Sen. Al Franken (D-Minn.) has returned to his roots in comedy to join David Letterman in a new web series that puts the spotlight on climate change, and the various political interests stalling environmental progress in Washington.
The project is aptly titled “Boiling the Frog,” a reference to the myth of a frog in a pot of cool water on a stove, unaware that it was slowly boiling to death as the water temperature rises. The series, which debuted Monday, includes six digital installments in which the two comedy giants discuss different aspects of the climate change debate—the far-reaching influence of the Koch brothers, coral reef destruction, the melting of ice caps, and so on. Their intent is to “offset the pessimism,” as Letterman puts it, of political inaction and encourage people to take active roles in fighting global warming.
But it’s not all earnest pessimism, With their banter and trademark humor, Franken and Lettterman turn “Boiling the Frog” into a refreshing addition to the fight against climate change.
In the first episode in the series, Franken takes on climate change deniers with a story about an overweight, heavy smoker desperately seeking a doctor to sanction his unhealthy lifestyle. Watch below:
To watch the entire series, head over to Funny or Die.