Kamala Harris made a surprise appearance on NBC’s “Saturday Night Live” on November 2, causing Republican commissioner Brendan Carr to claim that it was a deliberate attempt to circumvent the FCC’s Equal Time rule. In the cold-open sketch, Harris interacted with Maya Rudolph, who portrays her on the show, and took jabs at Donald Trump while emphasizing the importance of ending the drama surrounding the election.
The FCC’s rules on political programming aim to ensure that all legally qualified candidates are given fair access to the airwaves, with equal opportunities for exposure. Carr, a Trump appointee, criticized Harris’s appearance on “SNL” as biased and partisan, arguing that the broadcaster should have offered Equal Time to other qualifying campaigns.
According to the FCC’s rule, in the event of an appearance by a legally qualified candidate, the broadcaster must entertain requests for Equal Opportunities from opposing candidates for the same office. However, the station is not obligated to actively seek out opposing candidates and offer them Equal Opportunities.
Despite Harris’s appearance on “SNL,” the show had reportedly not extended an offer to Trump’s campaign for him to appear. The FCC has not yet made a determination regarding political programming rules, and no complaints have been filed by interested parties. Representatives for NBC, the Trump campaign, and the Harris campaign declined to comment on the situation.
Trump, who has previously hosted “Saturday Night Live,” has not appeared on the show this season. In the setup for Harris’s cameo, Rudolph humorously expressed her desire to speak with someone who has been in her shoes as a Black South Asian woman running for president, leading to the reveal of Harris on the other side of a mirror.
The sketch continued with playful banter between Rudolph and Harris, showcasing their chemistry and humor. At the end of the skit, Rudolph exclaimed, “I’m gonna vote for us!” prompting Harris to question whether she was registered in Pennsylvania, adding a touch of political humor to the scene.
“SNL” also shared a behind-the-scenes clip featuring Harris and Rudolph, further highlighting the camaraderie between the two women. Overall, Harris’s appearance on the show generated buzz and added a lighthearted touch to the political atmosphere leading up to the election.
