Al Franken cut from Letterman tribute show

Minnesota US Senator Al Franken will not appear substantially in David Letterman’s Mark Twain Prize special airing on Monday night.

Representatives said on Sunday that PBS will air an updated version of the previously filmed event in which Franken will only be visible at the end of the show when the cast joins Letterman on stage.

PBS and WETA (a television station) said that the inclusion of Franken in the broadcast would distract from the show’s purpose as a celebration of American humour.

Leeann Tweeden accused Franken of forcibly kissing her and groping her during a 2006 USO tour. Franken has since apologised to her and said that he remembers their encounter differently.