Biography
Partnered with high school friend Tom Davis, Franken earned big laughs - and the occasional outrage - for his shock jock-like parodies and sketches that fearlessly targeted presidents, celebrities and even the president of NBC, which resulted in Franken's five-year departure from the show. When he returned in 1985, Franken was more subdued, though no less funny, veering away from the over-the-top satire of the past. Always looking to expand …
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Career Milestones
2009 | After a much disputed race, Franken was declared the winner of the Minnesota senate race by the State Supreme Court | |
2007 | Announced his candidacy for the U.S. Senate for Minnesota in the 2008 election | |
2006 | Was the subject of the documentary film "Al Franken: God Spoke" that premiered at the Tribeca Film Festival | |
2004 | Received a Grammy nomination for Best Comedy Album for The O'Franken Factor | |
2004 | Made his broadcasting debut with "The Al Franken Show" on Air America Radio (originally titled "The O'Franken Factor") | |
2000 | Wrote and produced the "Saturday Night Live: Presidential Bash 2000" (NBC) | |
1998 | Co-created and starred in the NBC sitcom "LateLine" until it was canceled in its second season | |
1996 | Wrote the best-selling book, Rush Limbaugh is a Big Fat Idiot and Other Observations | |
1996 | Served as a political commentator during the presidential election on Comedy Central's "Politically Incorrect" with Bill Maher | |
1995 | Adapted his book for the screenplay of the unsuccessful comedy feature "Stuart Saves His Family"; also played the leading role | |
1995 | Wrote special material for David Letterman for "The 67th Annual Academy Awards" | |
1994 | Feature co-producing (with Simon Maslow and Ron Bass) debut, "When A Man Loves A Woman"; also co-scripted with Bass | |
1993 | Published first book, I'm Good Enough, I'm Smart Enough, and Doggone It, People Like Me!: Daily Affirmations with Stuart Smalley | |
1992 | Served as a producer, writer (of "special material") and performer for the "Saturday Night Live: Presidential Bash" (NBC) | |
1992 | Anchored Comedy Central's election eve coverage of the 1992 Presidential election | |
1992 | Anchored "Indecision '92," Comedy Central's coverage of the Democratic and Republican conventions in NYC and Houston | |
1988 | Was a writer for "The 40th Annual Emmy Awards"; show executive produced by Lorne Michaels | |
1988 | Provided commentary for CNN at the Democratic National Convention in Atlanta | |
1987 | Hosted (with Davis) "High School Video Yearbook with Franken & Davis" on Cinemax | |
1986 | Feature screenwriting debut (with Davis) with "One More Saturday Night"; also co-starred together as rock singers in a band called "Bad Mouth" | |
1985 | Returned to "Saturday Night Live" (NBC) as writer, producer and as an occasional performer (best known for Stuart Smalley) when Michaels returned to oversee show; left the show in protest over losing the role of "Weekend Update" anchor to Norm MacDonald | |
1984 | Worked as staff writers (with Davis) on "The New Show" (NBC), a short-lived variety series produced by Michaels | |
1983 | Appeared (with Davis) in the Eddie Murphy and Dan Aykroyd film "Trading Places" as the baggage handlers with the gorilla on the train | |
1981 | Franken & Davis hosted the second "Saturday Night Live" produced by Dick Ebersol | |
1980 | Attacked then-NBC president Fred Silverman in the subsequently notorious "A Limo for the Lame-O" tirade on "Saturday Night Live" (NBC) | |
1978 | Had cameos (with Davis) in "The Rutles: All You Need Is Cash" as promoter Ron Decline's (John Belushi) henchmen | |
1977 | First TV special, co-wrote "The Paul Simon Special" for NBC | |
1975 | Worked first as apprentice writers, then subsequently staff writers and as occasional performers on "Saturday Night Live" (NBC); left the show with producer Lorne Michaels at the end of Season five | |
1975 | Franken & Davis filled one apprentice writer slot (splitting the salary of $350 a week) while Alan Zweibel filled the other | |
1975 | Met with producer/writer Lorne Michaels who was assembling the writing staff for a late night sketch comedy-variety show | |
| Played Santa Claus and Winnie the Pooh at a local Sears department store | ||
| Worked on the fringes of the Los Angeles comedy scene in the early 1970s | ||
| Formed writing and performing partnership with Tom Davis who he met in high school | ||
Awards
2003 | Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Writing For a Variety, Music or Comedy Program in Saturday Night Live |
1997 | Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Writing For a Variety or Music Program in Politically Incorrect With Bill Maher |
1993 | Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Individual Achievement In Writing In a Variety or Music Program in Saturday Night Live |
1993 | Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Variety, Music or Comedy Series in Saturday Night Live |
1992 | Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Individual Achievement In Writing In a Variety or Music Program in Saturday Night Live |
1991 | Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Writing In a Variety or Music Program in Saturday Night Live |
1990 | Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Writing In a Variety or Music Program in Saturday Night Live |
1989 | Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Writing In a Variety or Music Program in Saturday Night Live |
1987 | Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Writing In a Variety or Music Program in Saturday Night Live |
1980 | Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Writing In a Variety or Music Program in Saturday Night Live |
1979 | Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Writing In a Comedy or Comedy-Variety or Music Series in Saturday Night Live |
1978 | Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Writing In a Comedy-Variety or Music Series in Saturday Night Live |
1978 | Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Writing In a Comedy-Variety or Music Special in The Paul Simon Special |
1977 | Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Writing In a Comedy-Variety or Music Series in Saturday Night Live |
1977 | Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Writing In a Comedy-Variety or Music Series in Saturday Night Live |
1976 | Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Writing In a Comedy-Variety or Music Series in Saturday Night Live |