President Halonen presents Moomin characters to talk-show host Conan O'Brien

print this

American talk-show host and comic Conan O'Brien left Helsinki's Presidential Palace on Tuesday enriched by an audience with the President of the Republic Tarja Halonen, a few Moomin character soft toys, and some delicious film material for his future TV shows.
      Once again O'Brien's film crew shot footage of the comic being astonished at his supposed resemblance to the red-headed Finnish leader. Only this time, the leader was standing right next to him.
      The President's press secretary Maria Romantschuk confirmed the resemblance theme was covered more widely during the 20-minute discussion between the two. Halonen asked O'Brien whether he bore more likeness to his father or his mother. She also inquired about O'Brien's two young children. The comic became a father for the second time last November.
      As a souvenir from his visit, O'Brien received three Moomin character soft toys - Moominmamma, Moomintroll, and Snork Maiden - to take home with him.
     
Even for a showman such as O'Brien, coming face to face with a head of state was a trying experience. Press secretary Romantschuk confirmed the TV star was seemingly nervous before the audience. In the end everything went smoothly, and O'Brien told the President of his experiences in Finland.
      Halonen, in turn, thanked him for the publicity that her country has received through O'Brien's TV programme. She also confirmed that she has seen some of the shows.
     
O'Brien returns today to the United States. His regular late-night show is currently off-air, as NBC have blanket coverage of the Olympics in Torino.
      The programme returns at the end of the month, and it is very likely that some of the material filmed in the past few days will find its way onto the screen.
      The star also received an audience with another internationally-known Finnish personality, but it is not known what he and Santa Claus had to say to each other in Lapland, or whether - under the beard - there is a resemblance between the two.


Previously in HS International Edition:
  Chat-show host sends fans into near-hysteria at Helsinki Airport (13.2.2006)

Helsingin Sanomat