Al Franken is probably best known for his work on "Saturday Night Live." Franken was part of the original writing staff that created the groundbreaking late night show in 1975. He left the show in 1980, returned in 1985, and stayed another ten years, leaving after the 1994-5 season.
  
Franken received four Emmys for his writing on SNL and a fifth for producing. He also won recognition for his on-camera work, first as half the comedy team Franken and Davis, and later for his "Al Franken Decade" persons and such characterizations as the one-man mobile uplink unit and Stuart Smalley, the new age cable TV host.
  
Smalley was the subject of Franken's first book, I'm Good Enough, I'm Smart Enough, and Doggone It, People Like Me!, which was published in 1992 by Dell. It is currently in its fifth printing and provided the basis for a movie that Franken wrote and starred in for Paramount Pictures. The 1995 movie, "Stuart Saves His Family," was directed by Harold Ramis and received "Two Thumbs Up" from Siskel and Ebert.
  
Franken also co-wrote (with Oscar winner Ron Bass) the 1994 Touchstone Pictures movie "When a Man Loves a Woman" starring Andy Garcia and Meg Ryan.
  
Franken enhanced his reputation as a political satirist by providing commentary for CNN's coverage of the 1988 Democratic National Convention, and anchoring Comedy Central's "Indecision '92" coverage of the Democratic and Republican National Conventions and election night. Franken's performances at the 1994 and 1996 White House Correspondents Dinners demonstrated his skill as one of the nation's top after-dinner speakers, and his "Strange Bedfellows" appearances with Adrianna Huffington were an integral part of the acclaimed 1996 election coverage on "Politically Incorrect."
  
Franken's second book, Rush Limbaugh Is a Big Fat Idiot and Other Observations, was published by Delacorte Press in 1996. It spent 23 weeks on The New York Times hardcover nonfiction bestseller list, including five weeks in the #1 position. Including the mass market edition, the book was on the list for more than eight months. Combined sales of the two editions total more than 1 million copies. Franken also earned a Grammy for his recording of the audio version.
  
Franken's new book, WHY NOT ME? The Inside Story of the Making and Unmaking of the Franken Presidency, was published by Delacorte Press in January 1999.
  
Franken is currently working on "Lateline" a comedy series he co-created with John Markus in which he is part of a star-studded ensemble cast. The show in association with Paramount Network Television, received rave reviews when it debuted in 1998. 
  
Al Franken grew up in Minnesota and is a graduate of Harvard College. 

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