Al Franken Sounds Off on ‘Huge Dick’ Ted Cruz in ‘Jimmy Kimmel Live!’ Guest-Hosting Gig

In the nearly five years since Al Franken resign from the Senate in disgrace After a number of allegations of groping and other inappropriate sexual acts, he’s slowly made a comeback. But instead of trying to get back into politics, he went back to his original love of comedy.

There have been late night appearances with old friends like Conan O’Brien and Bill Maherone weekly podcasts where he interviews former colleagues such as Senator Amy Klobuchar and former SNL member Chris Rock, and even a independent tour of theaters and comedy clubs across the country.

But on Tuesday night, Franken made what might be his highest move yet, joining comedians like Chelsea Handler and Dana Carvey in hosting guests for Jimmy Kimmel.

He introduced himself as “the only former US senator to receive guests Jimmy Kimmel Live!“, before emphasizing, ‘Tonight’s not about politics, it’s about comedy and fun. “

Then came his first real joke: “So who’s here from abroad to have an abortion?”

Franken happened to be hosting the same day President Biden signed the Inflation Reduction Act into law, but instead of focusing on the good news, he decided instead to talk about some of the other existential threats facing our nation. we have to face. No, not the “huge wealth and income gap” or “threats to our democracy”, but rather, he added, “I do think one of the problems The most serious problem facing our country today is how big Ted Cruz is.”

“I’ve said it before, but I probably like Ted Cruz more than most of my peers like Ted Cruz, and I hate Ted Cruz,” he added. “Ted Cruz is probably one of the most famous senators, because as I mentioned, he’s a giant.” It’s a phrase Franken would never have uttered while representing Minnesota, but has returned to every opportunity he’s been given now that he’s freed from those professional constraints.

He then took the required number of shots at Donald Trump, who he noted was “under investigation for possible violations of the Espionage and Obstruction Act” following the FBI raid on Mar-a-Lago. “It doesn’t look good,” he said. “Trump has done himself so badly that he’s going to have to write himself a check for $130,000.”

“Now that some people are saying that Trump can be a risk in flying, it’s crazy that the former president of the United States is a risk in flying,” Franken said. “But the good news is that at least Donald Trump’s official presidential portrait has been backed up at every airport in the United States,” he added, as a photo of Trump with the words “No Fly List” on his head. appears on the screen.

And finally, Franken joked, “There’s never been a better time to visit Palm Beach because for the rest of the summer, Mar-a-Lago is hosting a special weekend getaway package that includes meals. Complimentary breakfast, room upgrades if available, and a nuclear secret of your choice. ”

Given that he’s mostly avoided discussing the disturbing situations under which he’s left the Senate on his podcast, on stage or elsewhere over the past few years, there’s no expectation he’ll do so. on late-night TV. But there would be something refreshing about him at least acknowledging why he is no longer confronting Cruz as a senator but instead roasting him from afar as is a comedian. Or even show some degree of indignation that he was forced to while Republican Predators allowed to continue serving.

Franken’s closest admission that he wishes he remained in the Senate and didn’t go back to making jokes for a living appeared in the sketch that ended his monologue when he posed as a member of the Committee. January 6th day barbecue a fictitious witness by his first guest of the night, It’s better to call Saul stars and colleagues SNL alum Bob Odenkirk.

Even given the increasingly absurd dialogue about how close Donald Trump has come to commemorate the hanging of his vice president during the uprising, you can tell Franken still feels at home on C-SPAN.

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