Vice President Harris' appearance on “Saturday Night Live” (“SNL”) just days before the presidential election prompted 70 complaints from around the country to the Federal Communications Commission (FCC).
Records obtained Wednesday by The Hill as part of a Freedom of Information Act request show that the majority of the challenges filed with the FCC include charges that Harris' “SNL” cameo violated the network's “equal time” rules. It included complaints that
Harris debuted on NBC's long-running sketch comedy show in early November, just three days before Election Day. The then-Democratic presidential candidate appeared alongside Maya Rudolph, who has imitated Harris for years on late-night shows.
“I'm here to remind you, you understand this, because you can do what the other person can't do, you can open the door.” Harris told Rudolph while knocking on her opponent for the White House. Mr. Trump.
Shortly after the cold open of “SNL” featuring Harris, Republican FCC Senior Commissioner Brendan Carr, appointed by President Trump, called the appearance a “clear and blatant effort to circumvent the FCC's equal time rule.” He claimed that there was. Earlier this week, following his election victory, Trump nominated Carr to be FCC chairman.
The FCC's “equal time” rules allow rival candidates to request equal airtime.
Viewers who filed complaints with the FCC cited the rule extensively while condemning NBC's move.
“I think it's unconscionable that SNL only invited one candidate on the show last Saturday,” wrote a viewer in Austin, Texas. “This shows extreme political bias and doesn't give other candidates the same opportunity to get their message across.”
Another viewer from Spring Creek, Nevada, wrote, “What a bunch of crap that NBC forced on the American people. It was a cheap ploy by NBC and SNL to try to influence the presidential election.” The agency added: “They should.” He was punished for this stunt. ”
“This is not the time for propaganda in our country,” the Concord, North Carolina, viewer said in a letter to the FCC.
Another viewer in Oklahoma City, Okla., said they “really have nothing to do with this fight” but usually vote Libertarian, but added, “NBC didn't want Harris to open their show 'Saturday Night Live.' I have given permission for the Vice President to appear.” I believe that their weekly program violates the FCC's equal time rules. ”
Trump and other candidates “to my knowledge have not even received offers to appear on said skit show,” the viewer said.
“We are currently living in a time when many Americans do not trust the electoral process, and for networks to take actions such as those described above only fuels distrust in the media and the electoral process,” Sooner said. said a state viewer.
Many of the complaints prompted the FCC to revoke NBC's broadcast license.
“Enough is enough. Enforce the rules in the strictest way to ensure this never happens again. Failure to uphold the standards of the law will result in the same programs breaking the law over and over again.” Del Mar, Calif., a viewer wrote.
“This situation is not just an oversight, but an intentional act that undermines the principles of fairness and impartiality that are essential to the integrity of our elections,” said one message to the FCC from Fort Worth, Texas. “The public airwaves belong to the people, and it is unacceptable for major networks to manipulate the political landscape to benefit one candidate over another,” they added.
A spokesperson for NBCUniversal News Group did not immediately respond to ITK's request for comment.
The day after Harris' appearance on “SNL,” NBC News aired a short video message from Trump in an apparent effort to give him equal airtime. President Trump's recording was played near the end of Sunday night's NASCAR playoff race.
None of the complaints to the FCC mentioned the 45th president's video, although some were filed after Trump's video messages.
While most viewers directed their complaints at NBC and the FCC, one TV watcher in Hudson, Florida, said Harris' SNL debut should have removed her from the White House race altogether. said.
“Vice President Harris needs to be disqualified from the presidential race for her appearance on SNL,” one viewer wrote.
“She needs to take responsibility so that no one else can do something like this again in the future. In this case, it doesn't matter which party you belong to. Everyone should take responsibility.”
Contributed by Bob Cusack.
