Photo: Will Heath
First on LateNighter: Preliminary ratings are in for Connor Storrie’s Saturday Night Live hosting debut—and they spell both good and bad news for the latest episode of the legendary sketch show.
Per Nielsen Live + Same Day data, the show’s February 28 episode drew an average of 4.6 million total viewers and 1.03 million viewers aged 18–49.
The numbers represent a 4.3% drop in total audience but an 8.3% increase in the advertiser-coveted demo from the show’s most recent live episode on January 31 with host Alexander Skarsgård and musical guest Cardi B. (4.8 million viewers, 950,000 in 18–49).
Among total viewers, this weekend’s show ranks as this season’s fourth-highest-rated episode out of 13 episodes so far. Among younger viewers, it ranks as the season’s third-highest-rated episode so far (behind the Christmas episode and the Bad Bunny-hosted season premiere).
As always, bottom-line viewership will rise when Live+3 numbers, which include delayed viewing, come in. (For example, per Nielsen, the show’s January 31 episode, hosted by Alexander Skarsgård, gained 1.6 million total viewers in the three days following its broadcast, with Live+3 figures topping out at 6.4 million total viewers, while demo viewership grew by 48% to just over 1.4 million viewers.)
It’s also worth noting that linear ratings are just one piece of the pie, especially among younger viewers. Live+Same Day figures do not include live viewing on Peacock or social media, nor do they account for the show’s YouTube performance, where this week’s “Trump Iran Address” Cold Open had already amassed 4 million views as of this writing.
As we’ve reported, this past weekend’s episode was cameo-packed, with four gold medal-winning members of Team USA hockey dropping in on Connor Storrie’s monologue, while a cameo from Hudson Williams elicited an extended ovation from the Heated Rivalry fans packing the stands in Studio 8H.
Saturday Night Live returns this weekend with Ryan Gosling set to hold court for his fourth hosting stint alongside first-time musical guest Gorillaz
Episode-by-episode Nielsen ratings charts for SNL’s 51st season follow below.
Live+SD Ratings – All Viewers (P2+)
DateHost / Music GuestAvg Viewers
(000’s)Avg Share %2/28/26Connor Storrie / Mumford & Sons 4,61119.261/31/26Alexander Skarsgård / Cardi B 4,82015.181/24/26Teyana Taylor / Geese 4,43714.421/17/26Finn Wolfhard / A$AP Rocky 4,14015.1912/20/25Ariana Grande / Cher 5,40416.8312/13/25Josh O’Connor / Lily Allen3,94913.0812/6/25Melissa McCarthy / Dijon4,30412.6211/15/25Glen Powell / Olivia Dean4,16514.4111/8/25Nikki Glaser / sombr4,02313.7511/1/25Miles Teller / Brandi Carlile3,4967.4710/18/25Sabrina Carpenter4,24814.6710/11/25Amy Poehler / Role Model4,36914.0510/4/25Bad Bunny / Doja Cat4,63414.99Ratings Data © The Nielsen Company, used under license.
Live+SD Ratings – In the Demo (P18-49)
DateHost / Music GuestAvg Viewers
(000s)Avg Share %2/28/26Connor Storrie / Mumford & Sons 1,02915.191/31/26Alexander Skarsgård / Cardi B 95014.321/24/26Teyana Taylor / Geese 69511.061/17/26Finn Wolfhard / A$AP Rocky 85814.5312/20/25Ariana Grande / Cher 1,22417.7112/13/25Josh O’Connor / Lily Allen71011.2312/6/25Melissa McCarthy / Dijon7469.8711/15/25Glen Powell / Olivia Dean79913.4811/8/25Nikki Glaser / sombr73311.9711/1/25Miles Teller / Brandi Carlile6054.9810/18/25Sabrina Carpenter93814.9210/11/25Amy Poehler / Role Model89312.9110/4/25Bad Bunny / Doja Cat1,12516.33Ratings Data © The Nielsen Company, used under license.
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