Fox News Drops Suit Against Al Franken

Did she put soy sauce on that foot before she ate it?

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Monday, 25 August 2003 22:55 (twenty-two years ago)

Crow is much better with chocolate syrup

― Nichole Graham (Nichole Graham), Monday, 25 August 2003 23:17 (twenty-two years ago)

http://www.scifi.com/mst3000/resources/crowtxt.jpg
+
http://store3.yimg.com/I/foodlocker_1753_6243008

― Michael Daddino (epicharmus), Monday, 25 August 2003 23:23 (twenty-two years ago)

yeah, before they dropped it the judge that was assigned the case and read the briefs was quoted as calling Fox's arguments "wholly without merit"!

― Emilymv (Emilymv), Monday, 25 August 2003 23:25 (twenty-two years ago)

The New Yorker has an interesting take on it:

Bill O’Reilly might be setting a new standard for placation presents. Take back your mink, your diamonds, and your pearls. For a real star, only a preliminary injunction will do.

http://www.newyorker.com/talk/content/?030901ta_talk_mcgrath

― JesseFox (JesseFox), Tuesday, 26 August 2003 05:51 (twenty-two years ago)

anyone wonders what sort of backstage drama queen/crybaby moves o'reilly must've pulled to see this thing through, all the way to court? i mean, fox might be right-wing but they aren't totally stupid (or at least their lawyers aren't). i mean, as a lawyer i would have been embarrassed if any of my clients demanded that i file a suit like this. if for no other reason than i'd be worried about being sanctioned by the court for bringing a frivolous suit. the "all-those-supersized-big macs-made-me-into-a-tub o' lard" suits have more legal merit than this thing!

― Tad (llamasfur), Tuesday, 26 August 2003 06:02 (twenty-two years ago)

http://www.kugn.com/images/oreilly.jpg
"Get out of my studio before I tear you to fucking pieces!"

― nickalicious (nickalicious), Tuesday, 26 August 2003 11:45 (twenty-two years ago)

So, how long until MSNBC or perhaps Comedy Central gives Al Franken a show?

― earlnash, Tuesday, 26 August 2003 13:19 (twenty-two years ago)

too long.
But I don't think Al Franken wants a show.

― Horace Mann (Horace Mann), Tuesday, 26 August 2003 14:46 (twenty-two years ago)

i heard someone was actually going to start a leftie cable channel to go up against Fox. i think they said it should be up and going in a year or less.

― Emilymv (Emilymv), Tuesday, 26 August 2003 14:47 (twenty-two years ago)

only problem is no advertisers

― Horace Mann (Horace Mann), Tuesday, 26 August 2003 14:49 (twenty-two years ago)

"Welcome to the BJ Network, the television station funded entirely by Ben & Jerry's Ice Cream."

― NA (Nick A.), Tuesday, 26 August 2003 15:06 (twenty-two years ago)

if they can find advertisers for We, Lifetime, and The Golf Channel, i think this is but a minute speedbump.

― Emilymv (Emilymv), Tuesday, 26 August 2003 15:15 (twenty-two years ago)

well, I don't know. I mean, the right-wing (owned) media has done a pretty good job of aligning them on the side of business, which is not only good for business, but also good for business.

― Horace Mann (Horace Mann), Tuesday, 26 August 2003 15:17 (twenty-two years ago)

fortunately, businesses are not run by chipanzees who fail to see leftists as consumers.

― Emilymv (Emilymv), Tuesday, 26 August 2003 15:19 (twenty-two years ago)

chipanzees! oops, left out my m. there are plenty of companies with leftist leanings as well. and lots of organizations.

― Emilymv (Emilymv), Tuesday, 26 August 2003 15:20 (twenty-two years ago)

chipanzees! this sounds like some sort of WWII racial epithet.

well, if they can do it, good on 'em. If they can do it well, even better.

― Horace Mann (Horace Mann), Tuesday, 26 August 2003 15:23 (twenty-two years ago)

chipanzees sounds like a tasty snack treat in the shape of monkeys!

― nickalicious (nickalicious), Tuesday, 26 August 2003 16:36 (twenty-two years ago)

Chi Pansies?

― donut bitch (donut), Tuesday, 26 August 2003 16:37 (twenty-two years ago)

Cheap Pansies: Germans visit the Castro District (German tourists are notorious for not tipping; the Castro Distrist is San Fran's gay zone)

― Horace Mann (Horace Mann), Tuesday, 26 August 2003 16:38 (twenty-two years ago)

Thing is this lefty TV thing will probably be as knee-jerk as the conservative TV is. Fox News is a piss poor representation of conservative THOUGHT, and I'm not anticipating the eventual, equally loudmouthed and uncontemplative flip side of the coin: Michael Moore TV!

