Oh, brother: Canada Condemns 'Racist' Conan O'Brien TV Show - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

AKA · 02-13-2004, 05:55 PM

Canada Condemns 'Racist' Conan O'Brien TV Show

By David Ljunggren
Reuters

OTTAWA - Canada's government on Friday condemned a show by U.S. late-night television host Conan O'Brien that insulted people in French-speaking Quebec and seemed to suggest everyone in the province was homosexual.

Ottawa and the province of Ontario paid $760,000 to help O'Brien -- who appears on the NBC television network -- bring his show to Toronto for a week to boost the city's profile after a deadly SARS outbreak last year.

But the federal government said O'Brien had gone far too far with the show broadcast on Thursday in which he went to Quebec, a province which has had separatist governments for much of the last 20 years and is a delicate political topic in Canada.

"We want to disassociate ourselves from the comments which were broadcast last night because we do not support them in any way," junior government minister Mauril Belanger told Parliament.

At one point in the show, Triumph the Insult Comic Dog -- a hand puppet that is a regular on the show -- said to a Quebecer: "You're French, you're obnoxious and you no speekay English." It told another: "I can smell your crotch from here."

O'Brien's team were also shown replacing street signs in the province with those that read "Quebecqueer Street" and "Rue des P**sies."

Alexa McDonough, a legislator for the left-leaning New Democrats, described the program as "racist filth" and "utterly vile" and demanded the government seek the return of the C$1 million subsidy.

"There may be those who would say, 'Isn't this interfering with freedom of expression?' It's not interfering to say we will not publicly fund this kind of vile, vicious hatemongering," McDonough told reporters.

Belanger did not commit to asking for the money back. No one at NBC was immediately available for comment.

The complaints over the puppet's comments come on the heels of a similar uproar following criticism of European French-Canadian hockey players on CBC television by the country's best-known sports commentator, Don Cherry.

The "Late Night" show, which taped in Toronto all this week and featured guests such as Jim Carrey and Mike Myers, was broadcast in Canada by CHUM television, which said it regretted any offense that may have been caused.

"We offer our apology and assurance that it is never our intention to air programing that offends any of our viewers," the station said in a statement.

Triumph the Insult Comic Dog has landed in trouble before, most famously when it had an altercation with rap singer Eminem at a music awards show in 2002.

*Pleasant Tomorrow* · 02-13-2004, 05:58 PM

That's pathetic.

Jenya · 02-13-2004, 06:05 PM

Send him to the Québec guillotine....along with Don Cherry!!

phoebe7165 · 02-13-2004, 06:22 PM

Jenya, love your avatar!!

You think maybe the Canadians don't have the same sense of humor as we kooky Americans?!

AKA · 02-13-2004, 06:24 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by phoebe7165
You think maybe the Canadians don't have the same sense of humor as we kooky Americans?!

Some of the funniest people in the world are from Canada.

Sounds to me like there are some crybabies in the Canadian government who don't have much of a sense of humor.

*Pleasant Tomorrow* · 02-13-2004, 06:26 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by AKA
Some of the funniest people in the world are from Canada.

Sounds to me like there are some crybabies in the Canadian government who don't have much of a sense of humor.

Really, the dog was just joking...and...it was a puppet lol. A freaking puppet. They can't take it? I'd be a little mad if they were making fun of Americans, I mean I can understand that they're a little angry...but jeez, it's not that big of a deal

Kay Scarpetta · 02-13-2004, 06:28 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by AKA

Sounds to me like there are some crybabies in the Canadian government who don't have much of a sense of humor.

Exactly. My God, he cracks on America every night. We don't get pissed.

Jenya · 02-13-2004, 06:32 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by phoebe7165
Jenya, love your avatar!!

You think maybe the Canadians don't have the same sense of humor as we kooky Americans?!

Good question. I think a lot of hard-core Francophones in Québec aren't very humorious. Which is kind of funny, since one of the world's largest comedy festivals is held in Montréal.

