ATHENS, Ohio -- Actor, writer, comedian and political satirist Al Franken will speak at Ohio University during Dads Weekend on Saturday, Jan. 17. The program, presented by the University Program Council (UPC) and College Democrats, will begin at 8 p.m. in the Templeton-Blackburn Alumni Memorial Auditorium.

An Emmy Award-winning television writer and producer, New York Times bestselling author and Grammy-winning comedian, Franken is on tour publicizing his recently-published book, "Lies and the Lying Liars Who Tell Them: A Fair and Balanced Look at the Right." The book was a New York Times No. 1 bestseller for six weeks and remains on the list.

"UPC works to bring the best available talent to campus," said UPC special events co-chair Breana Krotz. "Al appeals to a great deal of students on campus, and we are sure the dads in the audience will enjoy the performance as well."

In 1975, Franken was part of the original writing staff that created the groundbreaking late-night show "Saturday Night Live." He remained with "SNL" until 1980, returning in 1985 for another 10 years. Franken earned four Emmys for his writing on "SNL" and a fifth for producing. He was also recognized for such characters as the one-man mobile uplink unit and Stuart Smalley, the new-age cable TV host.

Franken took Smalley's concept and developed it into the 1995 movie, "Stuart Saves His Family," directed by Harold Ramis. He also co-wrote the 1994 film "When a Man Loves a Woman," starring Meg Ryan and Andy Garcia.

In 1992, Franken anchored Comedy Central's "Indecision '92," winning critical acclaim for his coverage of both conventions and election night. His performance at the 1994 and 1996 White House Correspondents Dinner demonstrated why Franken is one of the nation's most sought-after speakers.

A Minnesota native, Franken is a graduate of Harvard College. He has been married to his wife Franni for 27 years. They live in New York City and have two children: A son, Joe, 18, who attends Princeton University, and a daughter Thomasin, 22, who recently graduated from Harvard.

Tickets for the event are $6 for students and $8 for the general public, and they go on sale on Friday, Jan. 9 at the Templeton-Blackburn Alumni Memorial Auditorium box office. Box office hours are from noon-5 p.m. Monday through Friday. Tickets may also be purchased by calling the box office at (740) 593-1780.

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Media Contact: Lee Freedman, (740) 593-4171 or freedman@ohio.edu