The “does it require any formal education to be a doctor in Oklahoma?” thing is such a great burn, especially as a way to open a conversation with said doctor😆
I think senators are, usually, pretty civil with one another. It's just that all we hear about them is when policy is brought up and naturally they land on two opposing sides.
@@1223steffen If Franken didn't do anything wrong, why did he resign? When the going got tough, Al threw in the towel. He IS an intelligent person and although I'm from the other side of the aisle, I think he was an articulate and dedicated Senator. However, in this era, it was just too easy to flush him away.
@eva camille thoroughman Odd that a comedian couldn't stand a little heckling from a mob of political operatives slandering him with the flimsiest, weakest accusations.
@eva camille thoroughman Agree with you 100%. He was trying to do the honorable thing, unlike the republican (Roy Moore) that sexual deviant that was in the spotlight around the same time as Al Franken's so-called "transgression". What Al Franken did wasn't nearly as disgusting as Roy Moore, and yet Moore fought tooth and nail to stay in office, despite the fact that he preyed on underage girls. There was no comparison between the allegations of the two of them. I so wish that Al Franken hadn't resigned.
@@Turtleproof He did what he thought was best for the country and the party at that moment. Kirsten Gillibrand made the calculation that it was worth it to throw one of the strongest progressive voices in the senate under the bus so that they could fill a senate seat in Alabama with a Joe Manchin-esque Democrat for two years. I am relieved Joe Biden didn't pick her for VP. I don't think I could have cast a vote for her after throwing MY senator under the bus. I hope she gets primaried.
I come back to this interview over and over. "Tell ya what. You can take me to breakfast..." That is one of the most classically Oklahoma things I've ever heard.
@@valentinelove8029 I still don't know why this is such a thing, here. Maybe it's just because farming is so prevalent. But, I still see it more here than other agricultural heavy states that I've been to.
First time I ever saw Al Franken was on Saturday Night Live, where he played a psychiatrist who was trying to help Al Gore through his loss to Bush. Absolutely hysterical! He really should get back into politics. The USA needs him!
Al Franken is still hilarious- thank goodness public office hasn't ground that out of him. He's also intelligent, diligent and earnest about wanting to do a good job for the PEOPLE while in office- we need more public servants like him!
That story about Coburn is priceless. If only we had more such anecdotes I like to think we'd spend a lot less time watching Senators and Congressmen posturing.
Literally thinking that now! I was horrified ; hope we get old social interactions back some day, and hopefully it'll come without us immediately forgetting any lessons we learned in 2020/21...
I'm surprised that he didn't mention Sen. McCain of AZ. That guy was absolutely hilarious. He had an opening monologue on SNL that was well timed & uproariously funny. So much so he was invited back.
Frankly, I never knew Al Franken was a comedian and that he has hosted two White House Correspondents Dinner until one day I saw him in an old SNL skit! This guy is brilliant at his comedy!
senator Al was thrown under the bus for no reason other than optics. so... snybody. please. tell me the last time these useless a holes did what we pay them to do. huh? yeah crickets kids. solution? term limits.
@ it was more sexual harassment ill give you that. But please don't call people snowflake cuz it can really be used on both sides and its honestly condescending. But @matatas endrey had a point, just cuz we like him we shouldn't be ignorant.
She is the worst politician ever, when she represented upstate NY she was the most conservative Democrat. When she got appointed Senator she became ultra liberal.
I'm a democrat and huge fan of Franken from SNL but he was accused of sexual misconduct by multiple women. We need to contextualize things and not summarize things without painting the entire picture.
omg stephen had SO much fun in this interview. flawless comedy, senator! The end was my favorite haha when he gives the exact same answer twice and Stephen dies laughing hahahaha priceless
Was Elizabeth Warren one of the people that called for him to resign? I was a big fan of hers, but my mother pointed that out, when Warren said she'd accept bankster money the mask was fully off.
Lol Stephen Colbert comment sections are proof that democrats and republicans are equally biased to their colours and two sides of the same coin. Why would you defend this man for what he did?
