NBC Anchor on SNL Makes Some Uneasy

Media critics and journalism observers love to complain. One of their biggest complaints is that TV news and entertainment programming are merging and losing their identities.

If that’s the case, then network news has everything to fear come this Saturday night.

That’s when NBC Nightly News anchor Brian Williams [pictured here] will host not the news, but the networks venerable comedy show Saturday Night Live.

No network anchor has ever hosted the live show, which includes comedy sketches and live musical performances, and some pundits believe that’s the way it should stay.

According to Jon Fine at Business Week, Louis Ureneck, chairman of the journalism department at Boston University, says Williams’ appearance on SNL is a clear sign of journalism’s decline in America.

Fine quoted Ureneck about the hosting job: "Neither [Williams nor Katie Couric] should be hosting Saturday Night Live. This is a publicity gimmick and only serves to muddy the distinctions between news and entertainment television."

Certainly the lines between the two have been somewhat blurred as the business of broadcasting has evolved. Comedy Central’s The Daily Show with Jon Stewart and The Colbert Report have proven that news and entertainment can meet and still carry nuggets of truth to viewers. Even SNL has shown itself to be a force in diseminating the news, particularly when elections or the show’s parody newscast are involved.

For his part, Williams told The Associated Press his appearance is far from a breach of journalistic propriety.

"The rules are changing quickly," he said. "No one should worry my stewardship of journalism at NBC is any different. This is my night off. This is clearly labeled a comedy-variety show."

And many, including Richard Huff at The New York Daily News, think Williams’ instincts are right-on.

“Rest assured, come Sunday morning the Earth will still spin,” Huff said. “Tim Russert will still be peppering politicians with questions on ‘Meet the Press.’ The Jets will be underdogs. And Williams, who has repeatedly proven he is a serious reporter, won't have killed journalism simply by hosting the NBC show. Not even close.”