Trump wants end to 'unfunny' Saturday Night Live after skit
The White House hopeful tweeted "Alec Baldwin portrayal stinks. Media rigging election!" after this weekend's show.
Tuesday 18 October 2016 10:00, UK
Donald Trump has accused Saturday Night Live of a "hit job" on his reputation after Alec Baldwin's portrayal of the presidential candidate in a parody sketch.
Baldwin and Ghostbusters star Kate McKinnon reprised their roles as Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton for the latest in a series of episodes poking fun at the rivals.
Baldwin's Trump started by comparing himself to Bill Clinton, accusing him of abusing women - which prompted a comeback from McKinnon's Clinton.
"Mistresses? Bill, how could you? Oh, how will I go on with this debate? I'll never be able to remember my facts and figures now. Oh, Donald, no! Get real, I'm made of steel," McKinnon screams cheers from the live audience.
But the parody struck a sour note with the Republican.
Mr Trump accused the show of being part of a media conspiracy to rig the election.
He wrote on Twitter: "Watched Saturday Night Live hit job on me. Time to retire the boring and unfunny show. Alec Baldwin portrayal stinks. Media rigging election!"
Mr Trump has recently become vocal about what he calls a "media rigged election".
He says newspapers and TV shows are making a co-ordinated effort to smear his run for the White House with "dishonest and distorted" lies.
But the Republican has not always been a critic of the NBC comedy show.
Only last year, for the second time, saying "Part of the reason I'm here is that I know how to take a joke."
This weekend's show also included a parody of Beyonce's song Lemonade, featuring Mr Trump's wife Melania and daughter Ivanka played by SNL cast member Cecily Strong and Golden Globe winner Emily Blunt.
The video - called Melanianade - ends with the women standing by Mr Trump, with Strong's Melania adding "Without us you wouldn't be standing there.
"You'd just be that guy with the weird hair."