How many episodes of SNL are there
As of the start of Season 49 in fall 2023, Saturday Night Live has aired approximately 1,100 to 1,120 episodes across its first 48 seasons on NBC. The show began in 1975 and has produced roughly 20 to 22 episodes per season in recent years, with earlier seasons featuring fewer episodes per year. The exact cumulative count depends on whether you include live web stream episodes, special presentations, and repeats, but the canonical series count sits just above 1,100 episodes through Season 48. Below we break down season totals, how to locate official episode guides, and nuances that affect the number.
Official season episode counts through Season 48
Since its premiere in 1975, SNL has maintained a consistent seasonal structure while gradually increasing episodes per season. The table below summarizes verified totals through Season 48, the most recent completed season as of 2024.
| Season | Episodes | Season years | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 24 | 1975–1976 | Fewer episodes in early years |
| 2 | 22 | 1976–1977 | |
| 3 | 20 | 1977–1978 | |
| 4–18 | 20–22 (per season) | 1978–1993 | Stable output |
| 19–39 | 20–22 (per season) | 1993–2013 | Occasional variations |
| 40–48 | 21–22 (per season) | 2014–2023 | Includes COVID-19 adjusted seasons |
Notable patterns in SNL episode production
- First few seasons: 12–24 episodes, reflecting a lighter schedule.
- 1980–1983 onward: typically 20–22 episodes per season.
- 2020–2021 (Seasons 45–46): reduced to roughly 20 due to pandemic constraints, with some episodes featuring shorter formats or special remote segments.
- Repeats and special airings can inflate total broadcast counts but are not part of original episode totals.
How to find the official episode count for a specific season
For a definitive list, use NBC’s official episode guides, SNL’s Wikipedia season pages (cross-checked with citations), or IMDb’s structured episode listings. These sources list individual episode numbers, air dates, hosts, and musical guests, enabling precise counts per season. When you add a new season, increment the season number and sum across seasons for a cumulative total.
Host and musical guest impact on episode totals
Some high-profile hosts or milestone episodes are sometimes counted separately in fan discussions, but officially each broadcast with a unique host/musical lineup counts as one episode. Repeats, tribute segments, or digitally extended content are not counted as new episodes in the canonical series total. If you are tracking appearances for a host or musician, you can cross-reference episode-level data to see their specific participation without altering the episode count.
Webcasts, specials, and how they’re treated
Live stream webcasts and special broadcasts (e.g., anniversary specials) are sometimes labeled as episodes in broader discussions. For a conservative, verifiable count, restrict totals to the 48-season linear NBC run and exclude digital-only streams unless explicitly noted by NBC as part of the season lineup. Adding special streams can raise the number, but it diverges from the standard season-by-season count used by databases and researchers.
Quick summary: total episodes and how the count evolves
Approximately 1,100 episodes exist through Season 48 as of fall 2023, with about 20–22 episodes each season for most of its run. The count increases by roughly 20–22 per new season once a season concludes. To remain accurate over time, add new season totals as they finish rather than relying on older aggregate figures.