Haha glad to know I'm not the only one of us that's waaay too into this American political gemors! At least it makes our own situation seem a little less crazy!
Al Franken is a brilliant harvard educated, empathetic political commentator , writer and Senator who was voted in HONESTLY to the senate.HE has been in a solid marriage for decades.His view points and assertions reflect a man of great intellect, morality and wit.I believe his personal life reflects that as well. The turd in the White House is horrifically corrupt. His ignorance and stupidity has humiliated our country on the world stage by his choice to humiliate and abandon his own intelligence and military. He has a trial of immoral criminal behavior before and during his presidency. Trump belongs in prison with the rest of his cronies ( full stop)
I remember when I saw his name on tv and it said approved by al franken and I just thought he was a crazy man... now that I see him he is literally the perfect candidate for president. I can vote in 2020 and I say AL FRANKEN 2020
Oh! I Love Al Franken! Can still to this day remember his classic weekly sign on at SNL. "Hi, I'm Al Franken, And You're Not.". What Guy! I wish He was My Senator!!! ROFL!
People don't realize that satirists are very intelligent people. They walk a fine line between being liked and hated and being funny versus alarming. To dum-dums he's just a comedian, but in reality he's the perfect type of person to be in politics. Someone who recognizes the seriousness of politics, while appreciating the humorous and absurdity of it.
"You no Stephen In my book Al Franken Giant of the Senate. I write about level headed leadership. That's why I'm terrified of Trump." Al we need you back so you can continue to expose the lying liars and the lies they tell. Keep pivoting!
I hope people outside Minnesota see people like Al and not that nutcase Michelle Bachmann. As a Minnesota native i would love the chance to vote for him in 2020!
@Heyden Leekley Well... on the bright side, even if he doesn't run for president (which I personally think he doesn't want) his Senate term is up in 2020 so you can vote to reelect him then anyway! :-D
I'm on the East Coast, I love Al Franken and if he chose to run for Prez he'd totally have my support. If he doesn't, I hope you and your fellow statesmen continue to support him!
I'm heartened to learn that, according to Senator Franken, there are some Republican senators who have a sense of humor. It's enlightening to see the connection between the lack of a sense of humor, and the nearness a conservative is to the extreme right side of the flat earth they sincerely believe they live on.
6:37-6:43 it takes a special skill and talent to comedically pause that way mid sentence WITH facial expressions and manage to get laughter out of that. Very few can do that 👍
5:00, "Pivoting,'' or in Kentucky this is known as "Giving someone the runaround.'' Heh heh. I've always loved that phrase and you see it today, and it's a thing of the future and they learn from the past about how to get better at it those politicians do. It's really funny sometimes but also frustrating to see it happen so much. 5:56am, 09/01/2023
After flipping from despising the Former Guy to unquestioning support, I have trouble with the concept that Lindsey Graham has any redeeming qualities.
The “does it require any formal education to be a doctor in Oklahoma?” thing is such a great burn, especially as a way to open a conversation with said doctor😆
It's refreshing when Al doesn't demonize the other side, and discusses interactions with them as colleagues and not as enemies.
So agree! I just learned something from him. Disarm difficult people at work by joking with them and taking them out for a meal.
I also learned that in his book, Al Franken: Giant of the Senate, he talks about the importance of level-headed leadership!
HalaMarcus2169 i
every senator does this... seriously.
I think senators are, usually, pretty civil with one another. It's just that all we hear about them is when policy is brought up and naturally they land on two opposing sides.
That humorless senator impression has me in tears, holy god. Politics haven't dulled this man, they have honed him.
That's because we all know people like that congressman.
I miss Al in the Senate! His unique blend of satire, humor and intellect is what we need during these tumultuous and challenging times.
He should have refused to resign
@@1223steffen If Franken didn't do anything wrong, why did he resign? When the going got tough, Al threw in the towel. He IS an intelligent person and although I'm from the other side of the aisle, I think he was an articulate and dedicated Senator. However, in this era, it was just too easy to flush him away.
