Al Franken returns to the stage to mock Ted Cruz and turn Paul Ryan into 'an 18th century fop'

Sen. Al Franken (D-MN) made a brief return to the stage earlier this month and took the opportunity to poke fun at both House Speaker Paul Ryan (R-WI) and Senate colleague Ted Cruz (R-TX).

Cruz's presidential candidacy, he said, posed a problem for the GOP.

"Republicans are in kind of a bind since their best hope for stopping Donald Trump is a guy who’s the lovechild of Joe McCarthy and Dracula," Franken said.

The Texas senator, Franken continued, was planning to launch a "charm offensive."

"He's having a little trouble with the 'charm' part," Franken said, adding, "But he's got the offensive part down cold."

Turning to Ryan, Franken -- hankerchief in hand -- offered up his own take on the congressman's insistence that he would not mount his own presidential run, done in the style of "an 18th century fop."

"No no, I shan't run," Franken-as-Ryan said. "No no, ask all you like -- I shan't run. What's that you say? Trump loses by 20 points to Hillary?"

The former Saturday Night Live stalwart's routine was part of MinnRoast, an annual variety show held by the Minnesota Post and featuring journalists and legislators from the Minneapolis area.

Watch footage from Franken's set, as posted by Crooks and Liars, below.