Years ago, when Al Franken was a writer on Saturday Night Live, I played a Robert Palmer Girl with actress Geena Davis, who hosted. Palmer was an urbane, 80s, English singer with a backup band of tall, short-haired brunettes braying and bopping behind him.
Al and his writing partner, the late Tom Davis, wrote the skit, the late Phil Hartman playing Palmer, Geena being the head Palmerette, while Al wrote a line, just for me.
How excited was I, being so young back then, still hoping to be a star…sigh.
I remember him well…quiet, polite, smart, self-effacing…and just a little chubby.
It looks as if Al, now a junior United States Senator, from Minnesota, will more than likely have to step down due to the inappropriate sexual behavior he’s been accused of.
Wow!
Is this the same fella who I looked up to in my youth? What happened?
Last I knew, Al was happily married with kids, a booming career, and a dog.
I do know, that before one should do anything, it’s best to run the tape straight through, just in case. In other words, truth, that little prankster, always finds a way to come out, even if it takes 20 years. But I’ve always known that, coming from a crazy, alcoholic, dysfunctional home with heads buried in the backyard.
I feel sad about all this.
Charlie Rose, one of my favorite interviewers, also, busted.
OUCH!
As for Harvey Weinstein, whose psychotic behavior started this avenging avalanche, I do recall watching in action, on a film set, as he lusted after a young stand-in like a little lamb chop.
But Al?
He was a gentleman, always, so go figure.
SB
People mostly have a side they don’t wish to show the public, or family, or both. I always did. Now, I just show most of me; the stroke helped me understand that people can like or not like me, but I have to be honest and care for myself. I have not regretted this decision.
Scott
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You’ve seen it all firsthand, yet you are still such a loving, caring person.
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Just reread Anne Lamott’s tiny book on mercy. A good Thanksgiving read I highly recommend. Hallelujah Anyway is the name. It once again made me cry.
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Thanks for the reading suggestion. The Denmark daughter is here right now, so I won’t read anything for a while.
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How nice. Happy for you.
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As my dad once told me, “be careful, men are animals.” As for Al, I’m having a hard time putting in in the same category as Harvey, Bill or Charlie (still floored) and all of those freaks over at Fox. Was he wrong? Yes. Was he abusing his power? No.
Something tells me there are a lot of men sweating in their suites across the land and a lot of women waiting in the wings to take over the world.
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Agreed. It’s like who’s gonna walk the plank next. Just got a chill.
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I remember Robert’s “band” from the videos. I recall “addicted to love”, “I didn’t mean to turn you on” and “simply irresistible”. There was a man who knew how to sell a record!
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He was quite dashing. I believe we danced to Addicted to Love if my memory serves me right.
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I must confess to impure thoughts after watching that one. 😉
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I understand
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I remember that little dance they did in those short, black dresses. Naughty Audreys. 🙂
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Add now, Garrison Keillor and Matt Lauer. It’s all so mind-numbing.
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You’re telling me. If it wasn’t so sordid and awful it would be funny.
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Not to mention a huge disappointment because they were so respected.
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True.
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I think it’s high time women be given the chance to run things. I’m just totally fed-up with the mess that my sex has made of the world. Hell, why not let women have a try at it? I feel it really can’t get much worse than it is right now because what we’re seeing is deplorable and inexcusable behaviour on the part of a great many men. And all this ridiculous power, money-grabbing, it’s a man’s world mentality, behind a crazy “We’re in control” facade—has only managed to produce… a justified distrust of males. Most families have wives and mothers who ably manage the children and financial budgets all the while keeping their husbands on the straight and narrow in the best interest of their families. This is not to imply that there are no decent men left in the world, but that it appears they’re not the ones who are sitting in positions of responsibility. I’m sorry it had to be said, but I think it needs to be acknowledged.
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Ever hear this joke? The reason Bill didn’t like Hillary wearing dresses was because her balls showed?
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Not until now, but it sounds good. 😀
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Yeah…:)
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I remember Robert Palmer and his backup girl band. One of my favorite videos. I also remember Franken’s skits on SNL. His switch to politics surprised me, and the revelations surprised me more. The way things are going, I wonder if there will be any Congressmen left.
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It’s gotten weird even if it’s for the better. Check out the new Time Magazine. It’s amazing. It’s burning like a brushfire.
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