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I am Sona Movsesian, Conan O'Brien's assistant. AMA
EDIT: 11:18 Pacific Hey everybody- This was fun but I've got to get back to work. You're all really nice and I hope to meet each and every one of you one day so I can give you all a hug. Have a great day!
Hey Reddit, I'm Conan's Assistant Sona. Ask me anything!
Proof: https://twitter.com/sonamov/status/355370166625906688
About me: When Conan found my stolen "Gigolos" mug
Team_Coco1615 karma
he doesn't really ask for crazy things, but one time when i hadn't been working for him long and it was right after michael jackson died, he called and said he wanted a private viewing of michael jackson's body. i wasn't sure if he was serious, so i wrote it down and started thinking about how i would do it. then he called back and said that he also was interested in adopting blanket and that's when i knew he was joking. he laughed at me for a long time then took my notebook where i had written down "private viewing of michael jackson's body" and showed everyone and everyone laughed at me too. -sona
Throrm341 karma
When you asked for someone to marry on twitter, I replied but never got a reply back.
Did you ever find someone in the end?
LovesHandles271 karma
Is Jordan Schlansky really like the way he is portrayed on the show?
ManiacKK34236 karma
Has Conan ever embarrassed you before besides the time he went looking for your "Gigolos" mug?
Team_Coco806 karma
yes, he told rolling stone magazine that i was born in another country and that my father was in the middle of a goat attack when he fashioned a basket made of twigs and placed me in there. he then said i floated to this country and learned how to speak english by watching reruns of "dynasty", or something like that. he LOVES to embarrass me, and then he likes to high-five me after. -sona
imlman74221 karma
Being an assistant to a high-profile celebrity seems like a highly coveted job. What's the story about how you landed the gig?
Team_Coco450 karma
i applied for a PA job and Sarah Federowicz, our line producer, called me and said i was going to interview to be his assistant. two interviews later, i got the job. it was very quick. i knew Marc Liepis, who was the publicist on Late Night and he told Conan i was cool. also, i'm devilishly charming and KILL in interviews :) -sona
dianalourdes206 karma
I remember a couple of times when Conan suggested to find you a date/couple. Are these just comedy, or has he really tried to hook you up?
Team_Coco753 karma
i come in between 9 and 9:30 and update info on Conan's show board for the day. when he gets in, i try to tell him what's happening in the day and he makes fun of me for about 20 minutes. he goes into a few meetings, goes down to rehearsal, i stay upstairs and answer emails (or watch tv) and then go down and watch the show. i wish i had something more interesting to tell you. it's super chill around here and i'm not very efficient. -sona
Islebar182 karma
Hey Sona! I was wondering; what's the worst thing Conan has ever done? And by worst, I mean the thing that drove you the most crazy, not worst as in horrific.
Team_Coco633 karma
he tells strangers all the time that i'm not from this country and that he hired me out of charity. -sona
Team_Coco408 karma
yes, he's super nice to everyone, except Aaron Bleyaert and Matt O'Brien, who he punches constantly. -sona
Team_Coco689 karma
not sure if that's a common thing, but i find conan sexually repulsive, so it's not something that happens here. also, this isn't the 60s. -sona
OrdinaryBird159 karma
Being a personal assistant to a celebrity seems like a glamourous job... what's the worst thing Conan has ever asked you to do.
Team_Coco535 karma
answer his calls, get him lunch, get him coffee, keep track of schedule. basically my job. -sona
YanniOnTheSpot143 karma
Norm MacDonald is the greatest talk show guest of all time. Is there any way you could influence the powers that be to get him on the show sometime soon?
Who are your favorite guests that have been on the show?
Norm's last appearance on Conan: http://teamcoco.com/content/norm-macdonald-wont-stop-talking-about-andy
Team_Coco150 karma
i'm sure he'll be on the show again sometime soon. everyone loves him. -sona
Icorona23143 karma
I've been waiting for this AMA forever!
I wonder how long you've been working with Conan, and how you managed to get that job. Was it more of you always trying to be a personal assistant or was it just trying to work with him?
What was it like being his assistant when the whole Tonight Show ordeal happened?
Also, how long did it take for you to get used to his jibes?
