The Insider: Contributed by LaFonda

"Steel City" Premiere in Las Vegas

LaFonda — Fri, 25 May 2007 15:37:21 GMT

The movie "Steel City" premiered in Las Vegas this week. The cast includes James Van Der Beek, America Ferrera, Heather McComb and others. The story is set in the mid-west, where two brothers are coming to terms with the recent incarceration of their father. It's, basically, another dysfunction-family story.

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Backstreets Back, Oh No!

LaFonda — Fri, 25 May 2007 14:53:36 GMT

Ha Ha. Backstreet Boys will have the last laugh. We all secretly love them, but won't admit it.

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Paris Goes Back Into Hyding

LaFonda — Fri, 25 May 2007 14:40:27 GMT

Every religion has a day of sabbath.

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A Typical Conan Taping

LaFonda — Fri, 04 May 2007 15:46:09 GMT

I don't know about the rest of the world but I have ALWAYS wondered what happens on the set of a TV show! Luckily, I was recently able to experience the thrill of being at a taping of the Late Night Show with Conan O’Brien in San Francisco! So I have decided to do my part and donate my knowledge to all you needy fans who might never get a chance to see that day. The directions on my invitation told me that ticket distribution would start around 12:00pm and the actual seating at 3:30pm. Thus, I arrived at the Orpheum Theater around 12:30pm, confident that I was probably one of the earliest fans to show up. Little did I know, all of Bay Area turned out for the show and the line for tickets ended somewhere three and a half blocks away. At this point a little voice in my head started saying, “You ain’t gonna see the show, ho!” But I was persistent, and as this was a once-in-a-life-time opportunity, I made my way to the end of the line and kept my fingers crossed. Luckily, about an hour later the “ticketeers” brought us our beautiful, blue stubs. And although I wanted to fall to my knees and cry tears of glory, instead I read the fine print on the ticket and learned that all tickets were sold in excess…The little voice returned. Now came the hard part: waiting in line for three hours, hearing rumors that the last 1/3 portion of the line (which I was in) would not get to see the show, and surviving the deadly swoops of San Francisco pigeons. Finally, at 3:45pm, the line began to move; bag checks and security scans were made, and the voice in my head disappeared. As I breathed in the Orpheum Theater air, I could almost smell Conan O’Brien in the vicinity. Once I was seated, Max Weinberg and his band were introduced, and began playing amidst the roaring audience. It was a surreal experience. The curtains lifted and revealed a replica of the Golden Gate Bridge on stage. The announcer at the beginning of the show came out and did his game-show-host-voice bit and introduced our redheaded idol. Conan O’Brien emerged from behind the curtains and the entire theater erupted! He did his string dance routine, and then struggled to quiet the audience down. Once we all settled down the show went on as usual. It was interesting to see that in between breaks the stage crew comes out and moves around pieces of the stage, sets up Conan’s chatting area, and brings out equipment for the musical performance. During breaks, Conan walks around the stage talking to the crew, watching the audience, singling audience members out and waving at them. He seems relaxed and genuinely enjoying the excited chatter of the theater. As the show wraps up, Conan comes to edge of the stage shakes hands, and signs autographs. He is DEFINITELY as charismatic as he seems on TV. I would say this was a worthwhile experience, something I would tell my grandchildren about. And given the opportunity I would do it all over again. Next time, I’d be the first one out there! **To catch Conan's last show in SF, tune in Friday night on NBC!**

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The Namesake - Life as an Immigrant

LaFonda — Fri, 27 Apr 2007 03:54:54 GMT

America has long been a symbol of two very important concepts: the Melting Pot and the American Dream. The melting pot is a place where people of all diverse and vibrant cultures come together. The sought-after American Dream is what brings those people to the United States. In Jumpa Lahiri's "The Namesake" a young Bengali couple comes to New York seeking a better life. Ashok and Ashima Ganguli are modest, and simple-minded immigrants who begin a journey that millions of immigrants experience. With excitement and apprehension they start their life in an alien country. They encounter new people and a new language; they experience many 'firsts' and they observe all the nuances of living amongst different people. But despite adopting a new life, Ashok and Ashima cling desperately to their own traditions. The Ganguli children (Gogol, played by Kal Penn, and Sonia) are born into this very struggle between the culture at home, and the world outside. And while Ashok and Ashima stand their ground, their children take the path of assimilation and run ahead. Cleverly written and masterfully directed, "The Namesake" allows viewers to step into the shoes of all those who have ever left behind the comfort and familiarity of home. It illustrates that two different cultures can have many similarities but, essentially, the values of each are not the same. Eventually, Gogol and Sonia stand looking towards acculturation and acceptance, while their parents, with their backs to their children, look towards the memories and traditions of home. Neither can see nor take the other's path.

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The O'Brien Factor

LaFonda — Tue, 24 Apr 2007 12:11:55 GMT

We all know and love Conan "the-late-night-king" O'Brien. With the self proclaimed "Jimmy-Neutron" hair, and "peculiarly-geeky" sense of humor, Conan O'Brien draws in his audience with certain catch-phrases, kooky charm, and self-bashing ways. Although he is every bit the nerd he comes across as, Conan is also very comfortable with his Emmy-winning, funnyman persona. Conan, who has written for the Harvard Lampoon as well as SNL, seems to have a knack for making bizarre jokes and unusual expressions. But we love the redhead anyway! So what IS it about Conan O'Brien that forces fans to sit through an hour of Jay Leno only to watch an awkwardly tall, almost-albino man talking about a "horny manatee"? Conanisms: The trademark red hair The string dance (when he pulls fake strings attached to his hips) When he says "keep cool my babies" in a high-pitched voice The awkward moments between him and drummer Max Weinberg Randomly knocking the microphone over Trying to jump ten feet, with his knees tucked in at the beginning of each show His self-proclaimed, WHITE skin His blank-faced expression at the end of a comment When he ends his Schwarzznegger impression by taking a bite of sausage The Pale Force When he travels to the future...to the year 2000 The Walker Texas Ranger lever and his amusement at the clips Got a Conanism?

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