He shouldn’t have sexually assaulted 8 woman
The saddest part of his ouster is that no one stepped up to be a voice for the Democrats in the Senate.
@@randyschmidt3491 yeah yeah I hear ya but I think the saddest part of it was the sexual assault
He has the most infectious laugh... God bless Senator Al Franken
"You gotta go to medical school!"
Hilarious.
Sea Pig clueless, the Oklahoma Senator is just clueless
I still miss Al Franken, giant of the Senate.
@eva camille thoroughman Odd that a comedian couldn't stand a little heckling from a mob of political operatives slandering him with the flimsiest, weakest accusations.
He would have been a real asset to the Dems. It is a real shame.
@@Turtleproof I think he just wanted to act decently and try and do the right thing. Not something you see from politicians very often.
@eva camille thoroughman Agree with you 100%. He was trying to do the honorable thing, unlike the republican (Roy Moore) that sexual deviant that was in the spotlight around the same time as Al Franken's so-called "transgression". What Al Franken did wasn't nearly as disgusting as Roy Moore, and yet Moore fought tooth and nail to stay in office, despite the fact that he preyed on underage girls. There was no comparison between the allegations of the two of them. I so wish that Al Franken hadn't resigned.
@@Turtleproof He did what he thought was best for the country and the party at that moment. Kirsten Gillibrand made the calculation that it was worth it to throw one of the strongest progressive voices in the senate under the bus so that they could fill a senate seat in Alabama with a Joe Manchin-esque Democrat for two years. I am relieved Joe Biden didn't pick her for VP. I don't think I could have cast a vote for her after throwing MY senator under the bus. I hope she gets primaried.
I love Al Franken and I wish all Senators would be like him. Smart, Laid back, funny, family man, just a great guy!
I come back to this interview over and over. "Tell ya what. You can take me to breakfast..." That is one of the most classically Oklahoma things I've ever heard.
Why?
My papa used to say stuff like this all the time lol
@@valentinelove8029 I still don't know why this is such a thing, here. Maybe it's just because farming is so prevalent. But, I still see it more here than other agricultural heavy states that I've been to.
They get up way too early on Oklahoma.
@@firebearva it's a weird place, that's for sure.
As a Republican I gotta say, I would have a beer with this guy any day of the week. His timing is impeccable
I HOPE HE RUNS FOR Senator AGAIN!
First time I ever saw Al Franken was on Saturday Night Live, where he played a psychiatrist who was trying to help Al Gore through his loss to Bush. Absolutely hysterical! He really should get back into politics. The USA needs him!
Al is brilliant. I had the pleasure to see him perform live here in Austin last year. He is sharp!
*YES!!!* YOU'VE GOTTA GO TO *MEDICAL SKEWL!!!*
This man has the cutest smile I've ever seen
6:49 - I love how Stephen hacked a lung into his hand and then goes in for a shake! Gross - Poor Al! LOL!!
especially now
I love his smile and laugh! I feel like he'd be really easy to talk to irl. :D
He seems absolutely delightful. This was genuinely hilarious. I pity the fools who gave/give this a dislike.
He shouldn’t have sexually assaulted 8 woman
"I explained to him what jokes were" LOL
Al Franken . . . . simply put, I really miss this man!!
Al Franken, gotta love him. Stephen too.
"I was taught to answer questions"
Al Franken is still hilarious- thank goodness public office hasn't ground that out of him.
He's also intelligent, diligent and earnest about wanting to do a good job for the PEOPLE while in office- we need more public servants like him!
Ok the second time he said "level headed leadership" had me cracking up. Comedy genius.
That story about Coburn is priceless. If only we had more such anecdotes I like to think we'd spend a lot less time watching Senators and Congressmen posturing.
Holy shit Stephen coughed into his hand and then shook Franken’s hand immediately after lol. Shocking to see now
Ye😩how times have changed😢
@@c-3vo nope. I was always like that. Most of you people, no
Literally thinking that now! I was horrified ; hope we get old social interactions back some day, and hopefully it'll come without us immediately forgetting any lessons we learned in 2020/21...
