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Looks like the FCC is not happy that SNL hosted Kamala without offering Trump equal time

Will anything happen, probably not.

Brendan Carr
@BrendanCarrFCC
This is a clear and blatant effort to evade the FCC's Equal Time rule.

The purpose of the rule is to avoid exactly this type of biased and partisan conduct - a licensed broadcaster using the public airwaves to exert its influence for one candidate on the eve of an election.

Unless the broadcaster offered Equal Time to other qualifying campaigns.

This kinda looks like a Hail Mary if NBC was willing to risk an FCC fine.

Do we know they didn’t offer Trump equal time?

October 1, 2024

SNL bans Harris and Trump cameos this year not to run afoul of election laws

Saturday Night Live premiered its 50th season over the weekend, but don’t expect any presidential candidates to make any cameos on the show this election season.

“You can’t bring the actual people who are running on because of election laws and the equal time provisions,” executive producer Lorne Michaels told The Hollywood Reporter. “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.”

https://www.yahoo.com/entertainment/snl ... 52259.html

BigTex wrote:October 1, 2024

SNL bans Harris and Trump cameos this year not to run afoul of election laws

Saturday Night Live premiered its 50th season over the weekend, but don’t expect any presidential candidates to make any cameos on the show this election season.

“You can’t bring the actual people who are running on because of election laws and the equal time provisions,” executive producer Lorne Michaels told The Hollywood Reporter. “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.”

https://www.yahoo.com/entertainment/snl ... 52259.html

That was a month ago. A lot could have changed. I doubt they would risk FCC fines. Do you think Trump would have gone on if they asked him?

That was a month ago. A lot could have changed. I doubt they would risk FCC fines. Do you think Trump would have gone on if they asked him?

What difference does it make when Lorne Michaels made the statement?

Do you really think SNL cares if NBC has to pay a fine?

Would Trump have appeared if asked? Probably, he's done the show before.

If you're done making excuses ask yourself this.

If NBC had extended an invitation to Trump and had a receipt in hand to prove they asked and Trump declined, wouldn't that already have been presented as evidence they did everything by the book?

SNL and NBC played fast and loose with the rules, they got caught.

Yet nothing will happen to NBC

Sangersteve wrote:

That was a month ago. A lot could have changed. I doubt they would risk FCC fines. Do you think Trump would have gone on if they asked him?

What difference does it make when Lorne Michaels made the statement?

Do you really think SNL cares if NBC has to pay a fine?

Would Trump have appeared if asked? Probably, he's done the show before.

If you're done making excuses ask yourself this.

If NBC had extended an invitation to Trump and had a receipt in hand to prove they asked and Trump declined, wouldn't that already have been presented as evidence they did everything by the book?

SNL and NBC played fast and loose with the rules, they got caught.

Yet nothing will happen to NBC

I’m not sure if they would have produced any “receipt” yet. It’s been less than 24 hours since the show aired.

The Equal Time Rule doesn't apply to just Harris and Trump. Other presidential candidates:

Jill Stein (Green Party) announced her candidacy on November 9, 2023
Chase Oliver (Libertarian Party) announced his candidacy on April 4, 2023
Claudia De La Cruz (Party for Socialism and Liberation) announced her candidacy on September 7, 2023
Randall Terry (Constitution Party) was nominated as the Constitution Party candidate on April 27, 2024
Cornel West (Independent) announced his candidacy on June 5, 2023

I'm seeing some news stories that incorrectly state that Harris violated the Equal Time Rule. The Equal Time Rule is a regulation on broadcasters, not political candidates.

Trump was not asked to be on the show.

GFB wrote:Trump was not asked to be on the show.

Thanks for that inside info Lorne.

Problem solved

Saturday Night Live's effort to give Kamala Harris some free publicity backfired spectacularly when NBC was forced to provide Donald Trump equal airtime.