Edit:spelling
Team_Coco562 karma
i've been working for conan for over 4 years. i applied and interviewed - it was a very normal process. i never planned on being a personal assistant...it just happened and i'm happy it did. being his assistant during the Tonight Show ordeal was one of the most educational and exciting experiences i've ever had. i had to drive him to work because the paparazzi was all over the place. it was pretty intense. i think we were trying to be mature with each other for the first few months, and then he said it sounded like i was arguing with dracula when i was talking to my grandma one day and everything went to shit. since then, he's been like the second older brother i never wanted and never asked for. -sona
dianalourdes137 karma
How many traffic tickets have you successfully fought? What's your strategy?
Team_Coco332 karma
i've beaten three, including a red light camera ticket. i fight with words and i instill fear in people. -sona
BradGebben127 karma
can you ask Conan if he will be my best friend? I will supply cookies for a yes answer
seanye_west_124 karma
Hey Sona!!
I dont know if you remember me, but i used to be an intern. My name is Sean, I interned in the spring last year, I'm asian, and got to drive Conan's car to get gas one time.
I was wondering if the Wall-E replica is still near your desk, and who is your favorite co-worker other than Kramer.
PS. Are there any job openings?
Team_Coco199 karma
i remember you! thanks for getting gas for him that one time. i hope it was as exciting for you to get him gas as it was for me to ask you to get it. Wall-E is still on my desk and i talk to him from time to time. -sona p.s. no job openings as far as i know.
dayveetoe112 karma
Is Jordan Schlansky really that weird or is it all a persona for TV? Also Conan finding your cup was one of the most hilarious things I've ever seen.
BenHereDoneThis104 karma
Being Conan's assisstant, I assume you have had the chance to meet a lot of celebrities. Who is the celebrity that you enjoyed meeting the most and why? Who was the celebrity that was the most different from what you expected?
Team_Coco227 karma
i'm a huge lakers fan so it was exciting meeting any laker, past or present. i love workaholics, it's always sunny in philadelphia, veep, sons of anarchy, breaking bad - so anyone from those shows. also, slash. he was my first crush and i still have a deep love for him. i stalk him when he's on, but not in a creepy way. ok, maybe in a creepy way. -sona
Phalanx210596 karma
Hey Sona, what would you say is the most interesting fact you've learned about Conan that few people know (But he's ok with people knowing) ?
Team_Coco267 karma
i think everyone knows this, but he's a huge history buff and knows more about presidential history than anyone i know (which really isn't saying much). also, he likes to have long conversations with himself in the mirror when there's downtime. sometimes i hear him crying. -sona p.s. i was kidding about one of those things.
Team_Coco160 karma
i bought it at the food festival in Montebello from their booth. All my Armenian relatives are salivating at the thought of feeding conan. -sona
rubysun75 karma
Hi Sona. Even though you've been with Conan for a while, do you still get nervous around him? 2nd question - do you ever feel like you have funny ideas that would make good sketch ideas? if so, have you ever suggested any of them?
Team_Coco137 karma
no, i don't get nervous around him anymore. i don't really have any sketch ideas, but he likes my input sometimes, which is nice. -sona
TCraft59 karma
I have two....
Did you get to go on set for Arrested Developement?
And what bands/artists does he usually listen to?
verbalham56 karma
I love the Clueless Gamer videos. Does Conan get any game time in at the office?
Team_Coco103 karma
he can't play video games, but i play wii a lot when his son is visiting the office. -sona
rootaford56 karma
how long does it take to wrangle all your hair up in a pony tail?
how sick of gigolos mugs are you at this point?
who gets you all hot and bothered the most...freddie mercury or slash?
would you rather fight 50 duck sized Conan's or 1 Conan sized duck?
Team_Coco81 karma
haha. harout, you dork :) it takes 23 minutes to put all my hair up. i will never get sick of gigolos mugs. i'd rather fight conan. -sona
Minnesota_Slim56 karma
On a normal day, what exactly do you 'assist' Conan with?
From the Gigolos skit, do people honestly drink that much on the job, and where can I sign up to participate in this?
Team_Coco128 karma
i'm afraid we do drink a lot. there's no sign up sheet. this lifestyle finds you. -sona
Team_Coco115 karma
they're both cool, smart, family men and they get along. andy's one of my favorite people. -sona
barttaylor54 karma
Do you still keep your Gigolo's mug in the kitchen or do you have it locked up now? I mean seriously, Conan put in some work to track that down.
Team_Coco170 karma
i still keep it in the kitchen, but people know to stay away from it. also, showtime recently sent us 13 more :) -sona
ConsolableMoonpie54 karma
Your job seems really, really awesome, but do you see yourself eventually moving on to do something else?
