The Tonight Show: Guest Al Franken Taught Senators How to Clap Sarcastically for Trump's Speeches

[Rhiannon12866]

Al Franken compares how State of the Union addresses changed during Trump’s presidency, talks about having to ditch his sense of humor while serving as a senator and discusses his first solo comedy tour.


Get tickets to see Al on the "The Only Former U.S. Senator Currently on Tour" Tour at https://alfranken.com/appearances.

[brewens]

1. I wanted for them to give TFG the "Stalin clap" at his first SOTU. Like they used to do where they

clap endlessly, no one wanting to be the first to stop. It would have been hilarious if the Democrats had just kept standing and clapping even after the republicans stopped.

[Rhiannon12866]

2. If only they just kept clapping so he couldn't say anything more

I can see Al Franken leading that, if only they'd gone along with him. I saw his one-man show when he came to my neck-of-the-woods (Albany, NY) and he spoke for over 2 hours to a sold out crowd with only a microphone, a stool and 3 glasses of water - he was very funny and political and got a standing ovation. He did say that when he was first in the Senate, he was discouraged from being funny, but then when they were in committee and waiting for ages, Dianne Feinstein would call on him to tell a joke, though they didn't always "get" them.

[underpants]

3. God I love Al Franken

For years and years. Rhiannon, I can’t advise highly enough to read Tom Davis’s autobiography. He wrote it as he was dying and it is completely open and honest. Some hilarious stories with Al and frankly a few not so funny. Great stories about Jerry Garcia too. He and Tom were really tight. Oh and Aykroyd, several really funny stories about him.

[Rhiannon12866]

4. Awww, thanks so much for the recommendation!

As I said above, I was able to see his one-man-show when he came to Albany, NY, back in November - and he not only talked about his time in the Senate, but also about his SNL days. And that I couldn't recommend more highly, he spoke to a sold out crowd who really "got" his political humor, gave him a standing ovation. And while he was speaking, he drew one of those maps of the U.S. that he does freehand to donate to a local Democratic effort...

[dixiechiken1]

7. Thanks for the book recommendation!

I'm always on the lookout for my next read. I just ordered it.

[catrose]

8. Yes, Al's daughter is named Thomasina. Very tight they were.

[90-percent]

9. Saw him in New Haven

Around March 2021, just weeks before the pandemic hit. It was a tragic and irreparable loss when his fellow Dems piously and hypocritically ran him out of town on a rail for a childish grope, which I presume was with somebody else that also had a sense of humor. In full combat gear on a military plane, BTW.

The politics of personal destruction, Dem to Dem style. The greater good for America was not a factor in this political lynching.

I forget who the main Dem was that lead this political lynching? Maybe Schumer?

Tom Davis and Jerry were buds Who knew?

I love Dan Ackroyd. I always wanted to ask what Al thought of Frank Zappa? Also Dan Ackroyd, who was in the "Ghost of Freak Mountain SNL sketch. Ackroyd is excellent. who could forget the bass-o-matic sketch? And his Canadian via Chicago accent.

-90% Jimmy

PS - Also saw Frank Zappa's first show of the 1988 tour in Albany. Both cities are equidistant from my home. Frank had the League of Women voters registering people in the lobby and 60 minutes was supposedly there to do a feature on FZ, which never materialized.
Frank was as quick witted as Al is. He received death threats before the Bushnell shows in Hartford.

[Auggie]

5. Thanks for sharing

[SheltieLover]

6. K&R!

[mitch96]

10. Tnx for posting the clip. I don't care for Fallon but love Franken...Saved me from wadding thru

the show to get to the good part..
m