SNL’ 50th Season Premiere Breaks Records with Over 5 Million Viewers, Shattering Peacock Streaming Records

NEW YORK – The much-anticipated ‘SNL’ 50th season premiered with a massive 5.3 million live viewers, making it the highest-rated opener since 2020, NBC reported. The milestone episode also broke streaming records on Peacock, further cementing Saturday Night Live’s dominance in both traditional and digital spaces.

Kicking off the ‘SNL’ 50th season with a bang, the show brought back fan-favorite alums for an opening sketch centered around the 2024 U.S. presidential race. Maya Rudolph returned to portray Kamala Harris, while Dana Carvey stepped in as President Joe Biden. The sketch also featured surprise appearances by Andy Samberg as Doug Emhoff and Jim Gaffigan as Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz, setting the stage for what could be a politically charged season.

In addition to being the most-watched ‘SNL’ episode on Peacock during its first weekend, the season premiere featured Jean Smart as host and country music star Jelly Roll as the musical guest.

The ‘SNL’ 50th season is a continuation of a legendary show that first aired on October 11, 1975, with original cast members like Chevy Chase, John Belushi, Gilda Radner, and Dan Aykroyd. Lorne Michaels, the show’s creator and current executive producer, has been at the helm since its inception, guiding it to cultural and comedic relevance through five decades.

As the ‘SNL’ 50th season progresses, comedian Nate Bargatze will host next week’s episode with Coldplay as the musical guest. Fans can also look forward to a special three-hour live episode on February 16 to commemorate the show’s 50-year run. With a blend of timely political satire and classic humor, this season promises to be one of the most exciting yet.