FCC Targets Colbert and Kimmel in New Crackdown on Late-Night TV

The F.C.C. said it planned to enforce long-dormant rules on appearances by political candidates on network talk shows.

The Trump administration is opening a new front against late-night comedy, announcing plans to enforce long-dormant rules on appearances by political candidates on network talk shows.

Under new guidance released on Wednesday, the Federal Communications Commission warned that entertainment-oriented talk shows carried on local television stations were required to offer candidates vying for the same office equal airtime.

The guidance was clearly aimed at the late-night hosts who frequently anger President Trump — Jimmy Kimmel of ABC, Stephen Colbert of CBS and Seth Meyers of NBC — and have in turn drawn scrutiny from the F.C.C. chairman, Brendan Carr. But it would also cover daytime talk shows including another Trump target, “The View.”