‘Saturday Night Live’ ratings: Ben Affleck’s finale equal to Mick Jagger from 2012

And now, we present a history lesson to all of you out there bellowing that “Saturday Night Live” is dead and/or dying after so many years. The ratings are in for the season finale featuring host Ben Affleck, and they proved that at the end of the day, not much has really changed at all between now and when the show was hosted back by Mick Jagger in this same time-slot last year.

Overall, the season finale, which also featured the departure of Bill Hader and likely exit of Fred Armisen, drew a 2.7 rating in the 18-49 demographic. Let’s try now to put this in a little bit of perspective. If you remember back to this point last year, “SNL” naysayers were claiming that the show would die without Kristen Wiig and Andy Samberg, and yet, it has found a way to do more than just survive; at times, it has even flourished.

Now, the mysterious road begins leading up into the fall season. Seth Meyers will remain on the “Weekend Update” desk until at least near the end of the fall (half of the season), and the fate of Jason Sudeikis is still left in the air. While you could use his presence in the final Ian Rubbish sketch as a sign he’s leaving, he was not standing with Hader and Armisen emotionally at the end of the show.

We do anticipate a few other assorted promotions with the cast itself. Expect to see much more of Taran Killam and Bobby Moynihan next year as the new anchors, and for Kate McKinnon and Cecily Strong to potentially be promoted after some great seasons. As for the casting, there will certainly be a need for a couple of new guys.

Do you think the ratings continue to prove that this show is bigger than any one cast member? If you want to read our full review of the Affleck show, you can do so over at the link here.

Photo: NBC