First on LateNighter: SNL‘s ratings saw modest losses this week with host Jon Hamm and musical guest Lizzo.
Per Nielsen live-plus-same day data, Saturday Night Live‘s April 12th, 2025 episode drew an average 4,293,000 viewers aged 2+ and 777,000 viewers in the advertiser-coveted 18-49 demo.
Compared to the show’s most recent new episode (with host Jack Black and musical guests Elton John and Brandi Carlile), that’s down -5% among total viewers and -1% among younger viewers.
Out of this season’s seventeen episodes to date, this weekend’s episode ranks as the 12th highest rated episode overall, and its 15th highest in the demo (only Paul Mescal Mikey Madison’s episodes were lower rated).
Nielsen ratings, of course, are just one measure of the show’s popularity. Many viewers watch the show on Peacock, and in clip form on social media and YouTube. The show’s most-viewed clip on YouTube this week was the “White POTUS” pretape, starring James Austin Johnson as Donald Trump, fasturing cameos by Scarlett Johansson and former SNLers Alex Moffat and Beck Bennett. As of this writing, it’s been viewed more than 4.6 million times.
With just three episodes to go before the end of SNL’s landmark 50th season, expect more surprises when the show returns after a two week break on May 3rd with host Quinta Brunson and musical guest Benson Boone.
Complete season-to-date Nielsen ratings charts for SNL‘s 50th season follow below:
Live+SD Ratings – All Viewers (P2+)
| Date | Host / Music Guest | Avg Viewers (000’s) | Avg Share % |
|---|---|---|---|
| 9/28/24 | Jean Smart / Jelly Roll | 5,388 | 15.16 |
| 10/5/24 | Nate Bargatze / Coldplay | 4,763 | 13.34 |
| 10/12/24 | Ariana Grande / Stevie Nicks | 5,573 | 15.60 |
| 10/19/24 | Michael Keaton / Billie Eilish | 4,777 | 12,80 |
| 11/2/24 | John Mulaney / Chappell Roan | 6,587 | 18.35 |
| 11/9/24 | Bill Burr / Mk.gee | 4,424 | 13.09 |
| 11/16/24 | Charli XCX | 4,287 | 12.49 |
| 12/7/24 | Paul Mescal / Shaboozey | 3,839 | 10.80 |
| 12/14/24 | Chris Rock / Gracie Abrams | 4,200 | 12.55 |
| 12/21/24 | Martin Short / Hozier | 4,793 | 13.96 |
| 1/18/25 | Dave Chappelle / GloRilla | 4,848 | 14.92 |
| 1/25/25 | Timothée Chalamet | 4,958 | 14.90 |
| 3/1/25 | Shane Gillis / Tate McRae | 4,275 | 13.92 |
| 3/8/25 | Lady Gaga | 4,625 | 15.00 |
| 3/29/25 | Mikey Madison / Morgan Wallen | 4,268 | 13.21 |
| 4/5/25 | Jack Black / Elton John & Brandi Carlile | 4,525 | 12.30 |
| 4/12/25 | Jon Hamm / Lizzo | 4,293 | 13.73 |
Live+SD Ratings – In the Demo (P18-49)
| Date | Host / Music Guest | Avg Viewers (000s) | Avg Share % |
|---|---|---|---|
| 9/28/24 | Jean Smart / Jelly Roll | 1,126 | 13.72 |
| 10/5/24 | Nate Bargatze / Coldplay | 979 | 11.78 |
| 10/12/24* | Ariana Grande / Stevie Nicks | 1,266 | 15.72 |
| 10/19/24 | Michael Keaton / Billie Eilish | 946 | 11.17 |
| 11/2/24 | John Mulaney / Chappell Roan | 1,669 | 20.52 |
| 11/9/24 | Bill Burr / Mk.gee | 967 | 12.45 |
| 11/16/24 | Charli XCX | 863 | 11.32 |
| 12/7/24 | Paul Mescal / Shaboozey | 739 | 9.25 |
| 12/14/24 | Chris Rock / Gracie Abrams | 817 | 11.13 |
| 12/21/24 | Martin Short / Hozier | 940 | 12.20 |
| 1/18/25 | Dave Chappelle / GloRilla | 1,021 | 13.24 |
| 1/25/25 | Timothée Chalamet | 1,032 | 14.02 |
| 1/25/25 | Shane Gillis / Tate McRae | 895 | 13.76 |
| 3/8/25 | Lady Gaga | 806 | 12.15 |
| 3/29/25 | Mikey Madison / Morgan Wallen | 692 | 10.04 |
| 4/5/25 | Jack Black / Elton John & Brandi Carlile | 788 | 9.25 |
| 4/12/25 | Jon Hamm / Lizzo | 777 | 12.39 |
Ratings Data © The Nielsen Company, used under license.