Team_Coco127 karma
i always just wanted to work on a show and i love this one and everyone is pretty awesome, so i don't see myself going anywhere anytime soon. -sona
Minnesota_Slim51 karma
Have you ever thought about dying your hair and styling it like Conan's?
Team_Coco128 karma
no, but if we're on hiatus and he hasn't done a show in a while, he just does it for no reason. -sona
pewtey44 karma
In reference to Conan being a terrible wingman, it's no surprise that the Conan we see on television would be an awful wingman, and I'm sure that his television personality is not too different from his actual personality. But at the same time I know he cares a lot about his staff and the people close to him, which would lead me to think he could be the GREATEST wingman if he wanted to. Does he have a hard time turning off the comedy? What's he like when he's not putting on a performance?
Team_Coco108 karma
he's just funny all the time. he can be serious, but he loves making people laugh. and no, he's a terrible wingman. -sona
Team_Coco86 karma
they are the absolute best. my parents are awesome, i have an older brother who is married and has a daughter and i have a million cousins and aunts and uncles and they all live in LA. my family rules. -sona
Renegade_Meister40 karma
Since you have made appearances on some Conan episodes and his documentary movie, how often do people come up to you and say that they recognize you from the show or movie?
Team_Coco87 karma
i got my start as an nbc page and i know a lot of really cool people who work there, so i have a special place in my heart for it. no ill feelings -sona
BrightenthatIdea38 karma
If Conan fired you today for being on Reddit, who would be the next celeb you'd like to work for??
Team_Coco135 karma
not sure i'd want to be a personal assistant after this. i'll probably just move back in with my parents and eat a lot. -sona
clawhatesyou36 karma
Who's your favorite recurring (or one time) bit character on the show?
Team_Coco71 karma
i loved cody, conan's vampire assistant. of course, also triumph. and a lot of others. -sona
t1h2r3o4w5a6w7a8y9035 karma
Hey I am really interested in working with comedians behind the scenes, can you tell us kinda what you were doing before you got this job, or any internships you had. Thanks so much!!
Team_Coco71 karma
i had internships all 4 years in college (some in television, some in film) and i got a job out of college as an nbc page through one of my internships at nbc. then i worked in the publicity department for a while then in events and then i got this gig. -sona
katarokkar35 karma
Since you're awesome at getting interviewed, can you provide some interviewing tips?
Team_Coco88 karma
i was at the taping conan did with chelsea handler but i was paying more attention to chelsea, so i don't know. -sona
internetguilt31 karma
Sona! I just wanted to say that I love it when you make appearances on the show. You're hilarious and it seems like you and Conan have the best comedic chemistry.
My question is unrelated to the show, but when will you be on RJ and Bley's podcast again?
ilovepemmican30 karma
Can you share a favorite memory from the Legally Prohibited tour that didn't make it into the film?
Team_Coco86 karma
everything that happened in vegas. i think i should just leave it at that. -sona
eddiefiguer30 karma
I think you guys should do more skits like the Gigolos mug one. It was amazing and one of my favorite things on the show when they are on.
2 questions:
Does Conan act/treat the staff the same way as when he is doing the skits?
What's the easiest way to meet Conan? I have gone to the show a few times and was able to give Conan and Andy (November 14, 2011, the guy that had a sign that said "I've waited a decade for this", guests were LL Cool J, Greyson MacLean, and Christian Finnegan) a hug but it'd be awesome to get a autograph from him.
Team_Coco91 karma
if you ever see him out, you should just go up to him and talk to him. he's really nice and loves all his fans. i can give you his address. -sona
rubysun26 karma
Who is your favorite person at CONAN? (you are forbidden to answer Conan or Andy) :)
Team_Coco77 karma
erica brown, the assistant to the producer and line producer. lindsay varquez, jeff ross's assistant. meghan sinclair, the photographer for the show. bill tull, props pimp. and basically everyone else...except for conan. -sona
Team_Coco110 karma
not sure, but if i'm 50 and still doing this, please find me and punch me in the face. -sona
Team_Coco48 karma
sona is my grandmother's name (paternal). i also have awesome parents. -sona
r_phil24 karma
When are you going to be back on "RJ and Bley Suck At Girls"? You are the best guest!!!
Dirtyinthesandbox18 karma
What kind os sense of humor does Conan have? Is it fitting of the show or is it darker??? Also, I would love to come to a taping, not asking just puttin it out there.
Team_Coco53 karma
it's fitting of the show but probably edgier outside of the show. come to a taping! -sona
AGoodMan324376 karma
What's the craziest thing Conan's asked you to do? Do you ever say no??
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