Comedian and Future Senator Al Franken With a Hilarious Performance at the 1996 WHCP

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6 жыл бұрын

Comedian Al Franken, a Clinton fan who at one point refers to himself as "the president's water carrier," delivers a hilarious performance with mostly Republican targets. Franken makes impressions of Al D'Amato and Strom Thurmond. Some Dole jokes. A Bill Bennett joke. A Christy Todd Whitman joke. Buchanan jokes. An Enid Waldholtz joke, etc. Almost all delighting this crowd.
The future Minnesota Senator made a "joke" about Newt Gingrich, his daughter, and menstruation. Soon after, Gingrich encountered Franken and told him that, were Gingrich not a public figure, he'd have punched the comic out.
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@contrarian23 Ай бұрын

It's a great tragedy of American politics that Franken had to resign, and somehow Trump became president. We should all be ashamed.

@cgarrett845 10 күн бұрын

I am mad as hell. Ashamed? I told him not to resign I told her not to be a Roger stone stooge.

@arielporte4149 Жыл бұрын

Oh how I wish Al was still our representative....please Al run again...we miss you and we NEED YOU !!!!!

@ericwahlund6968 Жыл бұрын

I agree

@roseannkraynak-jf7xr Жыл бұрын

I live in PA & I wish he was Minnesota’s senator, too! He was an incredibly smart & efficient Senator unlike dimbulbs like Lindsey Graham & Ron Johnson who are unscrupulous pinheads.

@dolliscrawford280 3 күн бұрын

@roseannkraynak-jf7xr The best thing I liked about AL was his efforts to eliminate the ability of people to sign away their rights to the courts by Arbitration only agreements.

@susie6319 10 ай бұрын

Al Franken is a natural born comedian however he cared for his constituents in the winter In Minnesota he drove to visit a lady in the hospital who just had a cancerous tumor removed now we need more senators with that kind of heart's ❤❤❤

@gingergrant6759 Жыл бұрын

Reminds me of how much I'm still mad at Kristen gillibrand for taking away a decent Democrat senator

@LeeMaiden Жыл бұрын

Kristen has proven she is someone that needs to be kicked to the curb, Al Franken needs to step back in, what he did was actually a nothing, a picture of someone about to do something wrong, but he didn't do anything in reality. Al needs to come back, his honesty and character, are missed in the Senate.

@cynthiarowley719 Жыл бұрын

Very glad he's not gone

@mikelemmon888 Жыл бұрын

I hate her so much but Al was an idiot to resign.

@Seilolo Жыл бұрын

SAME!!!!!! He shouldn’t have been ousted.

@janineharkins3513 Жыл бұрын

Maybe the most shameful bit of that chapter was that Al was actually there to fight for the very basic rights of all Minnesotans in an occasionally humorous, but always humble, earnest and honest way. No dirty tricks or dark money, eyes never focused on what special perks or more prestigious positions his senatorship could garner him....but to be fair, the GOP had Roy Moore, so...

@linshanhsiang Жыл бұрын

I've been watching various versions of these dinner speakers and Al Franken has them beaten all hollow!

@donnaniemi 2 ай бұрын

Me too and I couldn't agree more

@ClimateSpy 19 күн бұрын

Except Stephen Colbert's roast of W!

@philipburton9518 Жыл бұрын

In 1996, how could we see that a call for civility would become an insane food fight of lies and desception by 2020? Franken is genius. I'd love to return him to DC.

@lindamullins1446 5 ай бұрын

Who would think after Obama and his lovely family common sense and hard work and a good vp like Biden The people would put in trump Then voted him out Then Biden in 2020 Has done good work And some people want trump again in 2024 After such a horrible job with covid and 8 trillion deficit after his tax cuts for the very very rich Half of our deficit is Trump's doing and he added more debt then almost all presidents in history added together. Vote Blue For Truth & Democracy 💙😎💙

@robertcamilleri8613 27 күн бұрын

The very best Comedian to grace a WHCD.

@rayceeya8659 Жыл бұрын

Fun Fact, this was the same night Franken almost got into a fist fight with Sean Hannity.

