Saturday TV Ratings 5/16/26: Saturday Night Live Soars for Finale with Will Ferrell and Paul McCartney, 48 Hours Steady, MLB Jumps from Previous Saturday [+ Analysis]

NBC's Saturday Night Live (0.81, +0.11) ended its 51st season with a significant surge, with a finale that featured Will Ferrell as host and musical guest Paul McCartney. But the results were more subdued for another Saturday staple, as CBS's 48 Hours (0.11, 0.00) made no gains. In sports news, NHL on ABC (0.67) was a good bit ahead of MLB on Fox (0.51), while the CW aired Banana Ball (0.09). Key: (R) = repeat. (F) = finale.

Saturday TV Ratings 5/9/26: Saturday Night Live Down, NBA Playoffs Dominate, All’s Fair in Love & Mahjong Solid on Hallmark [+ Analysis]

Sketch-comedy staple Saturday Night Live (0.70, -0.11) was down on NBC, and 48 Hours (0.11, -0.05) also dealt with a decline on CBS. NBA on ABC (1.69) was the top-rated broadcast overall, while MLB on Fox (0.29) trailed. The CW aired The 90s Boy Band Boom (0.03). Key: (R) = repeat.

Saturday TV Ratings 5/2/26: Saturday Night Live Soars, NBA Playoffs Hit 27-Year High for First Round Game, Kentucky Roses Draws High Viewer Total on Hallmark [+ Analysis]

Buoyed by an indirect NBA Playoffs lead-in (2.16), an Olivia Rodrigo-hosted installment of Saturday Night Live (0.81, +0.19) soared past its last episode. Meanwhile, NHL on ABC (0.69) easily outpaced MLB on Fox (0.35). CBS's 48 Hours (0.16, +0.02) was up. Key: (R) = repeat.

Saturday TV Ratings 4/25/26: I’ll Be Seeing You Solid on Hallmark, NBA Playoffs Dominate, Fox News Leads White House Correspondents Dinner Shooting Coverage [+ Analysis]

ABC's NBA Playoffs broadcast (1.09) had the slight edge over NBC's (1.07) on Saturday night, while MLB on Fox (0.52) was solid but well below its sports competitors. Later in the night, news about the White House Correspondents' Dinner shooting flooded the airwaves. ABC's special report (0.80) was comfortably above NBC's (0.31), while CBS (0.14/0.13) attracted little interest with its coverage. Key: (R) = repeat.

Saturday TV Ratings 4/18/26: NBA Playoffs Dominate, To Philly With Love Modest for Hallmark, MLB Down from Last Saturday [+ Analysis]

NBA on ABC (1.42) dominated on Saturday night, coming in more than a full ratings point above MLB on Fox (0.41). The CW's NASCAR broadcast (0.17) was strong enough to beat NBC reruns of Dateline (0.11) and Saturday Night Live (0.15). 48 Hours (0.14, -0.06) slipped on CBS. Key: (R) = repeat.