Oct 23, 2008 10:54 pm US/Central
Can You Smell What Al Franken's Cooking?
(WCCO)
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It's in the kitchen where Al Franken and his wife Franni get away from the world. They talk about their two children, the news of the day and, yes, strategize for one of the most watched U.S. Senate races in the country.
CBS
The first thing you need to know about Al Franken is that he's a meat and potatoes guy.
"One of my specialties is meat," Democratic candidate for U.S. Senate Al Franken said laughing.
Check that, a meat guy.
"I love barbecuing," Franken said. "Any meat. I love meat."
"What's your recipe here?" WCCO-TV political reporter Pat Kessler asked Franken.
"My recipe is you put the burger in a bowl. Boom. And it's salt, pepper and garlic," answered Franken.
It's in the kitchen where Franken and his wife Franni get away from the world. They talk about their two children, the news of the day and, yes, strategize for one of the most watched U.S. Senate races in the country.
"You knew it was going to be tough on your family," Kessler said.
"We did," said the Frankens.
"Did you ever think that it would turn into the kind of harsh, personal campaign that it has?" Kessler asked.
"It's different," said Franken. "In comedy you don't need a majority. If 10 percent of the people really like you, you're a successful comedian."
And that's saying something for one of pop culture's most well known faces.
Franken grew up in the Twin Cities' suburb of St. Louis Park, but found success in New York City on Saturday Night Live, creating numerous memorable characters, including the sadly sweet Stuart Smalley.
Franken didn't know if people would like him when he returned to Minnesota two years ago. As a well known but controversial book writer and radio talk show host, he made money on harsh assessments of right wing Republican figures.
"Al Franken, oh my god!" said a woman who saw Franken walking down the street.
His fame has been both a political asset and a liability. Some of his comedy was truly "not ready for primetime."
"When you do stuff for 38 years, you've written some stuff that isn't funny or stuff that's offensive," Franken said. "And I really feel bad about that."
"Why?" Kessler asked. "Why would you feel bad about it?"
"Some people were truly and honestly offended and that wasn't Al's intent," said his wife Franni.
Whatever Franken's intent, his ghosts of comedy past are back to haunt him; R-rated jokes about women, sex, minorities, gays, God. Nothing was off limits, until now.
Now, Republicans are pouring millions of dollars into harsh character ads against Franken, some of the nastiest in the country.
As Republican reprised Franken's edgy comedy past, Democrats found him offensive, too; enough for him to publicly apologize at the Minnesota DFL Convention this summer.
At home in the kitchen, his wife of 33 years said it's a gross distortion.
"He's a pussycat, he's little league, he's peewee league, he throws the best meatball ever," Franni said.
"Honey," Franken interrupted his wife. "Understand some people don't know what that means -- I throw the best meatball -- I can throw a pitch that any kid can pitch."
Franken's battered public image is one of the reasons Franni made a campaign commercial of her own, defending her husband and revealing her battle with alcoholism and years of recovery.
"When I was struggling with my recovery," Franni Franken said in a TV ad. "Al stood right by my side."
Franken created the Stuart Smalley character based on that experience, and co-wrote the movie "When a Man Loves a Woman" with Franni in mind.
Franken likes to say that he and Franni are running as a team. In fact, it's one of his jokes on the campaign trail.
"Franni and I are running for the Senate," said Franken. "And if we win, I get to be the Senator."
Win or lose, whatever happens, the Frankens have no regrets and say they'd do it all over.
"You want to win?" Kessler asked.
"Oh yeah," the both replied. "We're in it to win and we're going to win."
(© MMIX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
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