Their fine amounted to $1.7 million in lost revenue.


https://redstate.com/rusty-weiss/2024/1 ... t-n2181481

Well, so much for this. Apparently Carr (the so-called expert) is wrong.

The FCC’s fact sheet explicitly spells this out: “the station is not required to seek out opposing legally qualified candidates and offer them Equal Opportunities.”

In other words, if Trump requests it, he’d get it.

He was given the opportunity on Sunday’s NASCAR on NBC, and he apparently took it, even though NBC didn’t legally have to offer it.

End of story.

NBC seems to think they needed to give him some time

At least that’s what they told the FCC

On Sunday, NBC filed an “Equal Time” notice with the FCC saying the Democratic candidate for President “appeared without charge on NBC's Saturday Night Live…for a total period of…one minute and 30 seconds.”
NBC’s filing came after Carr accused the network of structuring Harris’ appearance in a way that evades federal law requiring broadcasters to offer, “comparable time and placement to all legally qualified candidates when the Equal Time rule is triggered.”

Sangersteve wrote:NBC seems to think they needed to give him some time

At least that’s what they told the FCC

On Sunday, NBC filed an “Equal Time” notice with the FCC saying the Democratic candidate for President “appeared without charge on NBC's Saturday Night Live…for a total period of…one minute and 30 seconds.”
NBC’s filing came after Carr accused the network of structuring Harris’ appearance in a way that evades federal law requiring broadcasters to offer, “comparable time and placement to all legally qualified candidates when the Equal Time rule is triggered.”

They filed an equal time notice, which is standard, but what makes you think that they needed to do this? Just because they did it doesn’t mean they needed to.

But I understand. They already have people pissing and moaning about equal time, even though the rule wasn’t violated.
It’s a good way to shut those people up.

rusty wrote:

Sangersteve wrote:NBC seems to think they needed to give him some time

At least that’s what they told the FCC

On Sunday, NBC filed an “Equal Time” notice with the FCC saying the Democratic candidate for President “appeared without charge on NBC's Saturday Night Live…for a total period of…one minute and 30 seconds.”
NBC’s filing came after Carr accused the network of structuring Harris’ appearance in a way that evades federal law requiring broadcasters to offer, “comparable time and placement to all legally qualified candidates when the Equal Time rule is triggered.”

They filed an equal time notice, which is standard, but what makes you think that they needed to do this? Just because they did it doesn’t mean they needed to.

But I understand. They already have people pissing and moaning about equal time, even though the rule wasn’t violated.


It’s a good way to shut those people up.

I try to use common sense

FCC says NBC you messed up

NBC says no we didn’t

Then NBC says out of the kindness of our corporate heart we’re going to donate $1.7 million to the guy we’ve been calling Hitler and a nazi for years

That doesn’t make common sense

What makes common sense is that the lawyers said look guys we might lose to the rules and it could cost us a ton. So make this offer and hope Trump says ok.

Sangersteve wrote:

rusty wrote:

Sangersteve wrote:NBC seems to think they needed to give him some time

At least that’s what they told the FCC

They filed an equal time notice, which is standard, but what makes you think that they needed to do this? Just because they did it doesn’t mean they needed to.

But I understand. They already have people pissing and moaning about equal time, even though the rule wasn’t violated.


It’s a good way to shut those people up.

I try to use common sense

FCC says NBC you messed up

NBC says no we didn’t

Then NBC says out of the kindness of our corporate heart we’re going to donate $1.7 million to the guy we’ve been calling Hitler and a nazi for years

That doesn’t make common sense

What makes common sense is that the lawyers said look guys we might lose to the rules and it could cost us a ton. So make this offer and hope Trump says ok.

Man, don’t you watch trial shows? People and Corporations settle every day and twice on Sunday whether they’re guilty or not.

If someone could sue me for $1,000 (and could win) or make a settlement of $100, I’d probably pay the $100 just to avoid the inconvenience.


It’s cheaper just to settle and go on about your business

Isn’t that a good business play?