Why does Franken need Katherine Lanpher? She adds nothing

[ohiosmith]

to the show, her voice and laugh are annoying, and her comments/questions sound like they are being read. Her only functions appear to be to introduce guests and act as a time cop.

[Inland]

1. No,

she and Al have good chemistry, and she is able to do what Franken can't, namely, run a radio show.

[Droopy]

2. To me it sounds as if she is handling all the technicle stuff

Maybe Franken doesn't know a lot about how radio works and he needs somebody there to handle the technicle stuff.

[DCdem87]

3. Well,

you see, I have been a big listener from the very beginning as well as a big fan of the Al Franken Show and I have witnessed that Katherine actually does offer a lot to the show. Franken is great and funny and all, but Katherine makes sure discussion takes place on the issues as well as offers her perspective on them. Franken is a very smart guy, but I think what they had in mind when they put her on the show was that you could have the best of both personality worlds: someone who is funny as well as informative, and someone who appreciates the humor as well as facilitates great intellectual discussion. All you have to do is listen to the show....Franken may be a more talkative person, but I am never left with the impression that Katherine didn't speak up enough for her understanding of the issues and her commentary.

[Benhurst]

6. I agree. She keeps Al on track -- something anyone with a

highly-developed sense of humor needs from time to time. I think they make a good team.

[rocktivity]

4. They could have hired an intern to do what she does

Her main job duty seems to be playing Robin Quivers to Franken's Howard Stern--making sure his "passions" don't get too "out of control." Since she was once a radio personality in her own right, it does come across as a bit of a demotion. For instance, why couldn't she host a daily segment of her own?

:headbang:
rocknation

[Bombtrack]

8. Well she isn't quite the "Robin".I mean, Al has news show with some comedy

Howard has a comedy show with some news. Which Robin's in charge of. I totally agree that Katherine brings the show down in that she's used way too much. I'm not saying they need to fire her, but they should change the function of the show to where she's used to a lesser point, at least as LOW as Robin is. She's practically talking as much as Al is.

[OnionPatch]

5. Franken doesn't need

someone that will upstage him. She does what she's supposed to do and she does it well. She's grown on me. She can throw out a good one-liner now and then. I like her.

[Union Thug]

7. I agree. However, I did like Juline Jordan on the Peter Werbe Show

... back in IE days. So, while Peter was certainly the heart of the show, Juline's energetic presence contrasted Peter's more stoic/zen presence. I really liked the chemistry. To me, Katherine is exactly how you describe her.. TIME COP. I really hate that.

[Selwynn]

9. I like her.

[hlthe2b]

10. I think Al is a great "ideas" person, but routine tasks & technical

aspects are not his forte'. Katherine is really producing the show, since she keeps him on track, keeps the show on schedule and streamlines the formal aspects of the show (introducing the guests, ensuring that Al doesn't launch into a discussion of an issue with no context for the listening and sometimes unaware audience).

Having said that, (and also having had the opportunity to hear KL do a few hosting shows of her own), I think she has talent that is being ignored on this show. Al is the celebrity and the "name," but KL is no slouch. She is a good interviewer in the Terri Gross style and tradition (NPR's Fresh Air).

I think there would be a big problem without her, after listening for sometime and wish that Franken would share the interviewing duties a bit more with her. I sense that she will eventually become frustrated at being the show's (and Al's) "nanny," and will move on to other opportunities if Franken fails to do so.