Conan O’Brien: “Hasselhoff is Big in Germany, But I’m the King of Finland”
Travel Blog • Michael Yessis • 03.11.06 | 9:25 PM ET
Five days in Finland turned out to be fruitful for Conan O’Brien—and Finland. I just watched last night’s “very special episode” of Late Night with Conan O’Brien, which was devoted exclusively to his brief journey through the country. It turned out to be a sweet love letter and, as expected, one of the more hilarious television travelogues I’ve seen. O’Brien, whose show is extremely popular in Finland, received a Beatlesque-greeting at the airport in Helsinki, inquired about Finnish stereotypes, scared some Chinese tourists, took a pack of sled dogs for a spin in Lapland and visited some of his fans in their homes, even going so far as attempting to repair an on-the-rocks friendship.
In the big finish O’Brien met his doppelganger, Finland’s president Tarja Halonen. He presented Halonen with what appeared to be a box of Valentine’s candy and they talked about their physical resemblance. Then came this exchange:
O’Brien: “I’m glad that your country and my little TV show have come together. It’s a nice thing.”
Halonen: “You have made also a great favor for us because I think that at least now quite many more Americans know where Finland is. So we are half joking, but I really thank you very cordially.”
O’Brien: “I always thought if our show can’t be that amusing, at least we can teach people geography.”
Funny, probably because it’s true. Sadly.
I’ll spare you more details. If you missed the show, it’ll be available for download on iTunes Tuesday, March 14.
Previously on World Hum:
* Conan O’Brien: “Once I Conquer Finland, I’ll Head South Through the Baltics and On To Belarus”
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Michael Yessis is the cofounder and coeditor-in-chief of World Hum.
