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Oh, those sensitive Canucks. Triumph the Insult Comic Dog and Conan O'Brien are public enemies number one after Triumph did what he does best: Insult the hell out of people. Conan's trip to Toronto ruffled Canadian politico's feathers, as evinced by this Times' article, An Insolent Puppet Roils Canadian Politics:
On a taped segment on Thursday night's "Late Night With Conan O'Brien" on NBC, the puppet Triumph the Insult Comic Dog visited the Winter Carnival in Quebec City and touched the third rail of Canadian politics by telling the Québécois they ought to learn English since they live in North America.There's also the anti-Conan editorial in the Toronto Star. Charges of racism and hate-mongering continue; Canada's National Post had opposing Canadian opinions:
"So you're French and Canadian, yes?" Triumph asked a passer-by in a Continental accent. "You're obnoxious and dull."
If that were not enough teasing along the delicate cultural divide between Francophone and Anglophone Canadians, the puppet told another: "I can tell you're French, you know. You have that proud expression, that superior look." And of a third, rather plump, man the puppet asked: "Are you a separatist? Maybe you should try separating yourself from doughnuts first."
– "I think it was vile and vicious. I think it amounts to hate-mongering." - Alexa McDonough, NDP member of Parliament.
– "It's a guy's hand, that's all I got to say. They shouldn't listen to puppets." - a man in the Elgin Theatre lineup disguised as Robert Goulet.
Exactly. If Canadians were familiar with Triumph's ouevre, they'd realize that they're in the same company as Eminem, Star Wars fans, Jon Bon Jovi, and every other object Triumph comes across. At least the Winnipeg Sun gets it.
Watch some Triumph clips for yourself.
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Oh .. my .. God. I just read that in The Times and came over here to spacifically get your take on it. Rediculious. Long live Triumph.
Yet proof once again of Canada's complete lameness. Triumph went EASY on ya'll, Canada.
In the end....Blame Canada! (and long live Conan!!)
The politicos and mainstream press are engaged in major damage control. The Torontonian audience thought the Triumph sketch was funny. However, in Canada, no one, not even a hand puppet is allowed to make fun of Quebec. The reason is, the whole province will get upset and try and leave the country. Oh wait..they tried that in 1979 and 1995. Be hilarious if Triumph leads to another "Sovereignty Referendum". I would say that would be Triumph's most amazing accomplishment to date.
The other thing I find funny is that the press is saying most Canadians are unfamiliar with Conan because he isn't carried on Canadian Networks. However, 90% of the Canadian population lives with 100 miles of the US Border, meaning that most Canadians get access to the northern affiliates of US Networks. However, Conan being on at 1230am means he is beyond the bedtime of most hockey playing Canucks.
Just thought I'd add the point of view of someone orignially from north of the 49th parallel.
Wait ... since I'm probably like many, if not most Americans who do not know much or anything about Canada, much less care ... I'm assuming that "from north of the 49th parallel" is Canada?
The Canadians remind me of a relative: You're damned if you do, damned if you don't.
Just a few things:
1. Most Canadians *are* familiar with Conan.
2. Conan is carried on Canadian networks - i.e. CHUM
3. Canada has two official languages: English AND French - which i don't think a lot of Americans understand.
i personally think the Triumph sketch was funny (and half my family is bilingual!) What was disturbing was the live audience's reaction. Then again, it seemed like a lot of the audience were 19+ male hockey hooligans.
Like NYC and LA, Toronto and Montreal/Vancouver/all of Quebec have a history of rivalry.
To quote John Doyle: "In the end, O'Brien's Toronto visit showcased two things: 1) Americans such as O'Brien and his staff don't truly understand Canada and never will, no matter how many times they yuck it up with Mike Myers or tell hockey jokes; and 2) it's our own sensitivity and fractured national sensibility that have been showcased to us and to the United States."
I saw it, and thought it was simply HEE-larious. But after hearing that the govt. had subsidized Conan's trip, I started to think "rut-roh..."
Well, here's the thing: The press made a big deal about it. A couple of politicians made a big deal about it. Here in Quebec, nobody really gave a shit, which seriously, is as it should be. Why should anyone care?
Yes, North of the 49th refers to the large land mass that exists north of the United States.
I want Triumph to get invited to host the "Juste Pour Rire" Comedy Festival in Montreal this year.
Insult Comic Dog? Are you crazy? Triumph is a heavy metal band.
Stompin' Tom Connors, ladies and gentlemen. STOMPIN'. TOM. CONNORS.
Once again ignorant Americans knee jerk react lumping all Canadians with the actions of a few... especially you Matteo. No one here cares about the Conan incident. Conan is carried all across Canada. We as a country are no where near as uptight or humorless as our neighbors down below. Although you do have some humorous traits, you elected a clown named Bush. So before you make ignorant comments learn a little more
about things other than your small circle. We're quite content with our lower cost of living, free healthcare and acceptance of all people.
Wow. You really can't take a joke.
I just gotta agree with the Canadian sentiment on this one. No one cares in Canada, we're all worried cuz the Liberal's spent a bunch of money on some lucrative sponsorship deal they weren't supposed to.
