SATURDAY NIGHT LIVE Hits 7 Month Ratings High

By: Tyler Peterson Oct. 25, 2012

The October 20 edition of “Saturday Night Live," hosted by Bruno Mars, has delivered the show's biggest overall audience in more than seven months.

The October 20 telecast averaged a 2.5 rating, 10 share in adults 18-49 and 7.2 million viewers overall. That 7.2 million is the biggest viewership for “SNL” since a March 3 telecast hosted by Lindsay Lohan and featuring musical guest Jack White, which averaged 7.4 million.

In adults 18-49, last weekend’s edition is the top “Saturday Night Live” since the September 22 episode hosted by Joseph Gordon-Levitt and featuring musical guest Mumford & Sons, which earned a 2.6.

Versus "Saturday Night Live's" year-ago average for October originals, last weekend’s telecast was up 19 percent in adults 18-49 (with a 2.5 rating vs. a 2.1) and up 18 percent in total viewers (7.2 million vs. 6.1 million).

“Saturday Night Live” was the #1 telecast of the night on ABC, CBS, NBC and Fox in 18-49 and total viewers, outscoring all Saturday primetime programs on those networks.

In national ratings so far this season, original telecasts of "Saturday Night Live" are up versus one year ago by 7 percent in 18-49 rating (with a 2.9 vs. a 2.7, "most current") and up 4 percent in total viewers (7.5 million vs. 7.2 million).