Jan 16, 2006 03:22 PM
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Hollywood, 3:18 PM
Tue Feb 9
56 posts in the last 24 hours
Conan O'Brien isn't the first comedian to use the intangible, inherent comedic properties of Finland to his advantage, though he could well be the first to affect the country's political history by doing so. So taken is he with his passing resemblance to President Tarja Halonen (see above), he has officially begun a one-man campaign in support of her re-election, going so far as to release this official press statement: "Why do I support Tarja Halonen? Because she's got the total package: a dynamic personality, a quick mind, and most importantly — my good looks."
But with Late Night airing five nights a week on Finnish cable (yes, we were surprised too, though we suppose the concept of a masturbating bear translates fairly easily) and O'Brien's pro-Halonen exploits becoming regular Finnish tabloid fodder (again Finnish tabs? Who knew?) the President's political opponents are less than amused that all this coverage may help to throw the election her way.
"He's just making fun of the whole election," said Harri Jaskari, campaign manager for [conservative candidate Sauli] Niinisto. "If this decides the election, then we're in trouble. It gives a very poor picture of Finnish democracy."
We imagine Niinisto's camp's sour grapes pronouncements stem from the fact that their very non-descript candidate doesn't look like anyone famous, though reports have been circulating that he has been working on a dead-on Regis Philbin impression that he plans on unleashing at the next round of televised debates.
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