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Tracy Mumford

'Saturday Night Live' calls out Sen. Al Franken

'Saturday Night Live''s Weekend Update co-anchor Colin Jost
'Saturday Night Live''s Weekend Update co-anchor Colin Jost addresses Leeann Tweeden's accusations against Sen. Al Franken, who is also a former SNL staffer.
NBC

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This weekend "Saturday Night Live" took on one of its most successful alumni: Minnesota Sen. Al Franken.

Franken was a writer on the comedy show when it premiered in 1975, and appeared frequently as a performer in the show's long history. This week, Franken apologized for posing inappropriately with fellow USO performer Leeann Tweeden while she was sleeping. The incident occurred in 2006. Tweeden also accused Franken of forcibly kissing her as "practice" for a skit.

News of the accusations led SNL's "Weekend Update" segment. Co-anchor Colin Jost said: "Thursday is Thanksgiving, and there's so much to be thankful for this year — unless you're a human woman." On the screen were pictures of Franken, Bill Cosby, Alabama senate candidate Roy Moore, Louis C.K., president Donald Trump and Harvey Weinstein.

Switching to the now-infamous photo of Franken posing over a sleeping Tweeden, anchor Colin Jost said: "I know this photo looks bad, but remember, it also is bad."

"Sure, this was taken before Al Franken ran for public office, but it was also taken after he was a high school sophomore. Pretty hard to be like, 'Oh, c'mon, he didn't know any better. He was only 55."

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell has called for an ethics investigation into Franken's behavior. Franken himself has repeated that request.