Putin is a crackerhead- in my opinion by the way.

AKA · 02-13-2004, 06:38 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Jenya
Good question. I think a lot of hard-core Francophones in Québec aren't very humorious. Which is kind of funny, since one of the world's largest comedy festivals is held in Montréal.

Exactly.

I was watching last night, and the Toronto studio audience was loving the Triumpth-Quebec segment (although, admittedly, the rest of Canada's relationship with Quebec isn't very rosy).

For those of you in the States who haven't seen it, it will be rebroadcast on Comedy Central at 6 pm EST/PST.

By the way, Jenya, it's great to see you back on the boards. I was worried about you.

Jenya · 02-13-2004, 06:46 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by AKA
Exactly.

By the way, Jenya, it's great to see you back on the boards. I was worried about you.

No need to worry, Brad. I was busy getting Russian guest visas last week for a few of my friends. My wedding will take place in St. Petersburg next month. So I had to make sure and certain that they won't have any problems when they enter Russia.

AKA · 02-13-2004, 06:50 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Jenya
No need to worry, Brad. I was busy getting Russian guest visas last week for a few of my friends. My wedding will take place in St. Petersburg next month. So I had to make sure and certain that they won't have any problems when they enter Russia.

Cool! Hope you don't run into Prime Minister Crackerhead.

Bang A Gong · 02-13-2004, 07:48 PM

I was watching it earlier and Triumph the Insult Comic Dog was in Quebec insulting the people left and right. It was great. And whoever gets upset because of it needs to lighten up and get a sense of humor. It's not meant to be taken seriously.

TheHappyBurgerMeister · 02-13-2004, 10:27 PM

That's just the way Triumph the INSULT comic dog is! It's all Robert Smigel doing that stuff! He makes the voice and started Triumph. He is insulting, but that's who the dog is!

I love Conan!!

DianeChambers87 · 02-13-2004, 11:00 PM

They pay 760,000 dollars to get him into Canada and then they condemn his show? WHAT DID THEY EXPECT HIM TO DO???!!!

He makes fun of canadians regularly on his show! As well as Americans, the French and about everybody else in the world! They knew what type of show they were dealing with and if THEY made a mistake in bringing him over than they should question their own judgement, not the shows. This is ridiculous in every sense of the word, haha the best part is that he's going to come back to America and really start bashing or making fun of Canada.

LONG LIVE CONAN!!

¤I Love Clay Aiken¤ · 02-14-2004, 12:03 AM

Man, I was about to piss my pants lastnite it was so funny. Seriously, the old guy who kept laughing.. LMAO he had no clue.. no clue at all lol. I love Triumph, and I think this has by far been one of Conans funniest weeks ever.

02-13-2004, 05:55 PM	#1
AKA Member Forum Star Join Date: Dec 17, 2001 Posts: 15,746	Oh, brother: Canada Condemns 'Racist' Conan O'Brien TV Show Canada Condemns 'Racist' Conan O'Brien TV Show By David Ljunggren Reuters OTTAWA - Canada's government on Friday condemned a show by U.S. late-night television host Conan O'Brien that insulted people in French-speaking Quebec and seemed to suggest everyone in the province was homosexual. Ottawa and the province of Ontario paid $760,000 to help O'Brien -- who appears on the NBC television network -- bring his show to Toronto for a week to boost the city's profile after a deadly SARS outbreak last year. But the federal government said O'Brien had gone far too far with the show broadcast on Thursday in which he went to Quebec, a province which has had separatist governments for much of the last 20 years and is a delicate political topic in Canada. "We want to disassociate ourselves from the comments which were broadcast last night because we do not support them in any way," junior government minister Mauril Belanger told Parliament. At one point in the show, Triumph the Insult Comic Dog -- a hand puppet that is a regular on the show -- said to a Quebecer: "You're French, you're obnoxious and you no speekay English." It told another: "I can smell your crotch from here." O'Brien's team were also shown replacing street signs in the province with those that read "Quebecqueer Street" and "Rue des P**sies." Alexa McDonough, a legislator for the left-leaning New Democrats, described the program as "racist filth" and "utterly vile" and demanded the government seek the return of the C$1 million subsidy. "There may be those who would say, 'Isn't this interfering with freedom of expression?' It's not interfering to say we will not publicly fund this kind of vile, vicious hatemongering," McDonough told reporters. Belanger did not commit to asking for the money back. No one at NBC was immediately available for comment. The complaints over the puppet's comments come on the heels of a similar uproar following criticism of European French-Canadian hockey players on CBC television by the country's best-known sports commentator, Don Cherry. The "Late Night" show, which taped in Toronto all this week and featured guests such as Jim Carrey and Mike Myers, was broadcast in Canada by CHUM television, which said it regretted any offense that may have been caused. "We offer our apology and assurance that it is never our intention to air programing that offends any of our viewers," the station said in a statement. Triumph the Insult Comic Dog has landed in trouble before, most famously when it had an altercation with rap singer Eminem at a music awards show in 2002.