@pauldurand4780 Жыл бұрын

Hannity needs at least a punch in the mouth..And I'm among other networks a fox watcher..

@Lisa-ik3wt Жыл бұрын

I wonder if he started lying liars directly after that.😊

@J.M.-nb4gw Жыл бұрын

Really I never heard of that? Al Franken was a good HS wrestler and would probably kick little Sean's butt!

@mxdavis 11 ай бұрын

What stones he had to deliver these stinging rebukes. Brilliant!

@lornahuddleston1453 10 ай бұрын

@@Lisa-ik3wt😂🤣

@beenaplumber8379 Жыл бұрын

I'm a liberal AND a Bob Dole fan. Those jokes with the Dutch guy made my eyes water!!!

@thomthom6268 Жыл бұрын

The algorithm got this one right. What a treat on a rainy DC afternoon.

@jorgegonzalez-larramendi5491 Жыл бұрын

yes good ol' yt scores sometimes

@thomthom6268 Жыл бұрын

@@jorgegonzalez-larramendi5491 too many letters... hee hee And isn't that Latin & italian?

@michaelfritts6249 Жыл бұрын

His twist on "A Modest Proposal" was on point.

@zxbc1 Жыл бұрын

The balls on Al to do such an acerbic satire with straight face in front of stuck up politicians, the very crowd that the satire aims to ridicule. You can see and hear the uneasy laugh in the audience.

@curtrice6060 Жыл бұрын

27 years, and is as relevant as yesterday 😊 .

@michaelfritts6249 Жыл бұрын

@@zxbc1 funny thing is, someone might read this and start a new "AI" consipracy because.. Ignored the video AI and robots are in cahoots.. Comedian Franken did become a Senator Franken.. How did they know he would be a Senator in the Future.. AI has obviously been around for awhile.. 😉😁🤣 Be Well!! 😀

@granthurlburt4062 Жыл бұрын

A brilliant and funny and honest and sincere and a great senator

@gheller2261 Жыл бұрын

This was a master class on cadence and comic timing.

@grggsctt Жыл бұрын

He could have taken more time with the seniors as soldiers bit. I don’t think he realized how much momentum he was building. It’s one of those pieces that could have brought the house down.

@J.M.-nb4gw Жыл бұрын

Very well said and spot on, Al Franken is a national treasure and possibly the best senator of the last 20 years. He's smart and funny and insightful and he always says and does what is best for the American people!

@kathygoheen4626 Жыл бұрын

He's still hilarious and on point in 2023😂🤣Love Al.

@philgilmore1176 Жыл бұрын

Absolutely!

@neilturetsky6038 11 ай бұрын

Great smart, funny incisive podcast

@bubbercakes528 Ай бұрын

This man SHOULD BE president now! So many other Republicans have done far worse and just denied their actions. He apologized and showed remorse. I would still vote for him!

@jaybestnz Жыл бұрын

God I hope that Al hosts the Daily Show..

@Ishai1 Жыл бұрын

He said on some podcast he wouldn't do it full time, too much work...

@donalodonoghue7554 Жыл бұрын

Better if he served as president.

@jorgegonzalez-larramendi5491 Жыл бұрын

klepp is hard to beat

@jorgegonzalez-larramendi5491 Жыл бұрын

@@donalodonoghue7554 no NO! Senator

@thomthom6268 Жыл бұрын

@@Ishai1 it's not like AI can't work 24/7. I never trusted those lazy infernal programs.

@hrshsmpt 4 жыл бұрын

"would aluminum foil make a good space suit or would you just bake like a potato" certified genius

@Meinstein Жыл бұрын

that one made me LOL.. something I do not often do.

@mattep74 Жыл бұрын

And then apple tv made a whole episode in for all mankind revolve around just that

@suemick8709 Жыл бұрын

At 34:12 Clarence and Ginni Thomas? It's pretty unnerving to watch this in the present but Franken was hilarious and it was even funnier to witness all the seat squirming.

@Dead8Phish Жыл бұрын

I think that was Tipper Gore, not Ginny...

@harrodsongs Жыл бұрын

@@Dead8Phish Yes that was Tipper Gore and my guess is the gent beside her was Secret Service.

