First on LateNighter: Saturday Night Live has been smashing ratings records left and right this much-ballyhooed 50th anniversary season, but this weekend’s episode with first-time host Mikey Madison and musical guest Morgan Wallen saw the pendulum swing the other way.
Per Nielsen live-plus-same day data, the show’s March 29th episode drew an average 4,268,000 viewers ages 2+, the show’s lowest number in that measurement since December (when Chris Rock hosted with musical guest Gracie Abrams.)
Ratings fell even further among viewers in the advertiser-coveted 18-49 demo, where this weekend’s episode drew 692,000 viewers, a new low for the show going back until at least 1991 (which is as far back as numbers are available).
Compared to the show’s most recent new episode (with host and musical guest Lady Gaga), that’s down -7.7% among total viewers, and down -14.1% in the demo.
Nielsen ratings, of course, are only one measure of the show’s popularity. Many viewers watch the show on Peacock, and in clip form on social media and YouTube. By far the most viewed clip on social media this week is of the show’s goodnights, which set tongues wagging after Morgan Wallen broke from tradition and walked offstage rather than mixing an mingling with the show’s other performers. As of this writing, it’s been viewed more than 20 million times.
It’s a safe bet that the show’s ratings will pop back up this coming week when Saturday Night Live returns with the second of three new shows in a row, with host Jack Black and musical guests Elton John and Brandi Carlisle.
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 |
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 |
Ratings Data © The Nielsen Company, used under license.
duh, an asswipe racist musical guest so I was not the only fan choosing to skip the show and the arrogant asswipe exit.
I am so ashamed of Morgan Wallen’s behavior on SNL. His immature action was witnessed a short time ago by Nashville after he dangerously threw a chair off of the roof of a building onto a busy street below endangering everyone in the area. I honestly thought he would limit his embarrassing ways to Nashville – I’m so very sorry he carried them all the way to NYC and onto one of the greatest TV shows of all time!! I express my sincerest apology to both the city and the show ..
,Not quite in those words but I couldn’t agree with you more!! Those of us that live in Nashville already knew that Wallen was capable of ANYTHING after he threw a chair from the roof of a building to the busy street below endangering Lord knows how many people walking to their favorite bar!! I apologize for his inappropriate behavior – never thought he would show his true self in NYC!!!