|
| |
The Al Franken Show Moves to TV
4-Aug-2004
Written by: Joyce Faulkner
Liberal Radio Show Finds Slot on Sundance Channel
From Sept. 7 until the presidential election, Air America Radio's headliner talk show will air on cable TV. The Sundance Channel will compile the highlights of The Al Franken Show's daily three hour radio broadcast into a one hour program that will air nightly at 11:30 p.m., 2:30 a.m. and 7 a.m.
In an attempt to balance the predominantly right wing genre of talk radio, Air America Radio debuted in March with a liberal message. In particular, Al Franken uses humor to spice up his political observations and zing other popular commentators like Rush Limbaugh and Bill O'Reilly.
Al Franken is a well-known liberal satirist who helped launch "Saturday Night Live." Like Michael Moore, he has taken advantage of conservative outrage to build recognition. His most recent book, "Lies and Lying Liars Who Tell Them: A Fair and Balanced Look at the Right," received enormous publicity when Fox News sued him for using its tag line "Fair and Balanced." A televised spat between Franken and an enraged Bill O'Reilly further boosted sales for the comedian.
Sundance Channel President Larry Aidem said he finds "The Al Franken Show" a natural fit with the goals of his organization.
"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," he said.
"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," Franken joked. "Besides, 'Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid' was one of my favorite movies."
If Franken finds an audience, Sundance may extend the arrangement indefinitely.
Talk to other readers about this story.
|
|
|
|
|
