The 50th season premiere of “SNL” reaches more than 5 million viewers

NEW YORK (AP) — The 50th season of “Saturday Night Live” is off to a strong start in ratings and is a record breaker for streaming service Peacock.

NBC said Monday that 5.3 million people watched the premiere live, the show's best opening since 2020, as Alec Baldwin reprized his role as then-President Donald Trump and Chris Rock hosted with musical guest Megan Thee Stallion.

The sketch comedy show welcomed several former contestants this weekend for its opening sketch about this year's US presidential race Maya Rudolph plays Kamala Harris and Dana Carvey plays President Joe Biden.

According to NBC, the episode is the most-watched “SNL” episode ever on Peacock in its first weekend.

Jean Smart hosted the Season 50 premiere and country music sensation Jelly Roll was the musical guest.

The opening sketch could be a preview of the upcoming season, with alum Andy Samberg returning to play Harris' husband Doug Emhoff and actor-comedian Jim Gaffigan playing Harris' running mate, Minnesota Governor Tim Walz. Only Rudolph was expected to play Harris, although SNL had not confirmed she would reprise the role.

The The first “SNL” episode aired on October 11, 1975. with Lorne Michaels at the helm as he is now.

George Carlin was hosting at the time and the show introduced its first cast of so-called “Not Ready for Prime Time Players”: Chevy Chase, John Belushi, Gilda Radner, Dan Akroyd, Jane Curtin, Laraine Newman and Garrett Morris.

Comedian Nate Bargatze hosts “SNL” this weekend, with Coldplay as the musical guest. NBC will air a three-hour live SNL celebration on February 16 to mark the anniversary.