Corona virus has changed us all...
Its disgusting then and now
OH MY GOODNESS, HE'S RUNNING FOR PRESIDENT!! also I think Stuart Saves His Family is a heartwarming family movie. One of my fave SNL films.
I'm surprised that he didn't mention Sen. McCain of AZ. That guy was absolutely hilarious. He had an opening monologue on SNL that was well timed & uproariously funny. So much so he was invited back.
Frankly, I never knew Al Franken was a comedian and that he has hosted two White House Correspondents Dinner until one day I saw him in an old SNL skit!
This guy is brilliant at his comedy!
senator Al was thrown under the bus for no reason other than optics. so... snybody. please. tell me the last time these useless a holes did what we pay them to do. huh? yeah crickets kids. solution? term limits.
Al Franken just became my favourite US politician. I am cackling like a maniac watching this ahah!
I will never forgive Kirsten Gillebrand for kicking Franken out of the Senate to eliminate a rival.
she did?!
@ it was more sexual harassment ill give you that. But please don't call people snowflake cuz it can really be used on both sides and its honestly condescending. But @matatas endrey had a point, just cuz we like him we shouldn't be ignorant.
She is the worst politician ever, when she represented upstate NY she was the most conservative Democrat. When she got appointed Senator she became ultra liberal.
@@chineseviruszombie773 i get that but there has been waaaay worse politicians
I'm a democrat and huge fan of Franken from SNL but he was accused of sexual misconduct by multiple women. We need to contextualize things and not summarize things without painting the entire picture.
omg stephen had SO much fun in this interview. flawless comedy, senator!
The end was my favorite haha when he gives the exact same answer twice and Stephen dies laughing hahahaha priceless
Remember, whenever you're mad that Franken was canceled, direct your anger towards Kirsten Gillibrand
Was Elizabeth Warren one of the people that called for him to resign? I was a big fan of hers, but my mother pointed that out, when Warren said she'd accept bankster money the mask was fully off.
Kirsten Gillibrand, Elizabeth Warren.... and Sam Bee. :3
@@crispinfornoff206 Franken? He was not. Ever.
@@Turtleproof really? you're no different from those who defend Trump for the horrible things he's said and done to women.
Lol Stephen Colbert comment sections are proof that democrats and republicans are equally biased to their colours and two sides of the same coin. Why would you defend this man for what he did?
What a well rounded, extraordinary man. So much respect.
He shouldn’t have sexually assaulted 8 woman and stepped down from the senate
Al's great! Thanks for having him on the show! Very good and funny!
Al Franken isn’t gold… He’s platinum.😂😂😂❤
From far-off South Africa - Sen Franken will get my vote every time!
Haha glad to know I'm not the only one of us that's waaay too into this American political gemors! At least it makes our own situation seem a little less crazy!
Al Franken is very grounded. He enjoys a good laugh as much as the next grounded person but he doesn't take prisoners in committee hearings.
I'd like to think that backstage Franken was pressuring Colbert to join him in the Senate.
Coughing in his hand and then immediately shaking Al’s hand....that was a different time indeed.
I love his style. Have to be a comedian to do things like this.
It's hard to make a comedian legit-laugh, but Franken got Colbert here. Well done.
I am so sorry Al isn't in Senate anymore. This is 3 years ago, and he was totally trashed and it was wrong. He's hilarious!!!!!!!
Thanks to Gillibrand. B**ch.
@@johnr5252 You are in favor of what Al did to those 9 women? Typical
@@homersimpin664 Al did nothing to anyone and you know it.
@@johnr5252 Then why did he apologize, resign, and say his victim was "unable to consent"?
That pivoting segment was gold!
Oh how I wish he would run for president. Now there's someone I would follow. He is the "real deal" A Mark Twain of our time.
Al Franken is a brilliant harvard educated, empathetic political commentator , writer and Senator who was voted in HONESTLY to the senate.HE has been in a solid marriage for decades.His view points and assertions reflect a man of great intellect, morality and wit.I believe his personal life reflects that as well.