― Anthony Miccio (Anthony Miccio), Tuesday, 26 August 2003 16:42 (twenty-two years ago)

Now, I'm a Michael Moore fan, but really, where would he be if there were a lot of people doing what he does?

― Horace Mann (Horace Mann), Tuesday, 26 August 2003 16:48 (twenty-two years ago)

Add for inexpensive helper dog=Cheap, and Sees!

― Emilymv (Emilymv), Tuesday, 26 August 2003 16:48 (twenty-two years ago)

Thing is this lefty TV thing will probably be as knee-jerk as the conservative TV is. Fox News is a piss poor representation of conservative THOUGHT, and I'm not anticipating the eventual, equally loudmouthed and uncontemplative flip side of the coin: Michael Moore TV!

TV Nation
The Awful Truth

― Girolamo Savonarola, Tuesday, 26 August 2003 16:52 (twenty-two years ago)

possible indication that lefty TV will sadly not be as boorish and loudmouthed—as geezaesthetic—as Fox: the working, temporary name for it is "Issues TV" blehhhhh!!!!

― Tracer Hand (tracerhand), Tuesday, 26 August 2003 16:59 (twenty-two years ago)

i think it should be hound tv. like todd and copper..........the story of opposites who found that they were alike....starring al franken and bill o'reilly. *wretch*

it seems like fewer left wing pundits seem as insane as rush, ann coulter, hannity, and crew. or maybe i just agree with them? not sure. anyway, i doubt it will be as obnoxious as its counterpart.

hopefully they will include decent music, graphics, sets, etc. so that it has a new appearance as well as message. this theme of 4 asses behind a desk with a backlight stage crammed full of the american flag and maps of the middle east.

― Emilymv (Emilymv), Tuesday, 26 August 2003 17:18 (twenty-two years ago)

I should concede that it wouldn't be as insane as rush, coulter, etc. Though it could devolve into cheerleading and a lack of analysis (mr. moore!).

― Anthony Miccio (Anthony Miccio), Tuesday, 26 August 2003 17:19 (twenty-two years ago)

who else will be featured? Paul Begalia? Huffington?(assuming she gets Terminated) janeane garafalo? hee hee

― Emilymv (Emilymv), Tuesday, 26 August 2003 17:24 (twenty-two years ago)

"I heard someone was actually going to start a leftie cable channel to go up against Fox."

Wouldn't your typical National Review conservative call this PBS? Bill Moyers seems to be one of their favorites they love to hate.

― earlnash, Tuesday, 26 August 2003 17:27 (twenty-two years ago)

in order to be PBS it will have to include reruns of "Are You Being Served?" and old Cirque de Soleil performances

i can't think of anyone less hatable than Bill Moyers

― Tracer Hand (tracerhand), Tuesday, 26 August 2003 17:31 (twenty-two years ago)

but PBS has yielded very much lately to corporate interests

― Horace Mann (Horace Mann), Tuesday, 26 August 2003 17:40 (twenty-two years ago)

Old 'Are You Being Serveds' - mmmm you're really selling me on this PBS, Tracer

― Andrew L (Andrew L), Tuesday, 26 August 2003 17:52 (twenty-two years ago)

Mr Rogers is less hatable than Bill Moyers, by a thread.

ChimpanzeeTV is U & K.

― amateurist (amateurist), Tuesday, 26 August 2003 17:54 (twenty-two years ago)

"i can't think of anyone less hatable than Bill Moyers"

I don't have a problem with him either, but there are plenty of rightwingers that big time hatas of him and pretty much of PBS in general.

― earlnash, Tuesday, 26 August 2003 18:07 (twenty-two years ago)

yeah, Sesame St teaches the value of "cooperation" so are secretly Communist sleeper cells, waiting to blow up ROTC bases with the letters B, A, N, and G

― Tracer Hand (tracerhand), Tuesday, 26 August 2003 18:12 (twenty-two years ago)

oh, and don't forget the evil homoerotic overtones of Bert and Ernie!

― Emilymv (Emilymv), Tuesday, 26 August 2003 18:18 (twenty-two years ago)

"overtones"?

― amateurist (amateurist), Tuesday, 26 August 2003 18:22 (twenty-two years ago)

TV Nation
The Awful Truth
I've seen one episode of each of these shows.
It's kinda like the Daily Show with Jon Stewart.

