuning in, up 37% week-over-week.
Among total viewers, this weekend’s show ranks as this season’s second-highest-rated episode out of twelve episodes so far, with only the Ariana Grande-hosted Christmas episode faring better. Among younger viewers, it ranks as the season’s third-highest-rated episode so far (behind the Christmas episode and the Bad Bunny-hosted season premiere).
As always, bottom-line viewership will rise when Live+3 numbers, which include delayed viewing, come in. (For example, per Nielsen, the show’s January 24 episode, hosted by Teyana Taylor, gained 1.2 million total viewers in the three days following its broadcast, with Live+3 figures topping out at 5.7 million total viewers, while demo viewership grew by 49 percent to just over 1 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 week’s “ICE Meeting” cold open had already amassed 4.5 million views as of this writing.
As we’ve reported, this week’s Alexander Skarsgård-hosted SNL featured a surprise appearance from Pete Davidson, who made his second cameo appearance on the show this season, this time playing White House “border czar” Tom Homan.
Saturday Night Live is on a three-week break while NBC airs the Winter Olympics. The show is set to return on February 28, with first-time host Connor Storrie and four-time musical guests Mumford & Sons.
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 % |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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$AP Rocky | 4,140 | 15.19 |
| 12/20/25 | Ariana Grande / Cher | 5,404 | 16.83 |
| 12/13/25 | Josh O’Connor / Lily Allen | 3,949 | 13.08 |
| 12/6/25 | Melissa McCarthy / Dijon | 4,304 | 12.62 |
| 11/15/25 | Glen Powell / Olivia Dean | 4,165 | 14.41 |
| 11/8/25 | Nikki Glaser / sombr | 4,023 | 13.75 |
| 11/1/25 | Miles Teller / Brandi Carlile | 3,496 | 7.47 |
| 10/18/25 | Sabrina Carpenter | 4,248 | 14.67 |
| 10/11/25 | Amy Poehler / Role Model | 4,369 | 14.05 |
| 10/4/25 | Bad Bunny / Doja Cat | 4,634 | 14.99 |
Live+SD Ratings – In the Demo (P18-49)
| Date | Host / Music Guest | Avg Viewers (000s) | Avg Share % |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1/31/26 | Alexander Skarsgård / Cardi B | 950 | 14.32 |
| 1/24/26 | Teyana Taylor / Geese | 695 | 11.06 |
| 1/17/26 | Finn Wolfhard / A$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 |
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Is there a photo where Chloe Fineman ISN’T looking at cue cards???