Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

Sharpton on 'SNL' thrusts equal time (FCC equal-time rule) into spotlight
STLtoday.com ^ | 12-09-03 | Jon Sawyer and Eric Morath

Posted on 12/09/2003 4:48:48 AM PST by FairWitness

Edited on 05/11/2004 5:35:20 PM PDT by Jim Robinson. [history]

WASHINGTON - As Al Sharpton proclaimed "I feel good," then sang and danced to the James Brown anthem on "Saturday Night Live," fans in St. Louis saw a rerun instead.

Saturday's guest-host appearance by Sharpton, the civil rights activist and Democratic presidential candidate, brought the weekly comedy its highest ratings this season. But in St. Louis and 31 other metropolitan markets, the show wasn't seen at all.


(Excerpt) Read more at stltoday.com ...


TOPICS: Politics/Elections
KEYWORDS: elections; regulations; sharpton; snl
KSDK had made the opposite decision just four days earlier, when it aired candidate Richard Gephardt's appearance on "The Tonight Show" with Jay Leno.\

How convenient! < /sarcasm>

1 posted on 12/09/2003 4:48:48 AM PST by FairWitness
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | View Replies]

To: FairWitness
"But in St. Louis and 31 other metropolitan markets, the show wasn't seen at all.

That's because NBC affiliates in those cities, among them St. Louis' KSDK-TV (Channel 5), decided that running the program would force them to give other presidential candidates similar exposure under the Federal Communications Commission's equal-time rule."

This claim by the affiliate is so bogus.

Simple logic reveals that it was the program Saturday Night Live that would be responsible for providing equal time to all of the candidates because SNL initiated the offer to Mr. Sharpton, the affiliates didn't.

2 posted on 12/09/2003 5:34:02 AM PST by tahiti
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: FairWitness
NBC affiliates in Kansas City and Springfield, Mo., pre-empted Sharpton's appearance as well; like KSDK, they aired a rerun of a "Saturday Night Live" special with Steve Martin.

Good choice. I would trust Theodoric of York, Medieval Barber with my health care more than any of the Dem presidential candidates.

3 posted on 12/09/2003 6:37:08 AM PST by KarlInOhio (A little bloodletting and some boar's vomit, and he'll be fine!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson