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Paris By Night
Paris By Night is an on-going Vietnamese language musical variety show produced by the French company Thuy Nga. With the diaspora of Vietnamese after the Vietnam War, many Vietnamese turn to Paris By Night for Vietnamese language entertainment. Distributed by DVDs and VHSs in Little Saigon shops throughout North America, Europe, and Australia, Paris By Night features modern pop, traditional folk songs, one-act plays, and humorous banter between co-hosts Nguyen Ngoc Ngan and Nguyen Cao Ky Duyen. Nguyen Ngoc Ngan is a noted Vietnamese novelist, now based in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Ky Duyen is the daughter of Air Marshal Nguyen Cao Ky of the former South Vietnam. Paris By Night's popularity can be partly attributed to Nguyen Ngoc Ngan's humorous explanations of Vietnamese culture, which many overseas Vietnamese find difficult to pass on to their children.
The show normally consists of mostly the same staff and crew. There are different directors for each region of where the show is filmed however. Richard Valverde directs the show in Paris. And Michael Watt is the director of both USA and Canada shows. Director Kent Weed used to be the director for the USA shows. Kent Weed is the president of A. Smith & Co. Productions, famous for producing the Penn & Teller shows on local broadcast stations. A. Smith & Co. also produces other well known shows such as Skating with Celebrities, Hell's Kitchen, and The Swan. Paris by Nights 63, 64, 67, 68, and 71 falls under A. Smith & Co.'s umbrella.
Controversies
As an overseas Vietnamese production and classified as a "reactionary cultural product" by the Vietnamese government, Paris by Night cannot be legally purchased in Vietnam, although they can be easily obtained in the black market. Performers from Vietnam who perform in Paris by Night are banned from performing on their return. It is also the subject of some controversies among the overseas Vietnamese population due to what some perceive as its support of the current government of Vietnam. Paris by Night 40, with the topic of motherhood, featured a song by the composer Trinh Cong Son. The song included a reenactment of a bombing during the Vietnam War and showed a mother grieving over the death of her child. Some were offended by the song's antiwar message while others see this as an indictment against American and South Vietnamese troops even though the scene did not make it clear which side was doing the bombing. After a boycott, Thuy Nga reissued Paris by Night 40 with the bombing scenes removed. Ironically, Paris by Night 40 is the most commercially successful production. The director of the segment, Luu Huynh, later went on to direct The White Silk Dress in Vietnam, a film with similar themes.List of Paris by Nights
Trivia Facts
2002
Paris by Night 63: Dong Thoi Gian- Filmed at Knott's Berry Farm in Buena Park, CA.
- Was an A. Smith & Co. Production program, directed by Kent Weed.
Paris by Night 64: Dem Van Nghe Thinh Phong (VHS in 2002; DVD in 2006)
- Features three famous Vietnamese composers: Tu Cong Phung, Tuan Khanh, and Vu Thanh An.
- Filmed at Knott's Berry Farm in Buena Park, CA.
- Was an A. Smith & Co. Production program, directed by Kent Weed.
Paris by Night 65: Yeu (VHS in 2002; DVD version was released in 2004)
- Is one of the recurring "duets" special.
Paris by Night 66: Nguoi Tinh va Que Huong (VHS in 2002; DVD in 2003)
- Features three famous Vietnamese composers: Tran Trinh, Nhat Ngan, and Ngo Thuy Mien.
Paris by Night 67: In San Jose (DVD and VHS)
- Is the first Paris by Night program to be introduced onto DVD format.
- Was nominated for an American Choreography Award for choreographer Shanda Sawyer's work in this program.
- Was filmed at the Center for the Performing Arts in San Jose, CA.
- Was an A. Smith & Co. Production program, directed by Kent Weed.
2003
Paris by Night 68: Nua Vang Trang (DVD and VHS)- Was filmed at Knott's Berry Farm.
- Was an A. Smith & Co. Production program, directed by Kent Weed.
Paris by Night 69: No Tinh (DVD and VHS)
- Is one of the recurring "duets" special.
Paris by Night 70: Thu Ca (DVD and VHS)
- Features three famous Vietnamese composers: Pham Manh Cuong, Le Dinh, and Truong Sa.
- Concludes the release of Paris by Night programs on VHS format.
Paris by Night 71: 20th Anniversary Paris by Night (DVD only)
- Celebrates the 20th anniversary of the founding of the Paris by Night show.
- Is considered to be one of the "fastest-selling Vietnamese specials" in Little Saigon.
- Was filmed at the Center for the Performing Arts in San Jose, CA.
- Was an A. Smith & Co. Production program, directed by Kent Weed.
2004
(DVD only) Paris by Night 72: Tieng Hat Tu Nhip Tim- Was filmed at the Canadian Broadcasting Centre in Toronto.
- Released on DVD on March 11, 2004
Paris by Night 73: Song Ca Dac Biet - The Best of Duets
- Is one of the recurring "duets" special.
- Was filmed at the Terrace Theater in the Long Beach Convention and Entertainment Center.
- Released on DVD on July 1, 2004
Paris by Night 74: Hoa Buom Ngay Xua
- Features three famous Vietnamese composers, Nguyen Hien, Huynh Anh, and Song Ngoc.
- Was filmed at the Canadian Broadcasting Centre in Toronto.
- Released on DVD in September, 2004
Paris by Night 75: Ve Mien Vien Dong - Journey to the Far East
- Was filmed at the Center for the Performing Arts in San Jose, CA on August 28, 2004.
- Released on DVD on December 10, 2004.
2005
(DVD only) Paris by Night 76: Xuan Tha Huong- Celebrates the Lunar New Year.
- Was filmed at the Canadian Broadcasting Centre in Toronto in October 2004.
- Released on DVD on January 19, 2005.
Paris by Night 77: 30 Nam Vien Xu
- Remembers the 30th anniversary of the Fall of Saigon.
- Was filmed at the Terrace Theater in the Long Beach Convention and Entertainment Center on March 5, 2005.
- Released on DVD on April 28, 2005.
- Features three famous Vietnamese composers: Quoc Dung, Chau Ky, Tung Giang.
- Was filmed at the Canadian Broadcasting Centre in Toronto on June 11, 2005.
- Released on DVD on August 11, 2005.
- Is one of the recurring "duets" special.
- Was filmed at the Center for the Performing Arts in San Jose, CA, on August 20, 2005.
- Released on DVD on Thanksgiving 2005.
2006
(DVD only) Paris by Night 80: Tet Khap Moi Nha- Celebrates the Lunar New Year.
- Is a continuation of Paris by Night 76: Xuan Tha Huong, released in 2005.
- Was filmed at the Canadian Broadcasting Centre in Toronto on October 29, 2005.
- Released on DVD on January 16, 2006.
Paris by Night 81: Am Nhac Khong Bien Gioi 2
- Features borderless music and special guest appearances by three Korean singers.
- Is a continuation of Paris by Night 62: Am Nhac Khong Bien Gioi, released in 2001 on VHS format.
- Was filmed at the Terrace Theater at the Long Beach Convention and Entertainment Center on January 21, 2006.
- Released on DVD on April 20, 2006.
Paris by Night 82: Tieu Vuong Hoi
- Is dedicated to Vietnamese comedy skits and acts.
- Was filmed at the Canadian Broadcasting Centre in Toronto on March 25, 2006.
- Released on DVD on June 22, 2006.
Paris by Night 83: Nhung Khuc Hat An Tinh
- Features three famous Vietnamese composers: Xuan Tien, Thanh Son & Nguyen Anh 9.
- Was filmed at Charles M. Schulz Theatre in Knott's Berry Farm on May 27, 2006.