― Lord Custos Epsilon (Lord Custos Epsilon), Tuesday, 26 August 2003 20:10 (twenty-two years ago)

amatuerist- i get it you must be an amatuer proof reader. what an exciting and rewarding hobby that must be. ignore the hostile UNDERTONES.

― Emilymv (Emilymv), Tuesday, 26 August 2003 20:18 (twenty-two years ago)

no i wasn't critiquing your grammar but making a joke about how i thought ernie and bert were OUT.

p.s. i am a professional proofreader.

― amateurist (amateurist), Tuesday, 26 August 2003 20:19 (twenty-two years ago)

p.p.s. i am an amateur maker of obtuse jokes.

― amateurist (amateurist), Tuesday, 26 August 2003 20:20 (twenty-two years ago)

I can attest to that.

― Leee (Leee), Tuesday, 26 August 2003 20:25 (twenty-two years ago)

Here in Chicago, we used to have a left-wing shock jock - his name was Jay Marvin and he used to SCREAM at people who disagreed with him. His whole show was screaming - you could barely understand him. Then he moved to Denver, had a heart attack and mellowed out. He's back in Chicago, but he doesn't scream at people, and he's really dull. But I think you can have personalities and shows that are entertaining without being boorish.

― Kerry (dymaxia), Tuesday, 26 August 2003 20:30 (twenty-two years ago)

one can hope!

― Emilymv (Emilymv), Tuesday, 26 August 2003 20:32 (twenty-two years ago)

You know rereading am's post, I see the grammatical whoops -- but I originally thought that he highlighted the word to overscore the unabashed outness of Bert & Ernie's relationship.

― Leee (Leee), Tuesday, 26 August 2003 20:37 (twenty-two years ago)

that's exactly why i highlighted the word!

― amateurist (amateurist), Tuesday, 26 August 2003 20:40 (twenty-two years ago)

Re-reading your explanatory post, I now overstand.

― Leee (Leee), Tuesday, 26 August 2003 20:42 (twenty-two years ago)

two opposing subjective viewpoints != objective journalism

― Curt1s St3ph3ns, Tuesday, 26 August 2003 22:35 (twenty-two years ago)

lefty TV/radio couldn't be as boorish as righty TV/radio. it would be more shrill and navel-gazingly irrelevant, though. and just as self-righteous.

i know of what i speak, living in a city with a pacifica radio station (which i do listen to and sometimes like, but sometimes it borders on parody).

― Tad (llamasfur), Wednesday, 27 August 2003 06:47 (twenty-two years ago)

i saw franken on cnn last night. the cnn anchor was indulging in a bit of schadenfreude, calling the dropped fox suit "the silliest suit ever filed" and both he and franken referred to o'reilly as "not a serious figure...an entertainer." i would have to agree with them, although it made me queasy b/c said anchor probably didn't feel the same about half the blowhards on cnn.

― amateurist (amateurist), Wednesday, 27 August 2003 15:07 (twenty-two years ago)

yeah, "news personalities" is the term Fox uses for them folk, and they are to journalism what the Zsa Zsa Gabor is to acting.

― Horace Mann (Horace Mann), Wednesday, 27 August 2003 15:09 (twenty-two years ago)

FOX gets denied
A judge told FOX to shove it in response to their request for an injunction against the release of Al Franken's book, Lies and the Lying Liars Who Tell Them: A Fair and Balanced Look at the Right.
NOTE: Even if you've read the story elsewhere, you really ought to do yourself the favor of reading it on FOX News's site. Something extra satisfying about hearing them describe their own failure.

― Lord Custos Epsilon (Lord Custos Epsilon), Thursday, 28 August 2003 15:42 (twenty-two years ago)

"There are hard cases and there are easy cases," the judge
said. "This is an easy case. This case is wholly without merit,
both factually and legally."

― Horace Mann (Horace Mann), Thursday, 28 August 2003 15:44 (twenty-two years ago)

Franken called the ruling a victory for the First Amendment
and satirists everywhere — "even bad satirists."

"In addition to thanking my own lawyers," Franken said, "I'd
like to thank Fox's lawyers for filing one of the stupidest
briefs I've ever seen in my life."

― Horace Mann (Horace Mann), Thursday, 28 August 2003 15:45 (twenty-two years ago)

On Friday, the book was listed at No. 2 on Amazon.com's best-seller list, behind
"The South Beach Diet."
Fox spokesman Paul Schur said the network was considering its options.
"We don't care if it's Al Franken, Al Lewis or Weird Al Yankovic," Schur said.
"We're here to protect our trademark and our talent."

