Al Franken on Playing a Senator in ‘The Residence’ 7 Years After Real-World Political Scandal: ‘I Haven’t Done This in Awhile’
Al Franken is wading back into political waters, but this time it’s on Netflix’s whodunnit “The Residence.”
In a conversation with People on Thursday, the former politician described his time playing a fictional senator on the streamer’s new show. Franken – who was a real senator for Minnesota from 2009-2018 when he stepped down amid sexual assault allegations – was surprised when the offer to appear in the murder mystery show came through.
“They asked me to do it and I went, ‘I haven’t done this in a while. I hope I can do it,'” he said. “I wasn’t sure that I would be great in it, but I wanted to do it.”
Franken – who also wrote and appeared on “Saturday Night Live” from 1975 to 1995 – leaned on his real senatorial experience during the show and found himself imparting wisdom on the rest of the cast.
“There’s a big difference.
In a conversation with People on Thursday, the former politician described his time playing a fictional senator on the streamer’s new show. Franken – who was a real senator for Minnesota from 2009-2018 when he stepped down amid sexual assault allegations – was surprised when the offer to appear in the murder mystery show came through.
“They asked me to do it and I went, ‘I haven’t done this in a while. I hope I can do it,'” he said. “I wasn’t sure that I would be great in it, but I wanted to do it.”
Franken – who also wrote and appeared on “Saturday Night Live” from 1975 to 1995 – leaned on his real senatorial experience during the show and found himself imparting wisdom on the rest of the cast.
“There’s a big difference.
- 3/21/2025
- by Jacob Bryant
- The Wrap
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