Bowen Yang’s ‘SNL’ Exit Gets Highest Ratings in a Year
“Saturday Night Live” Season 51 Hits Ratings High with Ariana Grande Episode
“Saturday Night Live” saw a surge in viewership on Dec. 20, attracting 5.4 million viewers for its latest episode. The show, hosted by pop sensation Ariana Grande and featuring Cher as the musical guest, also marked a significant moment as Bowen Yang bid farewell to the cast after his stint as the first Asian cast member on the show.
Ariana Grande has proven to be a ratings magnet for “SNL” in the past. Her previous hosting gig in October 2024 alongside Stevie Nicks drew in 5.6 million viewers, making it the most-watched episode since Elon Musk’s hosting stint in May 2021. Grande’s latest appearance on the show during Season 51 has now become the highest-rated episode since John Mulaney’s hosting gig in the following month.
Prior to Grande’s episode, the most-watched installment of Season 51 was the season premiere on Oct. 4, featuring Bad Bunny as host and Doja Cat as the musical guest, which garnered 4.6 million viewers. On Peacock, Bad Bunny’s episode remains the most-viewed of the season, closely followed by Grande’s.
The Christmas episode on Saturday also saw a significant viewership spike, marking the highest numbers since 2020 when Kristen Wiig hosted with Dua Lipa as the musical guest, pulling in 6.6 million viewers.
In addition to dominating TV ratings, Grande’s episode has also been a social media hit, accumulating 503 million views across various platforms like YouTube, Facebook, X, Instagram, and TikTok as of Dec. 23, surpassing the social media engagement of all Season 50 episodes.
As the show gears up for its return on Jan. 17, fans can look forward to “Stranger Things” star Finn Wolfhard taking on hosting duties with A$AP Rocky as the musical guest. “Saturday Night Live” continues to be a powerhouse in the late-night comedy landscape, produced in association with Broadway Video and helmed by the legendary Lorne Michaels.