@henrimatisse7481 Жыл бұрын

Ginni look alike

@craighunt6098 Жыл бұрын

Thanks Mr. Franken for being so prophetic about one the OG's and megaphones of modern MAGA intolerance--ie Rush Limbaugh and his impact on US politics...man 1996--only 27 years ago! And I loved the Slow Army of Retirees---now that I am one now, I am a "fast walker" fortunately and a very infrequent visitor to hospitals at age 68---same with my 68 year old wife!

@janineharkins3513 Жыл бұрын

Bless you. Keep it up...

@sandykravetz4523 Жыл бұрын

This is Franken performance is hilarious; so glad I stumbled into this on KZfaq.

@FakingANerve Жыл бұрын

Same here. A lot of this material is in his books, but seeing him do this to in person _to_ his targets is something else! 😂

@gheller2261 Жыл бұрын

He was very good, very tight through most of it, but probably went on 7 or 8 minutes too long.

@janineharkins3513 Жыл бұрын

This is an amazing roast, but if you've never seen it, check out his roast of Rob Reiner. May be the single best roast I have ever seen.

@janineharkins3513 Жыл бұрын

@@FakingANerve Comedians using material MORE than once?! Get right the heck outta town! Seriously, great book, too. Fat Idiot, Lying Liars, and The Truth have got to be histories best hat trick for political satire. Well, he's no Greg Gutfeld, but...I'm sorry. I'm thinking of Bill O'Reilly.

@poppamichael2197 Жыл бұрын

Our senate could use the brilliance of Al Franken today. It is so sad that a single gratuitous, but gross, comedic gesture--which was wholly forgiven by the person who might have been offended--served as the basis, years later and in a different era, for a small but vocal movement to embarrass him and cause him to resign from the senate. All Americans lost something when he resigned, including those who lobbied for his banishment and who, most likely, will not be forgiven for it.

@jorgegonzalez-larramendi5491 Жыл бұрын

that woman betrayed her country i still wonder how much she got paid now the Dems were POSs

@louisemiller9921 Жыл бұрын

Led by Kirsten Gillibrand for opportunistic reasons. I’ll never forgive her.

@andrealingenfelter576 Жыл бұрын

I second that Gillibrand got on the bandwagon to “promote” her Pres run….Schumer put the screws to him….he should have had ethics committee and would have prevailed as his “offenses” were laughable and the woman in the “photo” was a conservative plant to bring him down. Gov Cuomo had way more dletailed and serious charges against him….and he resisted resigning for months. Franken was no given his due process…..phony Senators!!!!

@andrealingenfelter576 Жыл бұрын

He even fit in as a Harvard graduate in the Senate and his questions were more incisive, detailed, to the point…like had he been able to question Kavanaugh!!!

@voxveritas333 Жыл бұрын

@@louisemiller9921 haven't heard anything much from or about her lately. Hope she leaves.

@Meinstein Жыл бұрын

This should be cut up into it's "best of" clips. SO many really golden observations that hold up still today.. no matter which party is in power.

@cockeyedoptimista Жыл бұрын

The part about Bob Dole and Holland was great. Also the part where he made fun of Jews (not) in the military. (I'm one, so I can laugh.)

@chrisanderson1608 Жыл бұрын

Anyone catch the "be safe" during the hand shake at the very end. I'm glad he's still around.

@danolson5387 Жыл бұрын

I just stumbled on this. I'd seen his other one (didn't realize he'd done it twice). He is the GREATEST satirist of the modern era. Like Twain was for his.

@janineharkins3513 Жыл бұрын

Stumble on: Franken roast of Rob Reiner. Bring a change of pants.

@jackhammer8563 Жыл бұрын

It's April 2023 and all of his jokes made me laugh because I remember all of the back stories.🤣

@J.M.-nb4gw Жыл бұрын

I know right, I'm old too and remember ALL of this!

@erikheymann9390 10 күн бұрын

The joke about Charles Murray made me spit out my coffee, totally brilliant.

@channarosenblatt8197 Жыл бұрын

Al Franken was simply stunning here. Laughing, laughing, laughing! Please give Al Franken the Daily Show host position. You are way too smart and way to funny not to have your own show.