Al Lewis played Grandpa on "The Munsters.

― Horace Mann (Horace Mann), Thursday, 28 August 2003 15:46 (twenty-two years ago)

This is the best quote from the Fox News article:

Fox spokesman Paul Schur said the network was considering its options.

"We don't care if it's Al Franken, Al Lewis or Weird Al Yankovic," Schur said. "We're here to protect our trademark and our talent."

Al Lewis played Grandpa on "The Munsters."

(xpost)

― NA (Nick A.), Thursday, 28 August 2003 15:47 (twenty-two years ago)

Let's Welcome the NEW Host of the O'Reilly Factor
http://tina.pirate-king.com/images/MASH/radar.jpg
http://www.bestcareanywhere.net/radar1.jpg
http://www.seeing-stars.com/Images/People/GaryBurghoff(tiny).JPG

― Lord Custos Epsilon (Lord Custos Epsilon), Thursday, 28 August 2003 15:53 (twenty-two years ago)

Fox is afraid of this?

http://www.omroep.nl/nps/radio/supplement/01/0402/gfx/lewis.jpg

― Horace Mann (Horace Mann), Thursday, 28 August 2003 16:01 (twenty-two years ago)

i know i am!

― Emilymv (Emilymv), Thursday, 28 August 2003 16:55 (twenty-two years ago)

HM...Who (or WHAT) is that?

― Lord Custos Epsilon (Lord Custos Epsilon), Thursday, 28 August 2003 17:32 (twenty-two years ago)

note the button on his white vest-thing.

interesting way to hold on to an identity.

― Kingfish (Kingfish), Thursday, 28 August 2003 17:40 (twenty-two years ago)

that's Al Lewis, aka Grandpa Munster (see the pin?)
x-[pst

― Horace Mann (Horace Mann), Thursday, 28 August 2003 17:40 (twenty-two years ago)

notice the white vest thing-interesting way to accent a hawaiian shirt.

― Emilymv (Emilymv), Thursday, 28 August 2003 17:50 (twenty-two years ago)

Note the toothlessness thing-interesting way to not be able to eat cashews.

― nickalicious (nickalicious), Thursday, 28 August 2003 17:51 (twenty-two years ago)

Good GOD! He's so...flushed! He looks like a monster that drinks blood or something!
(I saw the button on his shirt, but I thought that was LBJ.)

― Lord Custos Epsilon (Lord Custos Epsilon), Thursday, 28 August 2003 17:59 (twenty-two years ago)

so, how come he was Herman's father, when Herman is pieced together atrocity, and dang, what's the wife's name??? she was a vampire like Grandpa? So it would make more sense if he was Herman's father-in-law, no?
(note, I'm talking about Bill O'Reilly here)

― Horace Mann (Horace Mann), Thursday, 28 August 2003 18:01 (twenty-two years ago)

i heard someone was actually going to start a leftie cable channel to go up against Fox. i think they said it should be up and going in a year or less.

are you talking about Gore's media effort? I'm not sure his intentions were that specific, perhaps because he was skeptical about the money and talent. He does have a relative in the industry, of course (at Fox, no less).

If such a thing got off the ground, the talent, in addition to maybe Carville and even more maybe Franken, should include Wesley Clark if he doesn't run for Prez which it appears he'll do unless Dean really consolidates in the next 3 or 4 weeks and of course (he was right under our noses the whole time, wtf) this guy.

― gabbneb (gabbneb), Thursday, 28 August 2003 18:06 (twenty-two years ago)

oh, god i wish it were lbj! that's almost a trucker hat he's wearing.

No, because that would mean that someone purposely created and pieced together a creature as horrible as o'reilly. i would like to believe it was a terrible accident. or maybe a chemical spill.

― Emilymv (Emilymv), Thursday, 28 August 2003 18:06 (twenty-two years ago)

oh, god i wish it were lbj!
No, I mean the pin he's wearing. It's at a bad angle, but to me it looked like a vote for LBJ pin from the 60s.

― Lord Custos Epsilon (Lord Custos Epsilon), Thursday, 28 August 2003 18:09 (twenty-two years ago)

Horace, he WAS Herman's father-in-law.

― Dan Perry (Dan Perry), Thursday, 28 August 2003 18:42 (twenty-two years ago)

no, i knew you meant the pin. actually, my dad just gave me a great vintage pin about lbj. it's fitting for today in my opinion. it says simply, "where is lee harvey oswald now that we really need him."

― Emilymv (Emilymv), Thursday, 28 August 2003 19:04 (twenty-two years ago)

then why was he Grandpa Munster?

