Al Franken was last seen in the halls of the United States Senate before his abrupt resignation in 2018 amid allegations of misconduct. The Minnesota politician and comedian faced mounting pressure after multiple women accused him of inappropriate behavior, forcing his departure from public office. Once a rising Democratic star and a vocal critic of the opposition, Franken vanished from the political stage. His exit left both supporters and critics wondering if he would ever make a public comeback in any capacity.
Now, after years away from the spotlight, Franken returns not to Congress but to the screen with Netflix’s The Residence.
Al Franken’s past meets his present in an on-screen political twist
According to PEOPLE, former politician and comedian Al Franken is returning to acting
in Netflix’s The Residence
. The 73-year-old plays Senator Aaron Filkins in the homimystery series, which follows Detective Cordelia Cupp, played by Uzo Aduba, as she investigates a White House homicide. At the show’s premiere, Franken revealed he did not audition for the role. “They asked me to do it and I went, ‘I haven’t done this in a while. I hope I can do it!'”
he said.
Not former US Senator Al Franken acting again😅
Franken plays a senator on Uzo Aduba’s new Netflix series #TheResidence, a mystery comedy that takes place in the WH
It’s a cross between Knives Out and The After Party
Season 1 has throngs of guest cameos across 8 episodes pic.twitter.com/enMbrKF5xh
— BLACK WOMEN HIBERNATION CHALLENGE (@naeeve_) March 20, 2025
AI Franken acknowledged initial uncertainty but embraced the challenge. “I wasn’t sure that I would be great in it, but I wanted to do it,”
he admitted. His political past proved useful as he guided co-stars on senatorial mannerisms. Inspired by former colleagues, he remarked, “Chuck Grassley is avuncular. Lindsey Graham can be avuncular. Lamar Alexander from Tennessee was avuncular.”
One could say he has merely traded one kind of performance for another, though the reviews may be kinder this time.
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Having spent years navigating the complexities of real-world politics, Al Franken now steps into a fictionalized version that feels eerily familiar.
How The Residence mirrors reality through Al Franken’s eyes
Al Franken has stepped back into the world of politics, this time, through the lens of scripted television. In The Residence
, he portrays Senator Aaron Filkins, a character entrenched in the murky world of Washington’s elite. Given Franken’s tenure in the Senate, the role comes naturally to him. “You are thinking of a different kind of performance art when you are in the Senate than when you are acting,”
he noted, drawing parallels between political maneuvering and theatrical performance while speaking with.
The best thing about #TheResidence is the free tour of The White House. pic.twitter.com/ef83QHIiw3
— 𝕂𝔼𝕄𝔼𝕀𝕌ℕ 🪷 ℝ𝔼𝕏 (@yourlittldogtwo) March 22, 2025
AI Franken’s firsthand experience lends authenticity to scenes depicting power struggles, backroom negotiations, and public posturing, elements he witnessed in real-life politics. His ability to capture the subtleties of senatorial conduct makes the series all the more compelling. As The Residence
came into the picture, viewers were all too eager to know everything about the series
. Much like real-world politics, the show thrives on hidden motives and carefully crafted narratives, keeping audiences searching for the full picture.
Do you think AI Franken’s political background help elevate The Residence
‘s storytelling?
