NBC filed a notice with the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) on Sunday to address concerns surrounding Vice President Kamala Harris's appearance on "Saturday Night Live" (SNL), following accusations that the network violated the Equal Time Rule by not offering similar airtime to other candidates. Harris, the Democratic presidential nominee, appeared for a brief one-and-a-half-minute cameo on the show, sparking criticism from FCC Commissioner Brendan Carr and others who questioned the timing of the appearance just days before the election.
In its filing, NBC disclosed Harris's November 2 appearance on SNL, describing it as "without charge" and adding that it qualified as "free use of [NBC's] facilities and airwaves" under the FCC's Equal Time rule. This rule, established in 1934, mandates that radio and television broadcasters provide equal airtime to all legally qualified political candidates, with exceptions for certain types of programming, including news and interviews. NBC's filing opens the door for other candidates to request equivalent airtime from the network before Election Day.
Carr, a senior Republican appointee to the FCC, voiced strong objections to NBC's decision, arguing that it appeared to favor one candidate in the lead-up to a national election. "This has all the appearances of, at least some leadership at NBC, at SNL, making clear that they wanted to weigh-in in favor of one candidate before the election," Carr said in a Fox News interview on Sunday. "Broadcasters have a license from the federal government that obligates them to operate in the public interest."
Carr's statements echoed his earlier post on X, formerly Twitter, where he labeled Harris's appearance a "clear and blatant effort to evade the FCC's Equal Time rule" and encouraged NBC to provide equal airtime to "other qualifying campaigns." He later reiterated the importance of the Equal Time rule, noting that "this is exactly why, for decades, we've had an equal time rule on the book." According to Carr, the purpose of the rule is to prevent broadcasters from using their public platform to unfairly support one candidate over another.
In response to the filing, NBC moved quickly to provide airtime to former President Donald Trump. According to reports from CNN, the network granted Trump an appearance opportunity during Sunday's NASCAR 2024 Cup playoff race broadcast, allowing him to address viewers directly. The network's decision to offer Trump airtime was interpreted by some as an attempt to neutralize criticism and comply with the Equal Time Rule.
Meanwhile, the Harris appearance on "SNL" remains a point of contention. Harris's brief cameo featured her delivering advice to comedian Maya Rudolph, who was portraying Harris in the show's signature humorous style. Harris told Rudolph, "It is nice to see you, Kamala," and assured her, "You got this," while Rudolph humorously imitated Harris's distinct laugh. The segment's timing, however, has left some questioning the network's judgment. Jason Miller, a senior adviser to Trump, criticized the appearance, calling it "a sign of desperation" and claiming it was an attempt to boost Harris's campaign "as her campaign spirals down the drain into obscurity."
Complicating matters further, Virginia Senator Tim Kaine, who is seeking re-election, also appeared in a separate SNL skit that same evening. NBC subsequently filed an Equal Time notice for Kaine's appearance as well, as Kaine's Republican challenger, Hung Cao, may be eligible for comparable airtime.
Carr appeared on The Ingraham Angle with host Laura Ingraham to further discuss the issue, stating, "I think every single option needs to be on the table for the FCC because we not only need to respond to this if it turns out to be as clear a violation as it looks like, but it sends a message to deter anybody from doing this again, whether it's to benefit a Republican or a Democrat."
SNL has a long history of featuring political figures in its sketches, but such appearances by active candidates so close to an election are rare. Show creator Lorne Michaels previously explained his caution around inviting political candidates, telling The Hollywood Reporter, "You can't bring the actual people who are running on because of election laws and the equal time provisions." Harris's appearance, therefore, raises questions about the consistency of NBC's approach to political appearances, particularly in a heated election season.
The Equal Time Rule typically provides other candidates with a seven-day window to request comparable airtime. However, Carr noted that the timing here is more urgent, as any airtime requests must be fulfilled by Election Day. "In normal Equal Time cases, it would usually open up a seven-day period... but here, opposing candidates don't have seven days," Carr said, emphasizing the unique timing constraints for candidates.
