Al Franken Show, Twin Cities, KTNF 950 AM

DO THE FRANKENBUMP

Even In Stuart's Hometown, His Clout Can't Save Him







Do the Frankenbump, it's the dance craze that's sweeping the nation!

That's right, across the country, our friend Al Franken's liberal talk show is finding itself either cancelled, or at the very least, pushed back and aired on tape delay. From Boston to San Francisco and Chicago, the news just keeps getting worse for Stuart.

But the biggest blow must surely be the most recent, where even his hometown clout couldn't save his show from being Frankenbumped into a delayed position.

Sure enough, in the Twin Cities, Al will no longer be heard live, according to the Star- Tribune:

Although it broadcasts live from the Twin Cities, Al Franken’s syndicated radio show will no longer be heard live here.

Starting Monday, local affiliate KTNF (950-AM) will carry liberal commentator Ed Schultz’s show during Franken’s 11 a.m.-2 p.m. time slot while Franken will move to Shultz’s afternoon slot (2-5 p.m.)

Franken had no comment on the change, but “we’re not horribly offended,” said his executive producer. “They’re free to do whatever they like.”

A spokesman for the station said the change might be only temporary, while Franken goes on a USO tour to Iraq and his show will broadcast reruns. However, if Franken decides to run for the U.S. Senate, his show would likely cease production.

Locally, he had been performing better in the Arbitron ratings than Shultz, although not by much. KTNF posted a 0.9 percent share of listeners aged 25 to 54 during Franken’s showand a 0.4 share during Shultz’s. Both are eclipsed by Rush Limbaugh, who attracted a 4.1 share of those same listeners on KTLK (100.3 FM). audience during the same period as Franken.

DEBORAH CAULFIELD RYBAK

Note the rare public comment from Al's trusted ($600,000 per year) executive producer Billy Kimball, who apparently can be taken away from his fancy lunches and upscale living long enough to return a reporter's phone call. Who knew?

Meanwhile, Al himself is still being coy about future plans for the show, as it appears he's been waiting to see how Air America's bankruptcy situation would shake out. Based on what some affiliates (such as KQKE in San Francisco) had been led to believe, we thought Franken would wrap it up this week.

Whatever his intentions, it looks bad to stick with the show while stations dump or delay it, even in his hometown. It certainly doesn't bode well for his likely upcoming US Senate run, does it?


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