The turd in the White House is horrifically corrupt. His ignorance and stupidity has humiliated our country on the world stage by his choice to humiliate and abandon his own intelligence and military. He has a trial of immoral criminal behavior before and during his presidency.
Trump belongs in prison with the rest of his cronies
( full stop)
He was pretty funny. Don't see much senators with a good sense of humor.
+113829088221678246685 Well, he was a professional comedian until he took office in 2009.
I heard Lindsey Graham is pretty funny.
I don't know about _that_ but he has a ton of charisma, without a doubt.
What's humor?
Tomas Thao Franken is a professional comedian by trade. He was a huge hit on SNL back when SNL was funny in the eighties
Al's book is really good. Love Franken.
Not everyone can make Stephen laugh like that!
I want to vote for level headed leadership. AL FRANKEN 2020!!!!!
This didn't age well.
I remember when I saw his name on tv and it said approved by al franken and I just thought he was a crazy man... now that I see him he is literally the perfect candidate for president. I can vote in 2020 and I say AL FRANKEN 2020
No doubt about it. This is going to be the Al Franken Millennium.
We need you in Congress Al Franklin.
This is why you get the audio form of all his books
Oh! I Love Al Franken! Can still to this day remember his classic weekly sign on at SNL. "Hi, I'm Al Franken, And You're Not.". What Guy! I wish He was My Senator!!! ROFL!
Holy crap, he was funny. I'm in tears.
I freaking LOVE al! I'd vote for him in a heartbeat!!
Hands down, the funniest interview I've ever seen.
Still the great comedian. The timing and the punchline is excellent
Al 2020, just for the chance of a Trump/Franken debate.
Didn't even think of that! Would be unbelievably amazing!
Just hope the electoral college doesn't turn the victory over to the loser again
Trump won't be in office in 2020.
Al needs to be more progessive... that book has no progressive policy Ideas in it..I will keep supporting Sanders.
Omg Id love to see Franken scoring on Trump without Trump even understanding how artfully he playful skewered him
Just got through listening to the audio version of Al's new book, which he narrates. Loved it!
It's like Al almost has a comedic edge over Stephen. ^^
I think that Steven is pitch him slow softballs. He is a host. K
GOLD. GOLD. GOLD. I love this!! So refreshing to see Al put a (humanizing) face on the senate.
People don't realize that satirists are very intelligent people. They walk a fine line between being liked and hated and being funny versus alarming. To dum-dums he's just a comedian, but in reality he's the perfect type of person to be in politics. Someone who recognizes the seriousness of politics, while appreciating the humorous and absurdity of it.
Al's giggle at the end there sounds a lot like Chief Wiggum :P
I wish like hell Al Franken, Giant of the Senate, WAS running for president in 2020.
I am so proud to be from Minnesota. If he were to run, he’d have my vote
"You no Stephen In my book Al Franken Giant of the Senate. I write about level headed leadership.
That's why I'm terrified of Trump." Al we need you back so you can continue to expose the lying
liars and the lies they tell. Keep pivoting!
I really like the anecdote about Senator Coburn. He had to be explained what jokes are XD
Why does this make me think of the Senate as a Mean Girls high school experience?
This is a great interview
I hope people outside Minnesota see people like Al and not that nutcase Michelle Bachmann. As a Minnesota native i would love the chance to vote for him in 2020!
@Heyden Leekley
Well... on the bright side, even if he doesn't run for president (which I personally think he doesn't want) his Senate term is up in 2020 so you can vote to reelect him then anyway! :-D
Heyden Leekley OMG , you should have seen this clip of Michelle Bachmann I watched the other day. It was cringeworthy.
Same! My Minnesotan heart is so proud of him. Especially with all the attention he's been getting ever since the DeVos smack down. :P
I had completely blocked out Michele Bachmann from my brain until just now.... thanks... lol
I'm on the East Coast, I love Al Franken and if he chose to run for Prez he'd totally have my support. If he doesn't, I hope you and your fellow statesmen continue to support him!
