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Following Vice President Kamala Harris’s recent appearance on Saturday Night Live, NBC has granted airtime to Donald Trump’s presidential campaign, airing a political ad during its NASCAR and NFL broadcasts. Harris’s brief SNL appearance, which lasted around 90 seconds, initiated the move to provide Trump with equal exposure under Federal Communications Commission (FCC) guidelines.
In Trump’s televised segment, he addressed voters, warning that America could face an economic crisis if Harris wins the election. Clad in a “Make America Great Again” cap, Trump used the ad, which aired during NBC’s post-race NASCAR coverage and during Sunday night’s Vikings-Colts NFL game, to make his closing case to the public. FCC regulations require broadcasters to offer “equal time” to all candidates if one receives airtime on a non-news program, and NBC reportedly made the move to ensure compliance.
A History of Politics on SNL: When Candidates Enter the Comedy Arena
This is not the first time Saturday Night Live has found itself at the intersection of politics and entertainment. Throughout its history, the show has welcomed political figures, sometimes blurring the line between candidacy and comedy. President Gerald Ford became the first sitting president to appear on the show, sparking what would become a storied relationship between SNL and politicians. In the decades since, several presidential candidates, including Hillary Clinton, Al Gore, and John McCain, have taken the stage alongside SNL cast members, often to show a more humorous, relatable side to voters.
Hillary Clinton notably appeared during her 2016 campaign, where she portrayed a bartender opposite Kate McKinnon’s caricature of her, delivering a memorable performance that made headlines. John McCain also joined the cast in 2008 alongside Tina Fey, whose impersonation of Sarah Palin became iconic that election year. These appearances, while drawing laughs, raised questions about the influence of entertainment exposure on voter perceptions and led to debates around FCC regulations like the Equal Time rule.
FCC Commissioner and NBC’s Handling of Equal Time
Credit: Kamala Harris, Instagram
The FCC’s Equal Time rule has a long history of governing candidate appearances in entertainment, with Commissioner Brendan Carr, a senior Republican official, questioning NBC’s compliance following Harris’s appearance. In a post on X, formerly Twitter, Carr accused NBC of bending the rules, stating, “The Equal Time rule exists to keep broadcasters from skewing influence toward one candidate on the eve of an election.”
Carr pointed out that the FCC’s rule requires stations to offer opposing candidates a seven-day period to request airtime, allowing them enough preparation time for an effective response. According to FCC guidelines, however, “equal opportunities” does not mandate identical programming; it only stipulates comparable time and placement on-air.
In response, NBC submitted a formal notice to the FCC confirming that Harris’s appearance was “without charge” and met the network’s standard protocol for such segments. Lorne Michaels, SNL’s executive producer, has long upheld a policy of avoiding direct appearances by active candidates to comply with FCC regulations. Michaels clarified this policy in an interview with The Hollywood Reporter, explaining, “You can’t bring on the major candidates without inviting every minor candidate. The logistics of balancing that are unfeasible.”
With Election Day around the corner, the FCC’s role in upholding fair media representation is under close watch, underscoring the ongoing influence of entertainment on American politics.
What do you think of the FCC’s interference?
