Womp womp. The Saturday Night Lives Season Premiere, hosted by Owen Wilson and Kacey Musgraves as musical guests, attracted 4.9 million viewers, 41% less than the SNLs Chris Rock-hosted season 46 premiere. This premiere received the lowest ratings for an SNL season premiere in its 47-year history according to Deadline.
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These numbers do not reflect live viewings of cable. The first season of SNL has been made available live on NBC's Peacock. Because streaming numbers are usually kept secret, it is impossible to know how this affects the rating.
Network ratings are not the only problem facing SNL's live sketch variety show. Even with this new low SNL still leads cable viewership. Despite Wilson's episode finishing second in 18-49 ratings, it was the best-rated comedy on this year's Fall TV Premiere Week. This is behind The Simpsons, another long-running legend.
SNL was the #1 entertainment show in the 18-49 age group last season.
Kim Kardashian West will host this week's episode. With musical guest Halsey, the social media star and reality TV star will make her SNL debut. It's impossible to predict how this will turn out, but it could be a memorable monologue (whether that's a good thing or not, only time will tell).
SNL ratings tend to rise steadily throughout a season. Therefore, the only way to move forward is up.
Following the show's first break, Rami Malek will be hosting with Young Thug and Jason Sudeikis, then alumnus of SNL. Brandi Carlile will be musical guest.
Saturday Night Live airs Saturdays from 11:30 p.m. ET on NBC. Peacock will stream the first four episodes from Season 47 live.
