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CHUM apologizes for Conan's Quebec sketch
CBC ^ | 02/13/04 | CHUM

Posted on 02/13/2004 3:30:18 PM PST by Pikamax

CHUM apologizes for Conan's Quebec sketch Last Updated Fri, 13 Feb 2004 17:59:13 TORONTO - A Canadian television network issued an apology Friday for broadcasting a U.S. show's comedy routine that ridiculed French Canadians.

CHUM Television said the segment will be removed when NBC's Late Night with Conan O'Brien is shown again Friday night on the specialty channel, Star.

"We offer our apology and assurance that it is never our intention to air programming that offends any of our viewers," CHUM said in a statement Friday afternoon.

"CHUM regrets any offence that was caused."

'Vile hate-mongering': McDonough

Earlier in the day, several members of Parliament expressed outrage over the segment, and Ontario Premier Dalton McGuinty distanced his government from the comedy sketch.

"I think it was vile and vicious. I think it amounts to hate-mongering," said NDP MP Alexa McDonough. She demanded the federal government get its subsidy back from the U.S. network.

Ottawa and the province gave NBC about $1 million to help pay for O'Brien's show to come to Toronto for a week to try to boost tourism after last year's SARS outbreak.

"The Conan O'Brien show does not speak for Ontarians," said Premier McGuinty. "Ontarians have a wonderful relationship with the people of Quebec."

McGuinty said he doesn't regret helping bring the program to Toronto, but emphasized that the government's role is limited. "We don't control the content of these shows."

'Completely unacceptable': Harper

The sketch, which first aired Thursday night, featured a sarcastic puppet called Triumph the Insult Dog that made fun of francophones at the Quebec winter carnival.

"So you're French and Canadian, yes? So you're obnoxious and dull," the puppet said to one passerby. "You're in North America, learn the language," he bellowed at another.

"This is the place where our country was founded nearly 400 years ago," said Alberta MP Stephen Harper during a trip to Montreal. He's campaigning for the leadership of the new Conservative party.

"We can all make jokes about each other but you don't start telling people in Quebec they have to speak another language. That's completely unacceptable."

The federal government did not defend the comedy segment. Deputy government house leader Mauril Bélanger said he did not find any of it funny.

"We want to disassociate ourselves from the comments which were broadcast last night because we do not support them in any way," Bélanger said.

Written by CBC News Online staff


TOPICS: Foreign Affairs; News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: apology; comedy; conanobrien
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1 posted on 02/13/2004 3:30:19 PM PST by Pikamax
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To: Pikamax
So Canadians are dull and humorless?
2 posted on 02/13/2004 3:33:30 PM PST by StatesEnemy
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To: Peter Libra
Hey - you know what Canadians are, Peter?

Losers.

3 posted on 02/13/2004 3:36:05 PM PST by Cathryn Crawford (¿Podemos ahora sonreír?)
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To: Pikamax
Don't the Conan people know, Christians and conservatives are the only groups about whom jokes are acceptable?
4 posted on 02/13/2004 3:36:52 PM PST by gg188
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To: StatesEnemy
>>"So you're French and Canadian, yes? So you're obnoxious and dull," the puppet said to one passerby. "You're in North America, learn the language," he bellowed at another<<


Obnoxious, as well.

5 posted on 02/13/2004 3:37:23 PM PST by netmilsmom (Don't put a question mark where God put a period.)
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To: Pikamax
Remove the French Canadians rather than the comedy.
6 posted on 02/13/2004 3:37:43 PM PST by Drango (Liberals give me a rash that even penicillin can't cure.)
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To: Pikamax
Undoubtedly the liberals will take to the street and airways to protect the artistic integrity and freedom of speech that is being threatened here by removing this segment from the show.
7 posted on 02/13/2004 3:37:56 PM PST by RJL
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To: Pikamax
Why would anyone apologize for the truth?

I suppose the Mounties will be called to bring in the perp, eh?!

8 posted on 02/13/2004 3:38:12 PM PST by muawiyah
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To: Pikamax
Sheeeesh! You'd think they had been called some of the names their government officials had called Americans.
9 posted on 02/13/2004 3:38:21 PM PST by nightdriver
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To: Pikamax
"You're in North America, learn the language," he bellowed at another.

Spanish?

10 posted on 02/13/2004 3:38:55 PM PST by Joe 6-pack ("We deal in hard calibers and hot lead." - Roland Deschaines)
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To: netmilsmom
I NEVER watch Conan but was flipping thru channels last night and caught the "dog" act. it was HILARIOUS!!!
11 posted on 02/13/2004 3:39:14 PM PST by bonfire
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To: Pikamax
I thought Canada was like so much hipper than the US?
12 posted on 02/13/2004 3:41:56 PM PST by Schattie (-censored-)
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To: Pikamax
Quebeceer? The truth hurts.
13 posted on 02/13/2004 3:42:02 PM PST by TheErnFormerlyKnownAsBig (Here's your one chance, fancy don't let me down.)
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To: Cathryn Crawford
I agree.....Canadians are Peters! :-)
14 posted on 02/13/2004 3:44:50 PM PST by nobody_knows
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To: Pikamax
No sense of humor. Why am I not surprised. Dullards.
15 posted on 02/13/2004 3:45:33 PM PST by hershey
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To: Pikamax
The skit was hilarious
16 posted on 02/13/2004 3:46:04 PM PST by My Favorite Headache (I Stand With Alex Lifeson)
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To: Argh
Hey look! A skit aboot Canadians. ;)
17 posted on 02/13/2004 3:47:59 PM PST by secret garden (Go Predators! Go Spurs!)
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To: Pikamax
Stephen Harper is turning out to be a real disappointment. There is a good possibility that he will not get my vote in the next Federal election. People really have to lighten up!
18 posted on 02/13/2004 3:48:49 PM PST by planter
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To: secret garden
I saw, I saw, thanks.
19 posted on 02/13/2004 3:49:28 PM PST by Argh
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To: Pikamax
I saw it. It was hilarious.
Even the Frenchies were laughing.

I do have a soft spot for Triumph,
but it's definitely not for kids
(or mature adults for that matter).
20 posted on 02/13/2004 3:49:41 PM PST by polemikos (A million French Derrida-schooled Marxist deconstructionist chefs can't be wrong - can they?)
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