SNL Draws Largest Audience Since May 2021 With Host Ariana Grande

Ariana put up Grande numbers as Saturday Night Live host.

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The pop singer and Wicked movie co-star’s second turn as SNL host this past weekend delivered 5.6 million total viewers, marking the long-running sketch comedy’s biggest audience since May 8, 2021, when Elon Musk somehow merited an invite to Studio 8H.

Stevie Nicks served as musical guest.

The Grande-Kicks combo also stands as the “highest SNL episode ever on Peacock,” NBC claims, for its first two days of viewing (Sunday and Monday). (No specific streaming data points were provided.)

TVLine readers gave the Grande-hosted episode an average grade of “A-.” Highlights included Grande imitating Britney Spears, Miley Cyrus and Gwen Stefan i during her sung monologue, Grande trading Jennifer Coolidge impressions with cast member Chloe Fineman , and a Family Feud cold open that pitted presidential candidates Kamala Harris and Donald Trump against one another.

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The season premiere hosted by Jean Smart, as well as the following week hosted by Nate Bargatze, each netted an average TVLine reader grade of “B.”

SNL continues its landmark 50th season this Saturday, Oct. 19, with host Michael Keaton and musical guest Billie Eilish.

SNL will formally mark its 50th anniversary with a celebratory weekend culminating in a live primetime special on Sunday, Feb. 16, 2025.

LateNighter.com was first to report on SNL ‘s Oct. 12 numbers.

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