Sundance Channel will air The Al Franken Show, a one-hour television edition of the political humorist's weekday program on Air America Radio. The announcement was made today by Sundance Channel President and C.E.O. Larry Aidem and Air America Radio C.E.O. Doug Kreeger. The Al Franken Show premieres Tuesday September 7th and will air weeknights (Monday-Friday) at 11:30pm, with a replay at 2:30am that night and 7:00am the next morning. The series is slated to run into November 2004.
"Although this whole TV medium is new to me, I am thrilled that The Al Franken Show will now be seen on Sundance Channel, even though it means I will have to wear clothing during the program," said Al Franken.
"Sundance Channel prides itself on presenting the work of filmmakers and artists with distinctive voices and perspectives that might not easily find a place on commercial TV," said Aidem. "The opportunity to present the legendary Al Franken's unique and highly entertaining voice in the premium TV environment was simply too good to pass up."
"We are extremely excited about this new venture with Sundance," said Kreeger. "This now puts a face to our voice."
Sundance Channel's version of "The Al Franken Show" will be taped at the Air America New York City studios during that day's broadcast. Hosted by Grammy and Emmy Award-winning humorist and best-selling author Al Franken, the program delivers fearlessly irreverent commentary on the political events of the day, as well as interviews and comedy segments. Franken's co-host is veteran radio and print journalist Katherine Lanpher. Guests on Franken's radio program have included Bill Clinton, John Kerry, John McCain and Michael Moore.
Al Franken is an Emmy Award-winning writer and producer, best-selling author and Grammy Award-winning comedian. He has written five New York Times best-sellers including: Lies and the Lying Liars Who Tell Them: A Fair and Balanced Look at the Right; Rush Limbaugh Is a Big Fat Idiot: and Other Observations; and I'm Good Enough, I'm Smart Enough, and Doggone It, People Like Me, Franken was one of the creators of the groundbreaking late-night television show Saturday Night Live, and was a writer and performer on the series from 1975-1980 and 1985-1995. He received three Emmy Awards for his writing on SNL, and a fourth for producing. Franken's popular SNL character Stuart Smalley formed the basis of the 1995 comedy Stuart Saves His Family, which he wrote and starred in. Franken's recording of his book Rush Limbaugh Is a Big Fat Idiot: and Other Observations garnered him the 1997 Grammy Award for Best Comedy Album, and this year he won the Grammy Award for Best Spoken Word Album, for his recording of Lies and the Lying Liars Who Tell Them: A Fair and Balanced Look at the Right.
Katherine Lanpher, the co-host of The Al Franken Show, was the host of Minnesota Public Radio's "Midmorning" for nearly six years, and transformed the show into a statewide phenomenon. Her print journalism has been featured in publications ranging from the Saint Paul Pioneer-Press to the New York Times.
In its first three months on the air, The Al Franken Show has become the second most listened to talk radio show in the number one market in the country, New York City, where it is heard on WLIB.
The television version of Al Franken Show will be executive produced by Adam Pincus for Sundance Channel and Billy Kimball for The Al Franken Show.
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