'Today' Show Sells Al Franken as 'Harvard Smart'

If there was one thing the 'Today' show wanted its viewers to know about comedian, turned failed Air America radio host, turned Senate candidate, Al Franken, it's that he's really "smart." Profiling his Minnesota Senate seat run, the Today show cast went out of their way to prove the Saturday Night Live alum's candidacy was serious by emphasizing Franken was, indeed, "smart."

Not once, not twice, but three times this morning's Today tagged Franken with the "smart" label. First up, 'Today' co-host Meredith Vieira, in her tease of the upcoming Franken piece proclaimed of the creator of Stuart Smalley: "He's a smart guy!" Then later, Franken impressed Today's national correspondent Jamie Gangel with his smartness as he doodled a map of the U.S. from memory:

Jamie Gangel: "What some people may not know, Franken is smart, Harvard smart. A math whiz who aced the SATs and it turns out not bad at geography, either."

Al Franken doodling: "It's a circus trick. I can draw all 48 contiguous states from memory in about two minutes."

Then, to further punctuate the point, Vieira concluded the segment by reminding viewers, yet again, Franken was 'smart,' enough to win.

Gangel: "A lot of people think Franken can win this race. Meredith."

Vieira: "He's definitely smart enough. Jamie, thank you so much."

The following is the tease and then full segment as it occurred on the May 29th Today show:

Ann Curry: "Also coming up we'll be talking about Al Franken. Al Franken has made, of course, millions of people laugh on Saturday Night Live and he's, he's an unabashed liberal. He's become a political author and a radio talk show host. So guess what, now he's running for the Senate. The question is will people take him seriously? We're gonna get his first campaign interview coming up."

Meredith Vieira: "I think they will. He's a smart guy."

Natalie Morales: "Has got a lot to say. Yeah."

Curry: "Strong opinions."

...

Meredith Vieira: "Al Franken is running for Senate and it is not a joke. The 'Saturday Night Live' alum has raised a lot of money and is moving up in the polls in his home state of Minnesota and has hit the campaign trail like a veteran politician. Our national correspondent Jamie Gangel sat down with Franken and his wife for their very first campaign interview. Jamie, good morning to you."

[On screen headline: "Senator Al Franken? From Comedy to Politics."]

Jamie Gangel: "Good morning, Meredith. What we wanted to know is why would a successful comedian want to become a U.S. senator and then, of course, will the citizens of Minnesota take him seriously. After all, when you say the name Al Franken most people laugh and think of this. It may not be what he wants these days but this is how most people know the 56-year-old comedian. From roving reporter-"

[Clips from Saturday Night Live]

Gangel: "To self-help guru-"

[clip]

Gangel: "And while he played a senator on TV-"

[clip]

Gangel: "-now he wants to be one. Why do this?"

Al Franken: "I've really gotten tired of what's been going on last six years. You know I've been a comedian but I transitioned to being someone who writes about politics. It's a privilege. We consider it a privilege."

Franny Franken: "Yeah."

Franken: "And I can do it."

Gangel: "A liberal's liberal, Franken first turned to politics with satire and a series of best-selling books, then a radio show and now he's returned to his home state of Minnesota, putting himself on the line. How do you like campaigning?"

Franken: "The best part is, is, is just the meeting people and going around the state."

Gangel: "He even claims not to mind fundraising."

Franken: "I actually don't mind it because I believe in what I'm doing."

[Franken speaking to voters: "They didn't believe Bush could pronounce angioplasty-"

Gangel: "Franken is funny but his stump speech quickly turns to issues."

Franken speaking to voters: "-corruptly passed legislation."

Franny Franken: "Al's biggest hurdle is people taking him seriously and that has turned out to be not true. Nobody is asking Al about his comedy."

Gangel: "But many people think of Franken like this."

[Begin clip]

Bill O'Reilly: "Five minutes! Shut up! This is what this guy does!"

Franken: "This isn't your show, Bill!"

[End clip]

Gangel: "And even he admits his style and personality are a challenge."

Franken: "There's a thing about suffering fools, that I would say isn't, isn't necessarily my strongest point. And, and I've had to work on it."

Gangel: "If I think Al Franken, I think funny. I also think acerbic and edgy. Yes? Franny's nodding. Yeah. Does that play in politics, in Minnesota?"

Al Franken: "Not as well as it plays in comedy and I-"

Franny Franken: "But people understand irony, you know?"

Al Franken: "Well, I've, I'm less acerbic. It's not appropriate."

Gangel: "And even though he lacks political experience, Franken is confident. You have run for political office before."

Franken: "In junior high."

Gangel: "Did you win?"

Franken: "I won once, I lost once."

Gangel: "What is your-"

Franken: "So I know what each are like."

Gangel: "But when you are going for the U.S. Senate, is that not a big leap?"

Franken: "I suppose so but I, I'm certain I can do this and I'm certain I can do a better job than, than the guys there now."

Gangel: "What some people may not know, Franken is smart, Harvard smart. A math whiz who aced the SATs and it turns out not bad at geography, either."

Franken: "It's a circus trick. I can draw all 48 contiguous states from memory in about two minutes."

Gangel: "But Franken knows in the end he'll need substance to win over Minnesota voters. Gimme your top three priorities. First three things you'd do in the U.S. Senate."

Franken: "Three? Universal health care, whole different energy policy, work to restore our standing in the world. Work to restore the American standing in the world."

Gangel: "The question now, can he win? He gives himself better than even odds. And if you don't win?"

Franken: "I'll sue. No, if I don't win, I don't win."

Gangel: "Meredith this is just the primary but Franken has raised more than $1.3 million. Remember this is the state that elected professional wrestler Jesse Ventura governor. Stranger things have happened. A lot of people think Franken can win this race. Meredith."

Vieira: "He's definitely smart enough. Jamie, thank you so much."