02-13-2004, 05:58 PM	#2
Pleasant Tomorrow Member Forum Addict Join Date: Feb 19, 2003 Location: New York Posts: 69,525	That's pathetic.
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02-13-2004, 06:22 PM	#4
phoebe7165 Pop Culture Goddess Forum Fanatic Join Date: Apr 15, 2003 Location: US of A - the country of "really bad music" lovers Posts: 11,600	Jenya, love your avatar!! You think maybe the Canadians don't have the same sense of humor as we kooky Americans?!
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02-13-2004, 10:27 PM	#13
TheHappyBurgerMeister Member Senior Member Join Date: Jul 23, 2002 Location: Wisconsin, USA Posts: 2,209	That's just the way Triumph the INSULT comic dog is! It's all Robert Smigel doing that stuff! He makes the voice and started Triumph. He is insulting, but that's who the dog is! I love Conan!!
	__________________ Kristina Thinkin' 'Bout Something Official Music Video Shout it Out- Hanson's 5th studio album in stores June 8th!

02-13-2004, 11:00 PM	#14
DianeChambers87 Elizabeth B. Malone Forum Veteran Join Date: Feb 16, 2003 Location: Swampland USA Posts: 5,178	They pay 760,000 dollars to get him into Canada and then they condemn his show? WHAT DID THEY EXPECT HIM TO DO???!!! He makes fun of canadians regularly on his show! As well as Americans, the French and about everybody else in the world! They knew what type of show they were dealing with and if THEY made a mistake in bringing him over than they should question their own judgement, not the shows. This is ridiculous in every sense of the word, haha the best part is that he's going to come back to America and really start bashing or making fun of Canada. LONG LIVE CONAN!!
	__________________ Strange Fascinations, Fascinating me

02-13-2004, 06:05 PM	#3
Jenya Supervisor Forum 3000 Club Member Join Date: Apr 20, 2003 Location: Canmore, Alberta Posts: 3,359	Send him to the Québec guillotine....along with Don Cherry!!

02-13-2004, 07:48 PM	#12
Bang A Gong Member Forum Regular Join Date: Jun 16, 2001 Posts: 545	I was watching it earlier and Triumph the Insult Comic Dog was in Quebec insulting the people left and right. It was great. And whoever gets upset because of it needs to lighten up and get a sense of humor. It's not meant to be taken seriously.

02-14-2004, 12:03 AM	#15
¤I Love Clay Aiken¤ MISS APRIL Forum Addict Join Date: Jul 19, 2001 Location: Parsonsfield ME Shaws - Screwing my way up the employment ladder! Posts: 68,780	Man, I was about to piss my pants lastnite it was so funny. Seriously, the old guy who kept laughing.. LMAO he had no clue.. no clue at all lol. I love Triumph, and I think this has by far been one of Conans funniest weeks ever.
	__________________ DAVID COOK FOR AMERICAN IDOL