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2004 album cover of the Very Best of the O'Franken Factor
2004 album cover of the Very Best of the O'Franken Factor

The Al Franken Show was the flagship talk show of Air America Radio. Talk radio is a Radio format containing discussion about topical issues Air America Radio (commonly abbreviated to AAR) Hosted by Al Franken, it featured commentary and interviews arguing for liberal positions on the issues of the day, and comically poking fun at conservatives. Alan Stuart "Al" Franken (born May 21 1951 is an Emmy Award –winning American Comedian, Writer, progressive Political criticism (also referred to as political commentary or political discussion) is Criticism that is specific of or relevant to Politics An interview is a conversation between two or more people (the interviewer and the interviewee where Questions are asked by the interviewer to obtain information from Liberalism in the United States is a broad political and philosophical mindset favoring individual Liberty, and opposing restrictions on liberty whether they come from Comedy (from the Greek κωμωδίαkomodia has a popular meaning (any discourse generally intended to amuse especially in Television, Film, and Conservatism is a term used to describe political philosophies that favour Tradition, where tradition refers to various religious cultural or nationally defined The show began as The O'Franken Factor on March 31, 2004. Events 307 - After divorcing his wife Minervina, Constantine marries Fausta, the daughter of the retired Roman Emperor "MMIV" redirects here For the Modest Mouse album see " Baron von Bullshit Rides Again " Between January 3, 2006, and February 14, 2007, the show was recorded and broadcast from the 28th floor of the historic Foshay Tower in downtown Minneapolis, Minnesota. Events 1431 - Joan of Arc is handed over to the Bishop Pierre Cauchon. Year 2006 ( MMVI) was a Common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. Events 842 - Charles the Bald and Louis the German swear the Oaths of Strasbourg in the French and German Year 2007 ( MMVII) was a Common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century. The Foshay Tower, now serving as the W Minneapolis - The Foshay, is a Skyscraper in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Prior to that date it was based in New York City. The City of New York The final show was broadcast on February 14, 2007. Events 842 - Charles the Bald and Louis the German swear the Oaths of Strasbourg in the French and German Year 2007 ( MMVII) was a Common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century.

Franken is a comedian and satirist who is well known for his books and his earlier role as a writer and performer on Saturday Night Live, where he usually teamed with fellow writer/performer Tom Davis (comedian). A comedian or comic is a person who seeks to entertain an audience primarily by making them laugh Satire is often strictly defined as a literary genre or form; although in practice it is also found in the graphic and Performing arts In satire human Saturday Night Live ( SNL) is a weekly late-night 90-minute American Sketch comedy / Variety show based in New York City Tom Davis (born 13 August 1952) is an Emmy Award winning Comedy writer and performer

Contents

History

From the show's inception in March 2004 until October 7, 2005, the show was co-hosted by experienced journalist Katherine Lanpher. March 2004: January - February - March - April - May - June - July - August - September Events 3761 BC - The epoch (origin of the modern Hebrew calendar ( Proleptic Julian calendar) Year 2005 ( MMV) was a Common year starting on Saturday (link displays full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. Katherine Lanpher (born May 27, 1959) is a media personality She graduated with a degree in journalism from Northwestern University and with a master’s degree Lanpher left the show to write Leap Days, a memoir about her experiences moving to New York City. The City of New York Lanpher did not rejoin the show because she did not wish to move again when Franken relocated to Minnesota. [1] In November, Franken told an audience in Berkeley, California that he would not seek a replacement for Lanpher. [2]

When the show began, Franken signed a one-year contract. "I'm doing this because I want to use my energies to get Bush unelected. George Walker Bush ( born July 6 1946 is the forty-third and current President of the United States. I'd be happy if the election of a Democrat ended the show", he said in an interview with The New York Times. The Democratic Party is one of two major Political parties in the United States, the other being the Republican Party. Bush won a second term on November 2, 2004, but Franken stated that the show would continue whether a Democrat or a Republican was in office. Events 1570 - A Tidal wave in the North Sea devastates the coast from Holland to Jutland, killing more than 1000 "MMIV" redirects here For the Modest Mouse album see " Baron von Bullshit Rides Again "

Beginning on September 7, 2004, Sundance Channel broadcast a one-hour televised version of the show on weekdays. Events 1251 BC - A Solar eclipse on this date might mark the birth of legendary Heracles at Thebes Greece. "MMIV" redirects here For the Modest Mouse album see " Baron von Bullshit Rides Again " Sundance Channel is a Cable television network devoted to airing independent feature films, World cinema, documentaries, Short The show aired its last episode in November 2004. The channel inked a new contract with Franken and aired a second season of the show from June 6, 2005 until early November 2005. Events 1508 - Maximilian I Holy Roman Emperor, is defeated in Friulia by Venetian forces; he is forced to sign a three-year Year 2005 ( MMV) was a Common year starting on Saturday (link displays full calendar of the Gregorian calendar.

