Jitters plague Franken during show's debut

TwinCities.com/Pioneer Press ^ | Pioneer Press | BRIAN LAMBERT

[veronica]

History will record that it was the celebrated author, comedian and Hollywood hobnobber Al Franken who sounded most ill at ease in the early going of his new radio adventure, while the kid from the provinces, former Minnesota Public Radio host Katherine Lanpher shined.

“The O’Franken Factor”, the marquee program of the new liberal network, Air America Radio, staring Minnesotans Franken and Lanpher debuted this morning. (It is heard locally, and temporarily, on WMNN 1330-AM from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. weekdays.) The first hour provided dollops of palpable, opening night jitters, satirical swagger and old-fashioned partisan invective in pretty much equal measure.

Franken, the “Saturday Night Live” alumus and conservative-bashing best-selling author of “Rush Limbaugh is a Big, Fat Idiot” and “Lies and the Lying Liars Who Tell Them,” was clearly feeling the pressure of being the tent-pole of the much-publicized new network. His first few minutes, reading a script promising, “A battle for truth, justice and indeed America itself … not to be too grandiose,” was funny enough, but was read with enough tension in his voice you’d have looked away in embarrassment were he performing stand-up in front of you.

Fortunately, Franken acknowledged his unfamiliarity with the tricks of the talk radio trade and the value he places on Lanpher, who sounded reassuringly poised. At least for the time being, Lanpher is cast in a kind of Mother Hen/Voice of Reason role. She kept Franken on his cues, introduced and re-ID’d guests and cut to commercials. Happily, her trademark laugh, so problematic for MPR, appears to have been unfettered here.

By the second hour, when former 9/11 Commission member Bob Kerrey came on, Franken found a comfort level, although the interview itself was a slightly more informal version of what you’d get on public radio.

The show flashed more of the comic colors and tone the network has been promising when filmmaker-provocateur Michael Moore arrived. The sound of Franken and Lanpher trying to embarrass Moore into publicly apologizing to former Vice President Al Gore, stifling a laugh on the phone, hit the kind of mischievous-insiders tone the network’s listeners are probably eager to hear.

Sen. Hillary Clinton is scheduled for Thursday’s show. Former Bush administration counter terrorism expert Richard Clarke will be a guest on Friday

[My2Cents]

This is why crap like this usually only makes it over the airwaves through listener donations, like Pacifica Radio.

[My2Cents]

Caller: Is your refrigerator running?...

[uncitizen]

When this liberal talk radio does so poorly that they have no choice but to pull it off the air, will the media make a big humungous deal out of it and announce it every hour on the hour.

[My2Cents]

Does Err America Radio have a website? I think that would be a great email to them: "Al Franken, Saturday Night Live anus..."

[Cuttnhorse]

Sounds like goofy Al's show has little hope of going anywhere. Watching this thing die a sloooow agonizing death will be great sport.

[Tribune7]

It's sounds like a show that might have peaked in its first hour

[Adam36]

Pacifica Radio is the most radical station ever.
There located in a good area on the dial in NY. I wish they would sell that radio station.

[lawnguy]

"animus"

I think both Sirius Black And Rita Skeeter were animuses ;)

[jaycee]

My, my. What an intellectual conversion~~~~~~~Just don't think I can understand this high-powered talk. Ughhhhh!

[YankeeReb]

BWAAHAHAHA .... Al Frankin is a Big Fat Idiot... Remember how they said once Rush no longer had Clinton in office to bash, his show would go off the air. Well it's almost 4 years poct Clinton and Rush has over 600 stations. Lets see where Frankin will be a year from now. He was lame on SNL, and he's even worse doing political commentary.

[Incorrigible]

All traitors, all the time.

[olde north church]

I remember when he came out of the closet on a first year episode of Saturday Night Live with Tom Davis. Memorable line by Tom Davis's kid when he hears the news, "I hate you daddy, I hate you!"

[reg45]

The Frankenstein Network

[lawdude]

Wasn't jitters. It was a display of a complete lack of talent, skill and class.

[mabelkitty]

They'll find out real quick what market forces really are.
I heard from libs that he sucked major.

[Mr. K]

6 months? I dont give it that many WEEKs

[reg45]

It's sounds like a show that might have peaked in its first hour millisecond.

[hershey]

How long will Air America be broadcasting? Hmm. Probably gone by the end of the year. Franken will get upset and opt out when he realizes nobody's listening.

[Don Corleone]

Hopefully no one but McCain will appear from the Pubbie side.

Did McLaim switch to the Republican side? When? Inquireing minds want to know.

[RandallFlagg]

OK, just curious. WHo heard the show? I didn't even know it was starting this week. Is there a website that shows the local station(s)?

The reason I'm asking is because I've been itching to take a few bites outta Flunkin. It'd be fitting to do it on his own show....

And I haven't had any broiled liberal meat all month. I've been a good boy and I think I deserve it.