SNL viewership frequency in the U.S. 2017, by age

Adults between the ages of 30 and 44 were the most frequent viewers of Saturday Night Live, with 19 percent of respondents in this age bracket stating that they watched the program often, and 28 percent stating that they watched it sometimes. Younger generations tend to view SNL far more than older generations, whereas more than half of adults aged 65 or above said that they never watched Saturday Night Live at all.

Saturday Night Live

First airing nearly 45 years ago, Saturday Night Live has won more Primetime Emmy Awards than any other show in history during its run and has established itself as a major source of American comedy and pop culture. The show’s 850th episode aired in 2018 and garnered a household rating of 4.5 as well as a household share of around 11 percent. Many of the show’s most popular segments go on to become viral video sensations, like Melissa McCarthy’s impression of Sean Spicer, which was seen by 45 percent of Americans. Alec Baldwin’s impression of Donald Trump was even more popular, with 60 percent of U.S. viewers watching the sketch.

SNL and politics

Being a late-night variety show that often touches on current events, SNL has never shied away from sketches about politics or political leaders – in fact, these are often some of the show’s most popular. Dozens of Presidents have been either depicted or referenced on the show, with Barack Obama even appearing to portray a caricature of himself. After drawing the anger of Donald Trump, the show’s audience has become more politically divided, with far more democrat-leaning Americans viewing it that Republicans.