At least we're not freaking out cuz we saw a boob on TV.
You contradict yourself, "canadarules"... "nowhere near as uptight or humorless"? Did you re-read your post? PS: "We" didn't elect him.
hey r. he'll win again and then you'll all try to head up north. too bad your countrymen bitch and moan but never show up to vote. maybe then you'd have a chance. already your media inspired society is knocking kerry because of his looks. the sheep shall flock and vote for daddys little boy. i'm just reacting to years of american ignorance in not knowing much about our civilized country and substituting with stupid jokes about moose, beer and hockey.
Cool down my babies.
Oy, so embarrassed to be a Canadian right now. Truth is, however, that most Canadians didn't give two shits about the whole thing. The press blew it way out of proportion. Somehow I don't think anyone would have blinked if he'd made fun of Newfies.
And seriously, we should probably be more worried about our government stealing $100 million of our tax money.
Put the beer down "Canadarules".
Telling Americans that they are "ignorant" will not help your cause. I would hope that you and "canadian" would help spread the word as to what makes a Canadian a Canadian- and you are not allowed to mention the free heath care or your weak dollar. Or beer. Or hockey. Or MMyers.
Please educate this ignorant NYer.
PS- has anyone ever gone out for Canadian food?
I didnt think that Skit was over the top, it was pure Triumph in all his glory. They should've seen this coming. Of course Conan's gonna use the big guns when he takes a trip like this.
Once we Annex Canada and Breed with their women, this problem will go away.
What makes a Canadian Canadian?
Mountain Equipment Co-op, black squirrels, Prime Ministers, House of Commons, inferiority complex, self-deprecating humour, British spelling, Vachon cakes, TVO, Toronto (the second most ethnically diverse city in the world), Vancouver, Halifax, Moosejaw, snowboarding, the Queen's Annual message on Christmas day, good beer, good ice wine, obsession with weather, having to sing God Save the Queen at movies when younger, National Film Board of Canada, gay marriages, Math Patrol, Dear Aunt Agnus, Body Works, Body Break, Canada Fitness Day, Participaction!, Quebec, apologizing for everything to everyone, "sorry", two Official languages, Atom Egoyan, David Cronenberg, Mina Shum, Sloan, The Hidden Cameras, Broken Social Scene, Barenaked Ladies....
Just to name a few stuff that makes one "Canadian". If you have to ask, you don't get it.
Canadian food: poutine!!! Tim Horton's donuts!!! beef, REAL maple syrup, nutella sandwiches...
Having to sing God Save the Queen at the movies when younger???
Jesus, I've been going to the movies since I was a kid, and I'm at least middle aged now. We never did that. Where and when did you grow up? Are you sure it wasn't God Save the King?
As for poutine, Tim Horton's donuts and Nutella sandwiches, please. What's to "get"? The only thing you'll "get" is constipation.
Jen, have you done any items about Mexico?
Are you then berated by Mexicans who insist that you don't "get" burritos, Selma Hayak and whatever other quaint local oddities they happen to hold dear?
Yup, i remember being a small child and having to stand for some bullshit anthem. Yes, we did do that. i grew up in Ontario in the 80s.
In Grade 2, we even had to sing God Save the Queen every Friday. There was even a picture of the Queen and Philip in the corner in all its glory.
Personally, i don't eat Poutine (vegetarian) or donuts but it is like a right of passage as a youth. Or when in Ottawa. Poutine and beavertails....Mmmmm...
Interesting tips "canadian", I was already to thank you until you fell prey to your self professed "inferiority complex" and threw in that assine comment at the end. Guess you proved my point- we will ignore you until the invasion.
Cheers
hey max, two words - no crime. our dollar is no longer as weak, we're catching up thanks to your inept president. still our dollar goes a lot further here. no two thousand dollar railroad apartments with paper thin walls and floors, vermin and cockroaches. nicer and happier people. beer with real alcohol content. FREE healthcare. keep dreaming max, this is paradise.
It's a bit hypocritical to judge canada so harshly after the US reaction to janet jackson's breast. We have more than our fair share of freaks. All the hype was just political hype in an election year - is that really so foreign?
Does anyone have the clip of the incident? I did not get to see it.
PS I wouldn't brag about the Doughnuts anymore, they've been made smaller and are no longer created by the store. They are only baked at the store.
And as for things that make you Canadian don't forget about being able to name members of the TV shows Beachcombers and Degrassi Junior High!
If anyone is still following this thread, Conan apologized to Quebec and Canada last night.
He apologized in english while a translator altered it in French to something like, "I'm an idiot with a tiny penis. Did I mention that I have a tiny penis."
There are also some video clips on the Late Night web site now. Unfortunately, no sign of the "infamous" Triumph visit to Quebec (surprise, surprise). But if you want to see Conan dressed as a mountie or touring Toronto with Kids in the Hall's Scott Thompson, check them out.
The Scott Thompson video is truncated, so you don't get to see the final scene where Conan and Scott wind up in a Toronto gay bar. As they sat sipping their beers, hard core gay porn played on a TV mounted on the wall above their heads.