Is Al Franken Funny? Is That A Serious Question?

[freesqueeze]

http://www.freesqueeze.com/alfranken.htm

Anyone else tired of the "He's not conservative so he's not funny" discussion? This brain dead concept is a cousin to the "He's not conservative so he's an idiot" blather we hear so often.

It is difficult to prove someone funny. The best I can do is to point out that I am among a large and growing number of people who find Al Franken funny.

Al Franken has:

Written for Saturday Night Live (5 Emmys - 4 of those for writing)

Written for cult favorite Politically Incorrect (1 Emmy nomination)

Been a prolific writer with books continually on the NYT best seller list

Written "Rush Limbaugh Is A Big Fat Idiot" (5 weeks at number one)
+ Plus Grammy award for best comedy recording

Written "Lies and the Lying Liars Who Tell Them" (7 weeks at number one)

Helped start Air America Radio in March 31, 2004


I find it impressive that when Al Franken and his crack research team reported how Bill O'Riley lied about winning a Peabody award when he was the host on a TV tabloid program he never brought up his own impressive array of awards and accommodations.

That must have taken some restraint.

http://www.freesqueeze.com/alfranken.htm

[chelsea0011]

1. I've been laughing at Franken since the beginnings of SNL

When Julia child died he informed his audience that he was responsible for writing the Dan Akroyd "Julia Child cutting herself script". I wonder how many of the great SNL skits were written by him?

[freesqueeze]

3. They should put out a DVD.

That will have the SNL episodes with the writers involved talking over the dialogue. I would be interested to know who wrote what.

I'm reminded of how I poured over all interviews with Lennon or McCartney looking for clues about who did what on which song.

Great performances deserve careful examination.

[chelsea0011]

4. That is a story that should be told. How did they work together.

Alas, Paul has such an ego, a true evaluation could never come from him.

[NYCGirl]

11. He used to write the "Point/Counterpoint" sketches

for Dan Ackroyd and Jane Curtin. So he's the originator of "Jane, you ignorant slut!"
:evilgrin:

[gnofg]

2. Nixon Kissinger

He wrote along with Tom Davis the famous Nixon/Kissinger skit where they are praying . This is written up as one of greatest skits of all time. It was hilarious.

[chelsea0011]

5. Great skit. Outrageous at the time.

[johnfunk]

13. The "Night Brfore Resignation" sketck -- one of the funniest EVER on TV

Madeleine Kahn played Pat Nixon, three (dozen) sheets to the wind, writing in her diary. Aykroyd was Nixon, on the night before his resignation, having paranoid "conversations" with presidential portraits on the White House wall...

"... and you, John Kennedy! You were lucky -- they shot you!"

Garrett Morris was hilarious as Sammy Davis Jr., and Chevy Chase as David Eisenhower ("My God! He does look like Howdy Doody!").

ON EDIT: Punctuation fix.

[demnan]

6. I think he's done some hilarious stuff

but I find his radio show kind of slow. I still listen about every day. I know it's hard to be entertaining for 3 hours a day and I respect that he's new to that format so I'm willing to stick it out to see if it gets better.

[freesqueeze]

7. He Does Seem a Bit Out Of Sorts

On AAR. He's is not the most entertaining host there. The reason Franken (a great writer) has problems with the radio media might be the same reason that so many radio blow hards write so poorly.

[quiet.american]

8. Sometimes funny, sometimes no

That's the way professional comedy goes, doesn't it? :)

[RabidNation]

9. About as funny as a brain aneurysm

...on AAR.

I've tried to listen to his show. But it's plodding and painful, creepily crotchety...it's enough to repel impressionable young'uns who, were they presented with a more dynamic host, might actually be persuaded - but who instead might wander into Rushville and be lost forever.

Franken should stick to writing. Or else stop spiking his coffee with seconals.

RabidNation-the daily chronicle of a country gone mad.

[quiet.american]

10. Okay, so he's...

... in the "sometimes no" phase. :)

[orpupilofnature57]

12. Sure he is, he's just a little under the weather because asshole won.

Me too,it's like a draining, sapping, shrubica.

[Touchdown]

14. I laughed yesterday after the "Wait, wait! Don't lie to me!"

...when he said that "Of course, because of the quality of questions, on the 'Wait, Wait! Don't lie to me!' game, the Al Franken Show has recieved 4 Peabody Awards".

Then Katherine says..."Now AL, That is NOT TRUE! Stop saying that!"...but he got his digs into Oh'Really? anyhow.:D

[BrklynLiberal]

15. His heart is in theright place..

He is VERY dedicated to the cause... Was REALLY out there fighting for Kerry,out there campagining EVERY weekend. He was truly heartbroken when Kerry lost. You could hear it in his voice when he was bradcasting election night.
His strong point is not radio talk show, and that is why he has the co-host. She keeps him in line. He is a funny man, a smart man, with strong principles....and I am glad he is on OUR side.
Some days his show is better than others.. I do have to admit that.
:shrug: