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Politics : Politics for Pros- moderated -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: gamesmistress who wrote (24164)	1/13/2004 10:18:41 AM
From: Tom Clarke	Respond to of 793900

Franken to help launch liberal radio network to oppose Limbaugh Deborah Caulfield Rybak Star Tribune Published 01/13/2004 Satirical superstar and St. Louis Park native Al Franken has signed on as a prime player with Central Air, a new politically liberal radio network. Franken will host a daily talk show, his agent confirmed on Monday. When the New York-based network goes on the air later this year, his show is expected to run from noon to 3 p.m., going head-to-head in many markets with conservative commentator Rush Limbaugh. "The deal was finalized Friday," said Franken's longtime friend and literary agent Jonathon Lazear. Franken, the comedian, partisan satirist and bestselling author, could not be reached for comment. He has said publicly for months that he has been in talks with Central Air's investors. Minnesota Public Radio host Katherine Lanpher's name has repeatedly surfaced as his probable cohost. But that could not be confirmed on Monday. Franken's most recent book, "Lies and the Lying Liars Who Tell Them," is No. 2 on the New York Times bestseller list. Franken, 52, a graduate of the Blake School in Hopkins and a "Saturday Night Live" alumnus, also wrote the 1996 bestseller, "Rush Limbaugh Is a Big Fat Idiot." The radio network is the brainchild of entrepreneur Mark Walsh, CEO and cofounder of Progress Media, Central Air's parent organization. Walsh also is managing partner at the Ruxton Ventures investment firm, and a voluntary technology adviser to the Democratic National Committee. Central Air is expected to begin as early as March, in time to cover the presidential election. Officials say that Central Air's 14 to 18 hours of daily programming initially will be broadcast on stations they plan to buy in such major markets as New York City, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Philadelphia and Boston. No Twin Cities station has been targeted for purchase, but Central Air programming could find its way here through syndication. Another high-profile Minnesotan, former Twin Cities comedian Lizz Winstead, will host her own three-hour show on the network. She also will direct its entertainment programming. She was cocreator of the popular "Daily Show" on Comedy Central. Martin Kaplan, former chief speechwriter for Vice President Walter Mondale, will host a show on the media. Deborah Caulfield Rybak is at dcrybak@startribune.com. startribune.com