Al Franken is perhaps best known for his work on Saturday Night Live. In
1975, Franken was part of the original writing staff that created the groundbreaking
late night show. Franken remained with the original show until 1980 and
then returned in 1985. He stayed for another 10 years, leaving after the
1994-95 season.
Franken received four Emmys for his writing on SNL and a fifth for producing.
He also won recognition for his on-camera work, first as half of the comedy
team of “Franken and Davis”, then for his“Al Franken Decade” persona. He
also was recognized for such characterizations as the one-man mobile uplink
unit and Stuart Smalley, the new age cable TV host.
Smalley was the subject of Franken’s first book, I’m Good Enough, I’m Smart
Enough and Doggone It, People Like Me, which was published in 1992. It
is currently in its fifth printing and it provided the basis for a movie
that Franken wrote and starred in for Paramount Pictures. The 1995 movie,
Stuart Saves His Family, was directed by Harold Ramis and received “two
thumbs up” from Siskel and Ebert.
Franken’s album, “You’re Good Enough, You’re Smart Enough and Doggone It,
People Like You!” was nominated for a Grammy in the “best comedy” category.
Franken was co-writer of the Touchstone Pictures 1994 movie When a Man
Loves a Woman starring Andy Garcia and Meg Ryan. Written with Oscar winner
(Rainman) Ron Bass, the movie grossed over a hundred million dollars worldwide.
Franken is also well known for his work as a political satirist, both on
SNL and off. In 1988, he provided commentary for CNN at the Democratic
National Convention in Atlanta. And in 1992, he anchored Comedy Central’s
“Indecision ‘92”, winning wide critical acclaim for his coverage of both
conventions and election night. In 1996, he teamed with “Strange Bedfellow”
Arianna Huffington, again covering the party conventions and election night
for Politically Incorrect, where he continues to be a frequent guest.
His performances at the 1994 and 1996 White House Correspondents Dinner
demonstrated his skill as one of the nation’s top after-dinner speakers.
Franken’s second book, Rush Limbaugh is a Big Fat Idiot and Other Observations
hit the New York Times Bestseller List its first week in bookstores. It
was number one for five weeks and spent over eight months on the list.
There are now over a million copies of the book in print.
TOPIC:
Political Satirist, Humorous, Entertainment
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