CHUM apologizes for Conan's Quebec sketch

CBC ^ | 02/13/04 | CHUM

[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

[Cicero]

Why blame Conan? Blame Triumph the Insult Dog. It's not the first time he's shown this kind of insulting bigotry. He should be reported to the ASPCA.

[dfwgator]

Tell those hosers to go and eat their Kroff Dinner and shut the hell up, eh.

[secret garden]

You're welcome! :-)

[Welsh Rabbit]

Triumph's puppeteer is Robert Smigel, creator of other hilarious politically incorrect humor, like SNL's The Ambiguously Gay Duo cartoon.

[Argh]

Hah!

[Lancey Howard]

I saw this segment last night and thought it was hilarious. The crowd booed when Conan mentioned Quebec, and if there is any division in Canada it is not because of sketches on the Conan O'Brien show. But it sure is funny listening to these namby-pamby politicians trying to "distance" themselves from Conan O'Brien while they whine like three-year-olds.

[holymoly]

Candadiens are just ticked because they want to be the 51st state and we won't let them.

[Spruce]

Get over it! Hosers!

[Hillarys Gate Cult]

This show will repeat next week on NBC stations that show reruns of Conan and Leno off of the network feed early in the AM. They are usually a few days behind. Tonight my local station is showing the Conan episode with Drew Barrymore from last week at 4 AM. Check local listings.

[driftless]

I have to remind myself that Canada is the home of my all-time favorites SCTV and Kids In The Hall two of the most cutting-edge and anti-politically correct comedies ever made.

[pragmatic_asian]

Exactly. The crowd booed loudest when a couple of 'seperatists' were interviewed. The majority of the crowd was cheering Triumph on and booing the Quebec interviewees.

[Hawkeye's Girl]

Yup, because the female seperatist insulted Toronto by saying it wasn't as nice as Quebec.

French Canadians have no sense of humor.

[mass55th]

"Triumph's puppeteer is Robert Smigel, creator of other hilarious politically incorrect humor, like SNL's The Ambiguously Gay Duo cartoon."

I heard that he bases the dog's voice and accent on his Romanian grandmother. I bought my son a CD/DVD of Triumph for Christmas. On it he does a program with his tapeworm! Yeah, it's gross, but it's funny.

These people have to get a sense of humor.

[mass55th]

"Candadiens are just ticked because they want to be the 51st state and we won't let them."

Makes me glad that Benedict Arnold didn't succeed in his attempt to capture them. We'd have another California on our hands and one is definitely enough.

[Welsh Rabbit]

Are you familiar with Smigel's X-Presidents cartoon? Here's a funny reply he gave in an interview with Salon:

Salon: In your "X-Presidents" animated shorts, it's great to see them spontaneously perform as a rock band, much in the tradition of those great hack cartoon shows of the '70s. How did you match up the ex-presidents with their instruments?

Smigel: I just wanted Jimmy Carter to play the tambourine because I wanted to feminize him as much as possible. Because he's the only Democrat there, it's fun to imagine that the three kick-ass Republicans think of him as a big pussy. So I had Carter play the tambourine because you never see a guy play the tambourine, and I had [Gerald] Ford play the drums because he seems to be the least capable of making music and just good for beating on something.

[mass55th]

Yes, I'm familiar with that cartoon. I've always enjoyed it and I appreciate your sharing Smigel's comments about it. Thanks.

[longtermmemmory]

Canada must never have heard of Second City TV.

Canada must have missed all their TV commericals and shows making fun of the USA.

[Soulfull]

Wonder if that is the same dog that was accused of being a racist here is the States?

[CaptainK]

The greatest Triumph skit ever:

http://www.albinoblacksheep.com/video/nerds.html

[Kirkwood]

Quebec is there for me to poop on!