Don't you mean FORMER Senator Stuart Smalley! HAHAHAHA!
That was beautiful. Thank you.
@6:51 Al just took that freshly coughed on hand shake like a pro! oh and that's how germs spread lol
I'm heartened to learn that, according to Senator Franken, there are some Republican senators who have a sense of humor. It's enlightening to see the connection between the lack of a sense of humor, and the nearness a conservative is to the extreme right side of the flat earth they sincerely believe they live on.
Al ! WE NEED YOU ! YOU ARE NO JUNIOR ! PLEASE COME BACK !
I missed the name of the book, what was it again?
+azdgariarada "Level-headed Leadership" by Al Franken
Al Franken - Giant
of the Senate
Communist Manefesto.
"AL FRANKEN THE RAPIST"
Sean Romanowski Is he?
he's still got it! we are so lucky to have enjoyed his humor for 20 yrs and now have a wonderful, genuine, caring, smart person in the Senate!
I wonder what Stephen's reaction would be if Al Franken, when asked about a 2020 presidential run, just went off and declared his candidacy.
always feel good listening to al
It hangs !!! He's a classic
6:37-6:43 it takes a special skill and talent to comedically pause that way mid sentence WITH facial expressions and manage to get laughter out of that. Very few can do that 👍
I would take level headed pivoting over deranged "straight-shooting" any day
I’ve probably watched this 20 times over the last seven years and I laugh every time.
Funnily enough, I too write about the importance of levelheaded leadership in my book.
Omg!! Iaughed my ass off! Love you both. Stay amazing y'all ❤️😘
So miss Al Franken. Senate loss. Sad and f'd up all way round.
Beautiful Comment! Hello Lisa how are you doing today I hope that you are having a wonderful 🙏 day?
We need this guy back in the Senate
May i mention some seriously-good Atheist-UA-camrs?
Like Telltale, GMS, VIced Rhino, Creaky Blinder, Hbomberguy, Emma T,
and Darkmatter25?
@@nenmaster5218 Screw em
@@nenmaster5218 Screw um
Okay, so I posted a bigass comment before hearing Senator Franken's Tom Coburn story. I nearly choked on my drink.
5:00, "Pivoting,'' or in Kentucky this is known as "Giving someone the runaround.'' Heh heh. I've always loved that phrase and you see it today, and it's a thing of the future and they learn from the past about how to get better at it those politicians do. It's really funny sometimes but also frustrating to see it happen so much.
5:56am, 09/01/2023
Please come back Al ! The country needs you.
Al Frankenstien
I agree, but the Democratic party doesn't care about their own people, so they threw him under a bus and used his resignation for political gain.
After flipping from despising the Former Guy to unquestioning support, I have trouble with the concept that Lindsey Graham has any redeeming qualities.
at 6:50 he coughs into his hand then immediately shakes Franken's hand with it...
Oh dear.
Do have a time machine? because that slip-up is relevant as hell now
Franken should still be in the Senate for all sorts of reasons.
Beautiful Comment! Hello Marilyn how are you doing today I hope that you are having a wonderful 🙏 day?
Stephen coughed into his hand and then immediately reached out to shake Al's hand. hehe
sanjuansteve I thought the same... Reminds me SNL skit about this - making fun of Bernie Sanders
I think it crossed Al's mind at that moment too. lol
This comment was ahead of its time. 🧐
Geez...Check out Colbert's pre-Covid germ share at the end!!! Still, mad appreciation for both these guys.
6 feet. Sixxxxxx FEEEEEEEEET!!!!!
Al Franken is a decent human being and a patriotic American. Given who's in the white house now, President Al Franken would be an enormous step up.
I love this show; This is as close to Johnny Carson as I can remember. Informative & inlightnig. I love Al!🇱🇷
I am not even American but would vote for Franken
@tom SMITH you do know that's impossible but do stay in your stupid ignorant bubble if it keeps you off sniffing butane
Al Franken's timing is sublime. The other guy goes alright too.