On November 15, 2006, Air America affiliate KQKE (The Quake) in San Francisco stated that Al Franken would leave Air America on December 10, as indicated by an audio clip posted on Whatamockery. Events 655 - Battle of Winwaed: Penda of Mercia is defeated by Oswiu of Northumbria. Year 2006 ( MMVI) was a Common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. Events 1041 - Empress Zoe of Byzantium elevates her adoptive son to the throne of the Eastern Roman Empire as Michael V com. [3] After December 10, though Franken was at the time still on Air America, KQKE began airing the Thom Hartmann Program in place of the Al Franken show. Events 1041 - Empress Zoe of Byzantium elevates her adoptive son to the throne of the Eastern Roman Empire as Michael V Thom Hartmann (born May 7, 1951) is an American radio host, Author, and liberal Political commentator.

On his January 29, 2007 show, Franken announced that Valentine's Day 2007 would be his last show on Air America Radio. Events 904 - Sergius III comes out of retirement to take over the papacy from the deposed Antipope Christopher. Year 2007 ( MMVII) was a Common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century. Events 842 - Charles the Bald and Louis the German swear the Oaths of Strasbourg in the French and German Affiliates who carried the Franken show carried Thom Hartmann after that date, while XM Satellite Radio now carries Ed Schultz in that timeslot. Thom Hartmann (born May 7, 1951) is an American radio host, Author, and liberal Political commentator. Edward Andrew Schultz (born January 27, 1954) is the host of The Ed Schultz Show, a nationally syndicated U [4] At the end of his final show, Franken announced his intention to run for the United States Senate from Minnesota. Minnesota ( Native Americans demonstrated the name to early settlers

The O'Franken Factor

Until July 12, 2004 the name of the show was The O'Franken Factor. Events 1191 - Saladin 's garrison surrenders ending the two-year Siege of Acre. That name was a jibe at Bill O'Reilly and his The O'Reilly Factor. William James O'Reilly Jr (born September 10 1949 is an American television / radio host, Author, Syndicated columnist, and The O'Reilly Factor is an American Talk show on the Fox News Channel hosted by commentator Bill O'Reilly, who discusses O'Reilly is widely thought to have instigated Fox News Channel's lawsuit against Franken for using their trademarked phrase "fair and balanced",[5] which was thrown out of court in summary judgment, but ended up giving publicity to Franken and his book Lies and the Lying Liars Who Tell Them. For the simplification and shortening of a longer text see Summary. Franken said that he chose the title to "annoy and bait" O'Reilly into suing him again, thus generating publicity. That lawsuit never came, and on July 12, 2004, the program was renamed The Al Franken Show. Events 1191 - Saladin 's garrison surrenders ending the two-year Siege of Acre. "MMIV" redirects here For the Modest Mouse album see " Baron von Bullshit Rides Again "

Franken described his show as taking place in a "Zero Spin Zone" where Franken pledges to tell the truth and there is "no spinning allowed. In Public relations, spin is a usually Pejorative term signifying a heavily biased portrayal in one's own favor of an event or situation it is a Euphemism " This is a parody of O'Reilly's characterization of the O'Reilly Factor as a "No Spin Zone. "

Regular guests

The show's regular guests included Jonathan Alter, David Brock, Joe Conason, James Fallows, Howard Fineman, Christy Harvey, Paul Krugman, Thomas Oliphant, Norman Ornstein, George Packer, Melanie Sloan, David Sirota, and Lawrence O'Donnell Jr.

Regular features

In addition to general political discussion, the show featured several recurring segments. Jonathan Alter (born October 6 1957) is a Columnist and senior editor for Newsweek magazine where he has worked since David Brock (born November 2, 1962) is an American journalist and author and the founder of Media Matters for America. Joe Conason (born 1954 in New York City) is a journalist Author and political commentator James Fallows is an American print and radio Journalist who has been associated with The Atlantic Monthly for many years and has written eight Howard Fineman is Newsweek ’s Chief Political Correspondent Senior Editor and Deputy Washington Bureau Chief Christy Harvey is the Director of Strategic Communications at the Center for American Progress. Paul Robin Krugman ( born February 28 1953 is an American Economist, Columnist, Author, and Intellectual. Thomas Oliphant is an American Columnist who has written for the Boston Globe since 1968 Norman J Ornstein is a Political scientist and a resident scholar at the American Enterprise Institute (AEI a Conservative -leaning Washington D George Packer (born August 13 1960 is a liberal American journalist novelist and playwright Melanie Sloan (born 16 December 1965) is the Executive Director of Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington. David J Sirota (born 1975) is an American political figure and Commentator. Lawrence Francis O'Donnell Jr (born November 7, Since 1994 O'Donnell has been married to television and movie actress Kathryn Harrold, best known for playing These included:

