Eddie Murphy's SNL Hits an 11-Year Audience High With DVR Playback, Best Since Sarah Palin's 2008 Visit
Click here to read the full article.
It’s an extra-beautiful day in Mister Robinson’s neighborhood, now that the latest ratings for Eddie Murphy’s celebratedSaturday Night Livereturn are in.
HostingSNL for the first time in 35 years, Murphy’scallback-filled episode amassed 16.3 million total viewers with Live+7 DVR playback factored in — marking the long-running sketch series’ largest audience since Oct. 18, 2008, when Josh Brolin hosted with musical guest Adele and thereal Sarah Palin stopped by during a season in which Tina “I Can See Russia From My House!” Fey was lampooning the VP pick on the regular. (That outing drew 16.84 million, which at the time set a 14-year high.)
More from TVLine
Murphy’s audience increase of 6.3 million viewers with Live+7 playback represents the largest such gain for any broadcast-TV program since the Nov. 5, 2018Manifest added just shy of 7 million.
In the 18-49 demo, Murphy’sSNL return swelled 1.87 ratings points — the biggest such lift on any network since the Nov. 20, 2018This Is Us grew by just over two points — to a 34-month high of 4.37, with Live+7 DVR playback factored in.
TVLine gave veteran cast member Murphy’s returnan average grade of “A+,” landing it atopreaders’ ranking of Season 45’s episodes thus far.
Compared toSNL’s season-to-date L+7 averages, the Dec. 21 episode was up 112 percent and up 91 percent in total audience.
SNL returns on Saturday, Jan. 25, with host Adam Driver and musical guest Halsey.
Launch Gallery:<I>SNL</I> Season 45 Episodes, Ranked
Best of TVLine
Sign up forTVLine's Newsletter. For the latest news, follow us onFacebook,Twitter, andInstagram.