- Released on DVD on September 21, 2006, with an unsurpassed 3 disc packaging.
Paris by Night 84: In Atlanta - Passport to Music & Fashion
- Features appearances by Vietnamese fashion designers such as Chloe Dao and is one of the recurring "duets" specials.
- Is a continuation of Paris by Night 57: Thời Trang & Âm Nhạc, released in 2000 on VHS format.
- Was filmed at the Atlanta Civic Center on July 2, 2006.
- Released on DVD on December 7 2006.
2007
(DVD only) Paris by Night 85: Xuân Trong Kỷ Niệm- Celebrates the Lunar New Year.
- Is a continuation of Paris by Night 80: Tet Khap Moi Nha, released in 2005.
- Was filmed at the Canadian Broadcasting Centre in Toronto on October 21, 2006.
- This would be the last time Thuynga uses the DVD cover in their packaging as they would discontinue it.
- Released on DVD on January 25, 2007.
Paris by Night 86: Semi-Finals Talent Show 2007
- Was filmed at the Charles M. Schulz Theatre in Knott's Berry Farm on February 8, 2007
- The format of this show is different than any other Paris by Night show because there are fewer Paris by Night singers performing.
- This show will have 13 finalists that have had to compete over the past year and there will only be one winner.
- Viewers will be able to vote for their idol finalist at home.
- Released on DVD April 12, 2007.
Paris by Night 87: Finals Talent Show 2007
- Was filmed at the Charles M. Schulz Theatre in Knott's Berry Farm on February 10, 2007
- This is the finals where the winner of the talent show was announced.
- Released on DVD April 26, 2007.
Paris by Night 88: Lam Phuong - Duong Ve Que Huong
- Was filmed on May 5, 2007 at The Hobby Center For the Performing Arts in downtown Houston.
- Featured the famous Vietnamese composer Lam Phuong.
- Released on DVD July 5, 2007.
Paris by Night 89: In Seoul, Korea
- Was film on July 1, 2007 in Seoul, Korea.
- Released on DVD on August 30, 2007.
- Was the first paris by night to be directed by a Korean, Seounghyun Oh.
Paris by Night 90: Chan Dung Nguoi Phu Nu Viet Nam
- Was filmed at the Terrace Theater at the Long Beach Convention and Entertainment Center on September 15, 2007 and September 16, 2007.
- Released on DVD December 13, 2007.
- Honoring the works of a true Vietnamese women .
2008
Paris by Night 91: Huế, Sài Gòn, Hà Nội- Was filmed on January 12, 2008 and January 13, 2008 at the Terrace Theater in Long Beach.
- Released on DVD March 27, 2008.
Paris by Night 92: Nhac Yeu Cau
- Was filmed at the Charles M. Schulz Theatre in Knott's Berry Farm on May 10, 2008 and May 11, 2008.
- Released on DVD July 3, 2008
Paris by Night 93: Celebrity Dancing - Khiêu Vu của các Ngôi Sao
- Was filmed at the Charles M. Schulz Theatre in Knott's Berry Farm on May 14, 2008.
- Released on DVD August 29, 2008
Paris by Night 94: 25th Anniversary
- Was filmed at the Terrace Theater in Long Beach, CA on September 20, 2008.
- Will release on DVD late December
Paris by Night 95: 25th Anniversary
- Was filmed at the Terrace Theater in Long Beach, CA on September 21, 2008.
- Will release on DVD late December
References
External links
- Thuy Nga France (In Vietnamese, French, & English).
- Official Corporate Site
- Thuy Nga USA
- Nguyen Ngoc Ngan's Vuot Bien Account (In Vietnamese).
- Nguyen Ngoc Ngan's Vuot Bien Account (In English).
- A. Smith & Co. Productions
- Thuy Nga Online Forum
This article is licensed under the GNU Free Documentation License.
Last updated on Friday October 03, 2008 at 11:18:29 PDT (GMT -0700)
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