Notepad

"We've never had someone who was a professional or who made their living as a comic," Koed said. In typical fashion, Koed was prepared for the question before it was asked, as the office had researched the topic several months ago.

David T. Canon, a University of Wisconsin political science professor who wrote the book Actors, Athletes, and Astronauts:Political Amateurs in the United States Congress, said he is not aware of any comedians-turned congressman in either chamber.

The closest to a pro comic in the House in recent memory is Sonny Bono, whose bits with Cher on their variety show drew plenty of laughs.

But most would define Sonny and Cher as singers, not comics.

There are a handful of state-level politicians, inlcuding Democrats Tom Ammiano of California and Jason Lorber of Vermont, who are veteran comics. Ammiano is known as "the Mother of Gay Comedy.".

"In politics there is no flop sweat and the only punchline is delivered by the voters," Ammiano said when asked what he would tell Franken about his new profession.

Franken's challenge, according to Canon, will be to borrow a page from former Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton, D-N.Y., who observed the folkways of the Senate by not calling attention to herself early on as she learned the ropes.

"The Senate really does have its own norms and customs, and one thing that he'll need to do to fit in is kind of do what Hillary Clinton did," Canon said. "Bide his time for a while, get the feel for the institutions before really trying to assert his personaility. If he does that, he could be a quite successful senator."

Will Rogers Jr., son of the famous comedian who often found use for Congress in his act, served in the House for less than one term. He was elected to represent a California District in 1942 but left in 1944 to join the Army, where he was a lieutenant in a tank destroyer battalion.

The Senate has had its share of dabblers in entertainment, like Sen. Orrin Hatch, R-Utah, who is a songwriter.

The House has had singers (Sonny) Bono and New York Democratic Rep. John Hall, of the rock band Orleans, as well as actors Fred Grandy ("Gopher" on Love Boat) and Ben Jones ("Cooter" on The Dukes of Hazzard).

Former Sen. Fred Thompson, a well known character actor from Tennessee, ran for the 2008 Republican presidential nomination.

One of the earlier congressional stars, Helen Gahagan Douglas, was a famous stage actress and chanteuse before winning election to the House. Her political career was famously ended during a 1950 Senate race against Richard Nixon, who smeared her by suggesting in strong terms she was aligned with communists.

That's the same tack Franken's Saturday Night LIve castmate Victoria Jackson took in going after Barack Obama.

While politicians and comedians are both renowned for name-calling, the Senate floor should prove a more civilized arena.

UPDATE: Jason Lorber of the Vermont House got back to Notepad by e-mail. Here are his observations on being a comedian in a legislative body:

When I was first elected, the media talked about how I was the first comedian elected to the Vermont Legislature. But on the first day on the job, I was quickly instructed by one veteran member that I was merely the first professional comedian. Another also clued me in on how things work when he said, "Just to be clear, I'm the funniest one here." He was dead serious.

My advice to comedian Franken is to remember that while he may be the funniest one at the club (and he is, I love Al Franken), he'll never be as funny as the chair of his committee. Especially if he wants to get the last laugh.

I've also had colleagues complain to me when I've spoken on the floor or in committee, "Jason, I heard what you had to say, and I was very disappointed. You weren't funny."