Wait Wait… Don't Lie To Me! 
Every Friday afternoon, Franken hosted a mini-game show with fellow judge Joe Conason. The contestant listened to a series of audio clips from earlier in the week, and was asked to identify whether each statement made is the truth, a lie, or a "weasel" (defined as "a statement that is technically true, but intended to mislead"). The title was based on the National Public Radio show Wait Wait... Don't Tell Me! Contestants received a copy of The Al Franken Show Party Album regardless of their performance, though Franken referred to the CD as both the prize for winning and consolation prize for losing. Wait Wait… Don't Tell Me! is an hour-long weekly radio News quiz Game show produced by Chicago Public Radio and National Public Radio In the spirit of the lying theme, Franken frequently stated that the game won ever increasing numbers of Peabody Awards — over one hundred by the end of the show — which itself was a humorous dig at Bill O'Reilly, who incorrectly boasted that his former show, Inside Edition, won two Peabodies. The George Foster Peabody Awards, better known as simply the Peabody Awards, are annual international awards for excellence in Radio and Television broadcasting Inside Edition is a syndicated news program on the air since January 9, 1989.
Hate Email of the Day 
Franken picked his favorite hate email and read it on the air, often noting spelling and grammatical errors, and usually concluding with "We take your criticisms very seriously. "
Boring Correction 
Taking great pride in the veracity of the information cited by his program, Franken invited his audience to bring any factual errors to his attention so they could be addressed. Franken would then issue a live on-air "Boring Correction" where, to a jaunty tune and the sound of typewriter in the background, he corrected the error. Most of the time, the "boring correction" addressed a hypertechnicality rather than a substantive error.
"Resident Dittohead" Mark Luther 
The show regularly featured a segment with Mark Luther, Franken's childhood friend and self-proclaimed dittohead. Rush Limbaugh uses his own on-air Jargon on his radio show The Rush Limbaugh Show, some of which he invented and some of which he merely popularized Franken would play a clip by Rush Limbaugh, take issue with Limbaugh's facts or logic, and argue about it with Luther. Rush Hudson Limbaugh III (born January 12, 1951) is an American radio host and conservative Political commentator.
Good Ribbin' 
A correspondent would travel to some of the best southern barbecue hot spots in the country, to talk with people who love barbecue and hate Franken's show. barbeque block party Kansas cityjpg|thumb|right|275px|A barbecue on a trailer at a Block party in Kansas City. Patrons were invited to tell the audience what they're eating and then argue with Franken.
The Fifteen Second Debunk 
An audio clip was played, and then debunked by another audio clip from the same person. Although the two clips were usually less than fifteen seconds, they were preceded by very lengthy introduction and followed by a lengthy outro.
Nigel Chestley 
Franken played a BBC correspondent who sometimes reported on international news, and other times simply provided an update on the Queen's long running drum solo. For the ship see RMS Queen Elizabeth 2 Elizabeth II (Elizabeth Alexandra Mary Context States headed by Elizabeth II A drum solo is an instrumental solo played on a Drum kit. A drum solo may be set or improvised and of any length up to being the main performance
Senior Moment 
Franken played Enid Davenport, a crotchety old woman who offered an extremely confused perspective on the news (she preferred to call the segment "A piece of my mind"). This character was somewhat reminiscent of Gilda Radner's Emily Litella from Saturday Night Live. Gilda Susan Radner ( June 28, 1946 – May 20, 1989) was an Emmy Award -winning American Comedienne and Actress " Emily Litella " was a fictional character played by Comedian Gilda Radner in a series of appearances on Saturday Night Live ( SNL Saturday Night Live ( SNL) is a weekly late-night 90-minute American Sketch comedy / Variety show based in New York City
The Slide Whistle 
Franken played a slide whistle along with the highs and lows of President Bush's approval rating since taking office. The whistle started with a moderate note, raised to a high note to reflect the time period following 9/11, then steadily sunk to lower notes as Bush's popularity decreased (with occasional blips of higher notes in between). This was a popular segment surrounding State of the Union addresses.

Some other skits no longer occurred regularly after Katherine Lanpher left the show. These included:

Swing State Tour

In the runup to the 2004 U.S. presidential election, the show went on a "Swing State Tour" that included stops in

Music

Staff

The staff of The Al Franken Show: [2]

References

  1. ^ News & Reviews
  2. ^ "FRANKEN COPILOT LEAVING", New York Daily News, 2005-10-03. The Daily News of New York City is the fifth most-widely circulated daily Newspaper in the United States with a daily circulation of 703137 Year 2005 ( MMV) was a Common year starting on Saturday (link displays full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. Events 42 BC - First Battle of Philippi: Triumvirs Mark Antony and Octavian fight an indecisive battle with Caesar's  
  3. ^ What a Mockery!: Al Franken leaving Air America on Valentine's Day
  4. ^ Al Franken to leave Air America - Radio - MSNBC.com
  5. ^ 10 Questions For Bill O'Reilly - TIME

External links

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