In a recent interview with The Hollywood Reporter, “Saturday Night Live” (SNL) creator Lorne Michaels explained that federal election laws made it unlikely that presidential candidates like Donald Trump or Kamala Harris would appear on the show this season. He cited the Federal Communications Commission’s (FCC) “equal time” rule, which requires broadcasters to provide equal exposure to all candidates, including those with limited ballot access. Michaels noted the complications that arise under this rule, which is intended to prevent media favoritism during election seasons.
“You can’t bring the actual people who are running on because of election laws and the equal-time provisions,” Michaels stated. “You can’t have the main candidates without having all the candidates, and there are lots of minor candidates that are only on the ballot in, like, three states, and that becomes really complicated.”
However, just weeks after Michaels’ comments, “SNL” aired a campaign-themed skit featuring former cast member Maya Rudolph in her recurring role as Kamala Harris, prompting questions about whether the show had disregarded its own caution regarding FCC rules. The skit, structured as a virtual “campaign commercial,” portrayed Rudolph as Harris delivering lines echoing the Democratic campaign’s themes. Many viewers interpreted the sketch as overtly supportive of Harris’s candidacy.
In the sketch, Rudolph’s Harris remarked that she wished she “could talk to someone who’s been in my shoes. You know, a Black, South Asian woman running for president.” Her fictional counterpart encouraged her with statements such as, “You got this. Because you can do something your opponent cannot do. You can open doors.” The scene continued with Rudolph’s character celebrating themes of optimism and resilience, culminating in a declaration: “The American people want to stop the chaos and end the drama.”
This portrayal quickly drew scrutiny for what some observers viewed as a clear violation of the FCC’s equal-time rule. Since its establishment in 1934, the rule has required broadcasters to offer comparable airtime to all political candidates, especially during election periods, to ensure fairness. Under these provisions, sketches or appearances that might give an advantage to a candidate on public airwaves could require corresponding airtime for other candidates to maintain balance.
The broadcast led to criticism from FCC Commissioner Brendan Carr, who called NBC’s airing of the skit a “premeditated and gross violation” of equal-time regulations. Carr claimed the sketch functioned as campaign promotion and argued that it particularly targeted younger viewers, a demographic that has been challenging for the Harris campaign. “This is precisely what these rules are meant to prevent,” Carr said, alleging that NBC bypassed the law in a calculated move to reach undecided voters.
With the election season underway, the influence of shows like “SNL,” which blend comedy with political commentary, has come under increased scrutiny. The FCC’s equal-time rule remains in effect to prevent potential biases, but with entertainment platforms’ substantial reach, the line between satire and campaign support is becoming less distinct.
Whether the FCC will take formal action against NBC remains to be seen. But as the intersection between comedy and political messaging continues to evolve, regulatory bodies and audiences are likely to watch closely, questioning how to balance freedom of expression with fairness in campaign season coverage.