@philgilmore1176 Жыл бұрын

Is this really a possibility? He'd be terrific ..

@guyguyguy362 Жыл бұрын

President Bill Clinton took time from a crazy busy job to do Make a Wish for a very sick child. "All I want is a Balanced Budget based on the Congressional Budget Office numbers, sir."

@charleslehner6083 11 ай бұрын

Agreed😂

@charleslehner6083 11 ай бұрын

@@guyguyguy362🎉

@commontater8630 9 ай бұрын

@@philgilmore1176 Al was guest host of Daily Show for a spell and killed it.

@pauldicato5727 9 ай бұрын

Effing HYSTERICAL !😂😂😂😂😂

@eldergeektromeo9868 26 күн бұрын

In his usual, style (that is truly missed, btw) Al continues to slay the audience! Thanks Al. We miss you!

@ZsuzsannaBudapest Жыл бұрын

Al Franken! I have your books,but watching you doing the sound effects makes it all more enjoyable. Thank you!!

@sealyoness Жыл бұрын

How FUN. A kinder and gentler time, I guess.

@womanofsubstance8735 Жыл бұрын

Al, as usual, is/was great, and I wish he was back in the Senate. Somebody needs to ask the anti-Medicare crowd how much money could be saved on Medicare if govt would do something about reducing the cost of health care and medications.

@Yell5651 Жыл бұрын

I missed it 5 years ago. Glad they ran it again.

@cockeyedoptimista Жыл бұрын

This is pretty dang hilarious. He looks so good here, too! I used to think he was a bit homely, but looking back, everyone looks better when they're young, huh.

@lintelle2382 Жыл бұрын

Including Hillary!

@JohnMarkOrg Жыл бұрын

"and if you believe that, ive got some land in Arkansas I'd like to see ya" Bwahaha hahahaha!!!!

@jefolson6989 Жыл бұрын

Al should have stayed and fought the GOP, but fellow democrats , in an effort to take the high road, through him under the bus. Brilliant comedian ,shrewd politician.

@terrancelewis2980 Жыл бұрын

Yeah he’s one of a kind. Shame what transpired - for all parties….. 😢

@jorgegonzalez-larramendi5491 Жыл бұрын

his Party refused to defend him and those women ....

@katmandudawn8417 Жыл бұрын

Certain members of his own party thought they would build their own brand off take taking Al out. I’m thinking about Kirsten Gillibrand…

@MrSoulauctioneer Жыл бұрын

well he did what he did, so it's on him

@IsaDesOsiers Жыл бұрын

Brilliantly hilarious!

@lorimentzer5866 Ай бұрын

Come back Al Franken, you should have never resigned.

@lindamutch191 Жыл бұрын

Oh how I wish you were in Congress today!! We NEED YOU!! 😅😅😅

@jamesgray9950 Жыл бұрын

Al Franken is the best!

@paulaitix77 Жыл бұрын

🤮

@Redmenace96 Жыл бұрын

I've watched about 10 these, and they are comedy gold. My first Al Franken episode. He is great!

@guynorth3277 Жыл бұрын

Gosh, I stumbled into this and Al had me roaring, that really was a treat!

@J.M.-nb4gw Жыл бұрын

I know right, Al Franken has been a national treasure since the 1970s and arguably his best years for from this point in the 90s until now!

@Redmenace96 Жыл бұрын

This is from the era when I read newspapers and watched Cross Fire. I know all the characters he was roasting. Very funny, today.

@sachiperez Жыл бұрын

Kind, smart and too funny!

@cjjackson2475 11 ай бұрын

He's not only a great patriot but also a true mensch! God bless his soul. ❤

@MarthaRoseMoore415 Жыл бұрын

Holy crap - at about 2:31-33, right after Al says " mission accomplished" - You can TOTALLY hear Jake "I don't even know her" Tapper laughing. PRICELESS!!

@susieb7305 Жыл бұрын

You are funny. And smart. Sorry we lost u in congress.

@johnarnold893 Жыл бұрын

Al should have switched to Independent and stayed in the Senate. The US needs more people like him running the show.

