The senior Republican on the Federal Communications Commission criticized the decision to have Vice President Kamala Harris on 'Saturday Night Live' in the final episode before Election Day, without offering equal time to former President Trump or other candidates in the presidential cycle. FCC commissioner Brendan Carr expressed concern that the broadcasting company violated the FCC's equal time rule by hosting Harris but not other candidates.
The equal-time rule, established in 1934, requires broadcast stations to provide the same amount of time for competing political candidates, with exceptions for newscasts, documentaries, and political debates. Carr emphasized the importance of upholding these rules to prevent bias in favor of any candidate.
Harris's appearance on the show depicted a humorous interaction with former cast member Maya Rudolph, poking fun at Trump and Biden. Carr called for an investigation into the matter, urging his fellow FCC commissioners to take action.
The Trump campaign criticized Harris's appearance as a desperate attempt to appeal to voters, while Virginia Sen. Tim Kaine's appearance on the show was also questioned for potentially violating the equal-time rule.
Lorne Michaels, the creator of 'Saturday Night Live,' had previously stated that having main candidates on the show could pose challenges due to election laws and equal time provisions. Carr highlighted Michaels' prior acknowledgment of these rules.
Critics on social media pointed out similarities between Harris's sketch and a previous sketch featuring Trump on 'The Tonight Show.' The broadcaster stated its commitment to complying with regulatory obligations and noted its history of hosting political figures from both sides.
