Comedian and author Al Franken to speak at SU Feb. 25

Comedian and author Al Franken to speak at SU Feb. 25February 21, 2003Mark Owczarskimaowczar@syr.edu

Event hosted by SU College Democrats

Comedian, satirist and author Al Franken, a five time Emmy Award-winner for his work on “Saturday Night Live,” will speak at Syracuse University Feb. 25.

Franken’s lecture, sponsored by SU’s College Democrats, will begin at 7:30 p.m. in the Goldstein Auditorium of the Schine Student Center. Tickets are $1 for the general public and free for students, faculty and staff with a valid SU I.D.; they are available at the Schine Student Center Box Office.

Considered one of America’s top comedians and satirists, Franken received the 1997 Grammy for Best Comedy Album. He is the author of two best-selling books. Franken was part of the original writing staff that created the groundbreaking “Saturday Night Live” in 1975. Four of his Emmys are for writing, the fifth for producing. He has also won recognition for his on-camera work for such characterizations as “The One-Man Mobile Up-Link Unit” and new age cable host Stuart Smalley.

Smalley was the subject of Franken’s 1992 book, “I’m Good Enough, I’m Smart Enough and Doggone It, People Like Me.” The book provided the basis for a movie that Franken wrote and starred in for Paramount Pictures, “Stuart Saves His Family.” Franken also co-wrote the 1994 hit movie, “When a Man Loves a Woman.”

Franken is a well-known political satirist. During the 1988 presidential campaign, he provided commentary for CNN. In 1992, he anchored Comedy Central’s “Indecision ’92,” winning critical acclaim for his coverage of both conventions and election night. In 1996, he teamed with Arianna Huffington, again covering the national elections for “Politically Incorrect.”

Franken’s second book, “Rush Limbaugh is a Big Fat Idiot,” was on the New York Times best-seller list for eight months. His latest book, “Why Not Me?,” a chronicle of his bid for the Presidency and his subsequent disastrous administration, is also a New York Times best seller.

The Schine Student Center Box Office is open Monday through Thursday, 10 a.m.-6 p.m., Fridays from 10 a.m.-9 p.m., Saturdays from noon-9 p.m. and Sundays from noon-6 p.m. For ticket information, call the box office at 443-4517.

Officially chartered in 1870 as a private, coeducational institution of higher education, Syracuse University is a leading student-centered research university. Syracuse’s 11 schools and colleges share a common mission: to promote learning through teaching, research, scholarship, creative accomplishment and service while embracing the core values of quality, caring, diversity, innovation and service. The 680-acre campus is home to more than 18,000 full- and part-time undergraduate and graduate students from all 50 states and 90 countries.