Following Hillary Clinton's appearance on "Saturday Night Live" two weeks ago, another Democratic presidential candidate is insisting that he be allowed to make an appearance on the network.
Larry Lessig, a Harvard professor and official candidate for the Democratic Party nomination, is citing the "equal-time rule," which specifies that broadcast stations must allot an equivalent opportunity on air to any opposing candidate who requests it.
On October 10, Lessig's attorney sent a letter to NBC requesting that the Lessig be given an opportunity to appear on NBC's airwaves for a time slot equal to the 3 minutes and 22 seconds that Clinton appeared on SNL, in which she portrayed a bartender having a conversation with an actress impersonating her.
"‘Saturday Night Live’ is many things, but it is not a bona fide newscast, news interview, news documentary, or on-the-spot coverage of bona fide news events such that it would be exempt from your equal time obligations under the law," wrote Lessig's attorney, Adam Bonin.
Bonin wrote that they are “not asking for [Lessig] to be placed on ‘Saturday Night Live’ itself... just the opportunity he is guaranteed under federal law to use your publicly licensed airwaves to make his case to your viewers, comparable to what Secretary Clinton was afforded for free.”
NBC responded to the request by asking for proof that Lessig is actually a "legally qualified candidate." Interestingly, NBC requested that Lessig provide proof that Mrs. Clinton is a "legally qualified candidate," as well.
If Lessig can prove that he is a legitimate candidate, NBC could seek a "news exception," which does not require networks to provide equal time to candidates in news or interview settings. The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) would make the final decision as to whether "Saturday Night Live" meets the requirements needed in order to deny Lessig an appearance.
While Lessig has appeared on other shows, such as HBO's "Real Time with Bill Maher," he remains virtually unknown to the American public. He is not included in Democratic polls, nor is he slated to appear in any of the Democratic debates. He is, however, backed by several big-name donors, including "Star Wars" director J.J. Abrams and former FCC chairman Julius Genachowski.