"SATURDAY NIGHT LIVE" SCORES SEASON-HIGH OVERNIGHTS

With Host Will Ferrell and Musical Guest Chris Stapleton, "Saturday Night Live" Ranks as the #1 Show of the Night in Metered-Market Households & 18-49 in the Local People Meters

NEW YORK. - Jan. 28, 2018 - The Jan. 27 telecast of "Saturday Night Live" has delivered season-high ratings in metered-market households and adult 18-49 rating in the local people meters.

With an edition hosted by Will Ferrell and featuring musical guest Chris Stapleton, last night's "Saturday Night Live" averaged a 4.9 rating, 11 share in "live plus same day" household results from the 56 local markets metered by Nielsen Media Research and a 2.3/11 in adults 18-49 in the 25 markets with local people meters.

These are the highest "Saturday Night Live" overnights since the 2016-17 season finale on May 20, 2017, hosted by Dwayne Johnson and featuring musical guest Katy Perry, which averaged a 5.3/15 in metered-market households and a 2.6/13 in 18-49 in the local people meters.

The Jan. 27 "Saturday Night Live" is the #1 telecast of the night on the Big 4 networks in both metered-market households and 18-49 in the local people meters, ahead of all primetime programming on the broadcast networks, including ABC's Celtics-Warriors NBA coverage.

The Jan. 27 "SNL" aired live coast to coast (11:30 p.m. ET, 8:30 p.m. PT) and was replayed at 11:30 in western markets.

Note that "SNL" adds significant viewership via time-shifting, with this season's first nine originals growing by +58% in 18-49 and +2.744 million persons or +40% in total viewers nationally going from "live plus same day" Nielsens to "live plus seven day" figures. In L+SD, "SNL" so far this season is averaging a 1.85 rating in 18-49 nationally and 6.914 million viewers overall, and in L+7, "SNL" is growing to a 2.93 in 18-49 and 9.658 million viewers.

This is the show's #2 most-watched season in L+7 in nine years, since "SNL" averaged 10.319 viewers for originals at this point in 2008, trailing over that span only last year's election-fueled average of 10.614 million persons.

Official-national ratings for the Jan. 27 edition of "Saturday Night Live," including viewership numbers, are due from Nielsen on Tuesday, Jan. 30.

UPDATE: 'SATURDAY NIGHT LIVE' SCORES SEASON HIGHS IN 18-49 AND TOTAL VIEWERS

With Host Will Ferrell and Musical Guest Chris Stapleton, "Saturday Night Live" Delivers the Show's Top Results Since the 2016-17 Season Finale

NEW YORK. - Jan. 30, 2018 - "Saturday Night Live" has delivered season highs in adults 18-49 and total viewers.

The Jan. 27 telecast, hosted by Will Ferrell and featuring musical guest Chris Stapleton, averaged a 2.19 rating, 11 share in adults 18-49 and 7.467 million viewers.

These are the season's top results, besting the previous adult 18-49 high of a 2.01 rating for the Oct. 14, 2017 telecast hosted by Kumail Nanjiani and featuring musical guest P!nk, and topping the prior total-viewer high of 7.237 million for the Jan. 13 episode, hosted by Sam Rockwell with musical guest Halsey.

The last "Saturday night Live" to beat these Jan. 27 results was the 2016-17 season finale on May 20, 2017 (2.32 in 18-49, 8.275 million viewers with host Dwayne Johnson and musical guest Katy Perry).

The Jan. 27 "Saturday Night Live" is up +15% versus the show's January 2017 average for originals in 18-49 (2.19 vs. 1.91).and up +11% in total viewers (7.467 million vs. 6.740 million).

Note that "SNL" adds significant viewership via time-shifting, with this season's first 11 originals growing by +58% in 18-49 and +2.714 million persons or +39% in total viewers going from "live plus same day" Nielsens to "live plus seven day" figures. In L+SD, "SNL" so far this season is averaging a 1.83 rating in 18-49 and 6.888 million viewers overall, and in L+7, "SNL" is growing to a 2.89 in 18-49 and 9.602 million viewers.

This is the show's #2 most-watched season in L+7 in nine years, since "SNL" averaged 10.118 viewers for originals at this point in 2008-09, trailing over that span only last year's election-fueled average of 10.599 million viewers