― Horace Mann (Horace Mann), Thursday, 28 August 2003 19:16 (twenty-two years ago)

Monster incest obviously.

― Leee (Leee), Thursday, 28 August 2003 19:20 (twenty-two years ago)

Muncest.

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Thursday, 28 August 2003 19:43 (twenty-two years ago)

Who called him Grandpa Munster? Did anyone on the show ever call him that?

― Dan Perry (Dan Perry), Thursday, 28 August 2003 19:46 (twenty-two years ago)

I called him Grandpa Munster. And so does IMDB.

Al Lewis (III)

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Date of birth (location)
30 April 1910
New York, New York, USA
Mini biography
In the late 1920s, Lewis worked as a circus performer, but ultimately decided...
(show more)

Sometimes Credited As:
Al 'Grandpa' Lewis
Albert Lewis

Filmography as: Actor, Himself, Notable TV Guest Appearances

Actor - filmography
(2000s) (1990s) (1980s) (1970s) (1960s)

1.Night Terror (2002) .... Father Hanlon

2.Garden, The (1997)
3.Fast Money (1995) .... Poon
4.Here Come the Munsters (1995) (TV) .... Cameo appearance
5.South Beach Academy (1994) .... Uncle Gene
6.Car 54, Where Are You? (1994) .... Leo Schnauzer
7.My Grandfather Is a Vampire (1991) .... Vernon Cooger
... aka Grampire (1991)
... aka Moonrise (1991)
... aka My Grandpa Is a Vampire (1991)

8.Fright House (1988) (V) .... Captain Levi
9.Save the Dog! (1988) (TV)
10.Bum Rap (1988) .... Mr. Wolfstadt
11.Married to the Mob (1988) .... Uncle Joe Russo
12.Comic Cabby (1987)
13.Experience Preferred... But Not Essential (1982) .... Hywel
... aka First Love (1982/I)
14.Munsters' Revenge, The (1981) (TV) .... Grandpa Munster
15.Used Cars (1980) .... Judge H. H. Harrison

16.Ring of Passion (1978) (TV) .... Mike Jacobs
... aka Countdown to the Big One (1978) (TV)
17.Black Starlet (1974) .... Sam Sharp
... aka Black Gauntlet (1974)
18.Mini-Munsters, The (1973) (TV) (voice) .... Grandpa Munster
19.Night Strangler, The (1973) (TV) .... Tramp
20."ABC Saturday Superstar Movie, The" (1972) TV Series
... aka "New Saturday Superstar Movie, The" (1972) (USA: second season title)
21.They Might Be Giants (1971) .... Messenger
22.Boatniks, The (1970) .... Bert

23.Topaz (1969) (uncredited) .... Old man with bags at St. Regis
24.They Shoot Horses, Don't They? (1969) .... Turkey
25.Munster, Go Home (1966) .... Grandpa Munster
26."Munsters, The" (1964) TV Series .... Grandpa Munster
27.World of Henry Orient, The (1964) .... Store Owner
28."Car 54, Where Are You?" (1961) TV Series .... Officer Leo Schnauser
29.Pretty Boy Floyd (1960) .... Machine Gun Manny

Filmography as: Actor, Himself, Notable TV Guest Appearances

Himself - filmography
(2000s) (1990s)

1.A&E Biography: The Munsters (2003) (TV) .... Himself
2.Porn Star: The Legend of Ron Jeremy (2001) (as Al 'Grandpa' Lewis) .... Himself
... aka Legend of Ron Jeremy, The (2001) (Canada: DVD title English title)
3.Al Lewis: Forever Grandpa (2000) (V) .... Himself
4.Buttman at Nudes a Poppin' 7 (2000) (V) .... Himself

5.Sidoglio Smithee (1998) .... Himself
6."Baseball" (1994) (mini) TV Series (voice) .... Himself
7.Al Lewis in the Flesh (1993) .... Himself
8.Coney Island (1991) (TV) .... Himself

9.Grampa's Sci-Fi Hits (????) (V) .... Grampa

― Horace Mann (Horace Mann), Friday, 29 August 2003 14:59 (twenty-two years ago)

uh, is anyone else DEEPLY disturbed that Al Lewis is in Buttman at Nudes a Poppin 7 and whatever Al Lewis in the Flesh might be?

― Horace Mann (Horace Mann), Friday, 29 August 2003 15:10 (twenty-two years ago)

Al Lewis is good friends with the guy who does SCREW magazine, i've heard.

― Kingfish (Kingfish), Friday, 29 August 2003 15:34 (twenty-two years ago)