Lorne Michaels Donated $2300 To Al Franken's Senate Run



(image via weta)

Al Franken back in the day lobbied hard and shamelessly to replace Kevin Nealon as SNL's Weekend Update anchor, but lost out to Norm MacDonald. Wikipedia notes, "In the book Live From New York, Franken would later point to this snub as his reason for leaving SNL." Although Lorne Michaels could not hook Al Franken get the coveted Weekend Update anchor slot -- good judgement there, Lorne -- he did loyally donate $2,300 in 1Q 2007 for his former charge's Senate run in Minnesota. Lorne's manners are kind of old school like that. He is one of the few entertainment industry heavies that year after year garners respectful remarks from his ex-employees on or off-the-record.

Update: Kevin Bacon also donated $1000 to Franken's campaign in Q1 2007, as did Uberpublicist Peggy Siegal.