@kaysloan2787 Жыл бұрын

Love the little jab at Dick Cavett!

@craighunt6098 Жыл бұрын

OMG---I saw a shot of Sonny Bono in the crowd with a greying mustache---I Miss You Babe! :) On behalf of Cher and your millions of baby boomer fans!

@jorgegonzalez-larramendi5491 Жыл бұрын

man we still need Al !

@helenstylianou5280 Жыл бұрын

I really like Al Franken, such a great shame he stepped down from the Senate. And I live in Cyprus.

@kaysloan2787 Жыл бұрын

Totally agree!

@lornahuddleston1453 10 ай бұрын

@@kaysloan2787That emphasizes how valuable Al Franken is 👍

@lintelle2382 Жыл бұрын

some folks since him have done an OK job, but this is Top Notch!

@XOkie 11 ай бұрын

He was our first "Jon Stewart". I wish that he'd run again.

@picklefish74 Жыл бұрын

I had forgotten all about that book. So now I have it on Audible.

@bill8985 20 күн бұрын

I could watch this a hundred times. The best part is him giving it to Newt. Over and again. That was the peak of Al's humor. He's funny, yeah, even today. But this made me crap my pants.

@ellenmadsen7308 9 күн бұрын

I think he should run again. Could see him at president.

@kenfletcher8855 Жыл бұрын

Brilliant!!!

@danieljstark1625 Ай бұрын

He is SO good. SO bright. So missed in the Senate.

@ksb2112 28 күн бұрын

OMG. I haven't laughed this hard in weeks!

@Highley1958 Жыл бұрын

At least Rush Limbaugh cared enough about America to drop dead.

@Highley1958 Жыл бұрын

Time to step up, Newt Gingrich.

@Peacemaker-er3tl Жыл бұрын

More destinations for my road trip urination list

@jerdonsbabbler3515 Жыл бұрын

Ooo, so darn funny.

@gheller2261 Жыл бұрын

Took way too long.

@CathieDonohoe 10 ай бұрын

Franken is brilliant

@erichvonmolder9310 Жыл бұрын

Smart jokes and he delivers it well.

@robertafeiler5320 9 ай бұрын

Brilliant! Beautifully written and delivered .👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻

@kevinvilmont6061 Жыл бұрын

The guy is talented.

@milart12 Жыл бұрын

I'm not a huge Al Franken fan, but this is fantastic .

@J.M.-nb4gw Жыл бұрын

Definitely a classic!

@danbev8542 11 ай бұрын

I’m a huge Al Frankenstein fan!

@kaipeterson Жыл бұрын

Al Franken for President!

@optophobe Жыл бұрын

What a talented man. Must have taken a very long time to prepare this very funny speech.

@anncarlson7609 Жыл бұрын

Run again. Please. The country needs you.

@MichaelMcFerrin Жыл бұрын

Al Franken used to be an announcer at Air America on then 1690 WWAA AM in Avondale Estates Georgia....now WMLB.

@allenburnett5422 Жыл бұрын

Would Al take over Late, Late, Late Night TV, or in other words, the CBS Morning Show?

@gregedwards5608 Жыл бұрын

Outstanding Reality by him!!!... Smart and Comedic. Snl writer As well.

@melorafoy7109 9 ай бұрын

He was great on SNL. Did Stuart Smally and "The Al.Franken Decade" on the Weekend update.

@christinekoehnen9696 Жыл бұрын

❤ Al

@Lambert7785 Жыл бұрын

strikes me as a rather tough gig to pull off... :). not having al on senate committees is a big loss to our balance and well being, in my view

@kevincallaghan326 Ай бұрын

So brilliant and still funny as hell after all these years. More recent WHCP performers should have paid more attention to Franken's more balanced approach.

@sommmeguy 24 күн бұрын

Newt Gingrich and Steve Forbes. And we thought politics was bad in the 90s. I wish our politics was half as civil and well spoken now. There's a walk down memory lane. Franken is still the best.

@udigit22 Ай бұрын

So good!

@gailremp8389 Жыл бұрын

Incredible. Too funny.

@chrismangold79 11 ай бұрын

Classic, great material. Love his attacks on the Newt.

