Friday's "Al Franken Show"

[Eric J in MN]

It will be the last day for his radio co-host Katherine Lanpher.

At least until Spring, maybe forever. She's leaving to write a book. They're doing a farewell show, noon to 3PM Eastern Time.

One can listen online or through a broadcast radio station in select cities.


<[br />Katherine Lanpher and Al Franken


Above also posted at www.speakspeak.org

[journalist3072]

1. Yep......I'll miss Katherine. I thought she was a great co-host. eom

[evlbstrd]

2. I have such a crush on her.

[bluestateguy]

3. Has a replacement been found yet?

Another Hollywood personality would be good. I keep thinking of someone like Debra Jo Rupp from "That 70's show" (Kitty Foreman) as an ideal replacement.

I suspect Thom Hartman will take over for Franken when he leaves to run for the Senate.

[Eric J in MN]

16. They haven't announced a replacement.

At least not when I was listening, and I heard most of today's show.

[Mr_Spock]

4. I almost threw up today

listening to her cackling after everything he said. There is apparently something funny about almost everything Al says that I just don't get :shrug:

[buddysmellgood]

5. Now that, is love.

[Eric J in MN]

12. That was a tape.

The joke was that they were playing a tape of her laughing to show what they will do when she's gone.

[calmblueocean]

6. How long do you think Al will do the show on his own?

I give him 3 months. I love Al, but he needs someone to focus and drive the show along to its destination. Katherine Lanpher has been a wonderful foil for him. She won't be easy to replace.

[NYCGirl]

9. I think that producer Ben Wikler or someone else will step up and

work as Al's sidekick.

[FreedomAngel82]

13. What about Joe?

I'd love to see him on there more.

[NYCGirl]

20. I guess that depends on what Joe Conason wants to do.

I like him, too.

[Eric J in MN]

18. I hope they ask a woman with some similar qualities to co-host (nt)

nt

[Botany]

7. She is good but ......

.... Franken sometimes is God awful ...... keeps saying "We lost
election was fair .... move on."

[NYCGirl]

8. When does he "keep saying" that? I listen every day. Haven't heard

anything like that in maybe...I can't remember. He says there was widespread vote suppression and dirty tricks, but unfortunately, we can't prove anything more.

[Lindsey]

10. I'm watching them now on the Sundance Channel...I absolutely adore her..

I adore him too. They make an outstanding team. When I only listened to them on the radio, I didn't the full impact of how much she contributes. Seeing them together is so comforting to me. I think he's an extremely bright guy who I have a lot of respect for. He's level-headed - she is too. I was wondering why she's leaving. I wish her all the best with her book. I just can't imagine who will replace her. :-(

[NYCGirl]

17. Here's the note from the Franken Show staff on AAR's website:

Katherine Lanpher's Departure

It is with great regret that we write to let you know that Katherine Lanpher will be leaving "The Al Franken Show." Katherine has received a book deal from a new imprint at Time Warner to write a memoir of her move to New York.

While we will miss Katherine every time Al fumbles an interview, mangles an introduction, or has to go to the bathroom in the middle of a segment, in other words, all the time, we are thrilled that she has this opportunity to use the talent that has sustained us at "The Al Franken Show" in a new and rewarding way.

Her deadline in mid-January is unusually aggressive and necessitates an almost immediate departure so that she can begin procrastinating in earnest. Katherine has been very generous in agreeing to work for another two weeks while we prepare as best we can for our Post-Katherine Era.

Her last broadcast as co-host will be on Friday, Oct. 7th. Her first broadcast as best-selling author should take place sometime next spring.

The Staff of The Al Franken Show

http://shows.airamericaradio.com/alfrankenshow/node/3490

[TreasonousBastard]

24. This says it all...

"While we will miss Katherine every time Al fumbles an interview, mangles an introduction, or has to go to the bathroom in the middle of a segment, in other words, all the time, we are thrilled that she has this opportunity to use the talent that has sustained us at "The Al Franken Show" in a new and rewarding way."

Al's a smart guy and a good writer, but he just doesn't cut it on radio without a script. Jeez, it took him a week to figure out you can't eat or drink in front of the mike. And he still doesn't know what to do with dead air, or how to conduct an interview without injecting some silly schtick.

Katherine's a radio pro, and he's dead in the water without her, or someone like her, to keep the show on track.

[FreedomAngel82]

11. Aww

She's great! :( I'm going to miss her. Anybody know what her book is going to be about?

[Eric J in MN]

15. The book will be about a woman who moves from Minnesota

to New York City in midlife.

[NYCGirl]

19. She got the offer from an article she wrote for the NY Times about her

move to NYC.

[Sydnie]

14. I like her much better than Al

He laughs too hard at his own jokes most days. That speaks volumes to me.

I always found her to be on target, ask good, deep questions, and nudging him to take a higher road when he is dipping too deep in the "Don't you just love Al" well.

You will be sorely missed Katherine. :hug:

[confludemocrat]

21. With her leaving imminent she has dropped her stilted air of disapproval

at Al and yesterday engaged in one of the funniest bits they had done, on the Sundance TV showing, greedily and sloppily eating fettucine, drinking "beer" and slurping soup while doing this very funny "mastication theatre" episode about Miers, the s.c. nominee.

She was looser last fall when they started but later often sat there silently recently as if bored or prissily dissatisfied with his shtick.

[HappyMoonBat]

22. Color me pleased.

I like Al better when she takes a vacation. No more constant hectoring "hang on a minute" devil's advocacy? I'm fine with that.

[Behind the Aegis]

23. I will miss her.

I really like her and think she is a sharp woman! She is a great foil, as someone has already said. I like her laugh and her expressions on "Sundance" are a hoot!

The funniest thing was the "Hate Letter of the Day." I turned to my partner and said I wondered if it was someone here who wrote it, considering the number of "I hate Al" threads.