Al Franken

With one of the oddest career arcs in comedy history, Al Franken rose from minor standup and SNL writer/bit player in the 1970s to Minnesota's Junior Senator by the end of the '00s. In between, the nebbish-y comedian created some classic characters, most notably the world's most neurotic self-help guru Stuart Smalley, while carving a niche as the Democratic Party's most humorous ally. Best-selling books like RUSH LIMBAUGH IS A BIG FAT IDIOT gave as good as they got from the acerbic folks at right- wing radio and earned him a spot as one of Air America's original radio hosts.