Louis C.K.-Hosted SATURDAY NIGHT LIVE is No. 1 Big 4 Telecast of the Night

The April 8 edition of SATURDAY NIGHT LIVE, with host Louis C.K. and musical guest The Chainsmokers, has averaged a 4.5 rating, 12 share in "live plus same day" household results from the 56 local markets metered by Nielsen Media Research and a 2.1/11 in adults 18-49 in the 25 markets with local people meters. The 2.1 ties it with "Empire" and "Modern Family" as the #3 entertainment telecast so far this week on the Big 4 networks in 18-49 in the local people meters, behind only "Big Bang Theory" and "The Voice."

Versus what "Saturday Night Live" averaged with originals for the month of April last year, last night's telecast is up +10% in meter-market households (4.5 vs. 4.1) and up +11% in 18-49 in the local people meters (2.1 vs. 1.9 for the month of April 2016).

The 4.5 rating in households matches last season's highest rating over the final 10 "Saturday Night Live" originals, while the 2.1 in 18-49 equals the high for last season's final nine first-runs.

Saturday night's "Saturday Night Live" was easily the #1 telecast of the night on the broadcast networks in both metered-market households and in 18-49 in the local people meters, outrating every Saturday primetime telecast on those nets in both categories.

Compared with all primetime entertainment programming on the Big 4 networks so far this week, "SNL's" 2.1 is tied for #3 in 18-49 in the local people meters, behind only Thursday's "Big Bang Theory" (2.9) and Monday's "Voice" (2.2) and tied with Wednesday's "Empire" (2.1) and Wednesday's "Modern Family" (2.1).

Note that "SNL" adds significant viewership via time-shifting, with originals so far this season growing by +60% in 18-49 and +3.432 million persons or +45% in total viewers nationally going from "live plus same day" Nielsens to "live plus seven day" figures. In L+SD, "SNL" this season has averaged a 2.21 rating in 18-49 nationally and 7.568 million viewers overall, and in L+7, "SNL" grew to a 3.54 in 18-49 and 11.000 million viewers.

Versus the same point last season, "SNL" originals are up +22% in 18-49 nationally (3.54 vs. 2.89) and +2.406 million persons or +28% in total viewers (11.000 million vs. 8.594 million).

The average 11.000 million viewers in L+7 makes this the show's most-watched season at this point in 23 years (versus prior seasons' original telecasts through comparable dates), best since 1993-94 (11.236 million for that season's first 16 originals).

The 3.54 average in L+7 adults 18-49 rating nationally average is the show's best performances in the demo at this point since 2008-09 (4.02 for that season's first 18 originals).

National ratings, including viewers numbers, are due from Nielsen on Tuesday.

Saturday Primetime Ratings:

In primetime, NBC won the night among the Big 4 networks in adults 18-49, adults 25-54 and total viewers.

"Dateline Saturday Night Mystery" (0.7/3 in 18-49, 1.1 in 25-54, 4.5 million viewers overall from 8-10 p.m. ET):With its first telecast in six weeks, ties "SNL Vintage" as the #1 primetime show of the night on ABC, CBS, NBC or FOX in adults 18-49 and ranks as the #1 show of the night outright among those nets in adults 25-54 and total viewers. Equals the show's highest 18-49 rating since April 9, 2016 (0.8) and matches its high in adults 25-54 since March 12, 2016 (1.2). l viewers.Grows by +80% from its first half-hour to its fourth in adults 18-49 (from a 0.5 rating to a 0.9), +63% in adults 25-54 (0.8 to 1.3) and +49% or +1.7 million persons in total viewers (3.6 million to 5.3 million).

"SNL Vintage" (0.7/3 in 18-49, 3.0 million viewers overall from 10-11 p.m. ET, with an encore of the Dec. 1, 2001 telecast of "Saturday Night Live" hosted by Derek Jeter and featuring musical guest Shakira): Ties "Dateline Mystery" as the #1 primetime show of the night on the Big 4 nets in adults 18-49.

Grows +40% versus last week's encore in this time period in 18-49 (0.7 vs. 0.5) and +69% or 1.2 million persons in total viewers (2.972 million vs. 1.762 million).

Currently ranks #1 in the timeslot among ABC, CBS and NBC in adults 18-49 and adults 25-54, pending updates.

NOTE: All ratings are "live plus same day" from Nielsen Media Research unless otherwise indicated.

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