@cz2165 Жыл бұрын

His humor is too smart for these dweebs.

@cockeyedoptimista Жыл бұрын

Those aren't dweebs, those are intelligent reporters, what are you talking about?

@commontater8630 9 ай бұрын

@@cockeyedoptimista Maybe he means some of the commenters in this thread. I'd agree.

@phildirt3 Жыл бұрын

Just think how great it would be if congress was full of al types

@thomassicard3733 9 ай бұрын

Franken is BRILLIANT!!!!

@alysaad07 Ай бұрын

He shares so much with Letterman. Miss them both-

@IncogNito-gg6uh 22 күн бұрын

Gingrich is thinking, “In a few years we’re going to make sure you all have nothing to laugh about.” Boy, would he be right.

@davidtyler2012 Жыл бұрын

i just realized... Johnny Galecki borrowed heavily from Al Franken in creating his performance of Leonard Hofstadter.

@jefolson6989 Жыл бұрын

Ive been bingeing WHCDs . As far as audience reaction, Franken is the best. ( Worst was Rich Little. Most savage: Michelle Wolf).

@davidhowald4120 Жыл бұрын

Al....hahahaahaha. i'm reminded again how intelligent and wicked funny you were....and still are. thanks al.

@justbecauseOK Жыл бұрын

this is amusing...a time before Trump...how innocent we were.

@MrSoulauctioneer Жыл бұрын

you think the list of subjects to avoid was a joke?

@susanelainesanner Жыл бұрын

Wow! People were so young in 1996!

@claudiagrimes8050 19 күн бұрын

I love this man.

@manp1039 Жыл бұрын

"the best tipper was Tipper"

@walterfristoe4643 19 күн бұрын

Al was pretty good in Trading Places! 🤣

@MichaelLasotaTW Жыл бұрын

I saw a Dole campaign stop in Buffalo. Was the one and only, and amusing. I watched a lot of SNL at the time, so I went thinking he'd make the parody stuff. I was young and not so smart lol. Oh well. ~15? years old.

@jimquinn2431 9 ай бұрын

He is so quick and perfect timing. Senator Gillibrand should be ashamed of herself. We lost a top notch public servant.

@martinhyizna3299 Жыл бұрын

Hysterical

@Blake-ul8dd 9 ай бұрын

Genius

@kennethmardis2132 Жыл бұрын

Al was brilliant. Still is

@hull5768 Жыл бұрын

is he still doing predator photos?

@paulaitix77 Жыл бұрын

he's a total creep

@wayneriley7367 Жыл бұрын

History will state that todays incivility goes back to rush and newt.

@MrSoulauctioneer Жыл бұрын

nope, Bill and Hillary

@wayneriley7367 Жыл бұрын

@@MrSoulauctioneer really? I’d love to hear the reasoning? Clinton had the lowest deficit when he left, can’t say that for the no tax rich republicans. What do you really hate Hillary for? Because she is still married to Bill? Did you not get Al’s jokes about all the first and second wife’s of the GOP? And how are the GOP following Bill Bennett book of Virtues? Newt and rush were the ones bitching and moaning about how the country was being taken away from white people. I think Rush had a drug addiction? What substance addiction did the Clinton’s have? White water and Benghazi never amounted to anything but it is quite obvious the the orange pumpkin will be in jail soon.

@voxveritas333 Жыл бұрын

@@MrSoulauctioneer nope, it was rush and newt. both bastards.

@joshuamorrison8332 9 ай бұрын

Apparently sir you eat, eat a lot. The correspondent associated thinks that we could have a lot of harmless fun with that. Too funny!

@NxDoyle Жыл бұрын

The Oliver Stone bit was very good, but Al had pretty much lost them by that point. They ran out of gas halfway through.

@jwraithel Жыл бұрын

Wow, some forgotten faces (like Sonny Bono!).

@cockeyedoptimista Жыл бұрын

Can you tell me who the guy is at 9;27, clapping at the Dutch WWII Bob Dole joke? The guy with beard and dimples? I can't place him: who is it? (And where is Sonny? Geez. But I didn't watch the whole thing yet. [Saving it.])