greasywheels121 Posted February 15, 2004 Share Posted February 15, 2004 Canada Condemns 'Racist' O'Brien TV show By David Ljunggren, Reuters OTTAWA (Feb. 14) - 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 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 Pussies". 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. Peter Soumalias, a Toronto businessman who helped bring the show to the city, said the sketch was just a joke and called the furor a "tempest in a teapot." "Quebec is the home of some great comics and comedians," he said. "They understand comedy." No one at NBC was 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 programming 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. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SoxAce Posted February 15, 2004 Share Posted February 15, 2004 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. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SnB Posted February 15, 2004 Share Posted February 15, 2004 stupid canadiens. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CubsSuck1 Posted February 15, 2004 Share Posted February 15, 2004 lol, I was watchin Conan this week, and it was hilarious like always. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CubKilla Posted February 15, 2004 Share Posted February 15, 2004 Triumph is a pimp. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Flash Tizzle Posted February 15, 2004 Share Posted February 15, 2004 "You're French, you're obnoxious and you no speekay English." It told another: "I can smell your crotch from here". Who can argue that point? Even our Canadian members can't deny they don't shower regularly. Insulted people in French-speaking Quebec and seemed to suggest everyone in the province was homosexual.......... O'Brien's team were also shown replacing street signs in the province with those that read "Quebecqueer Street" and "Rue des Pussies". Oh wait, thats funny s***. I can only wonder if that comment initiates a 20 page thread. Because you KNOW how people on this board treat that topic. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CubKilla Posted February 15, 2004 Share Posted February 15, 2004 Oh wait, thats funny s***. Damn straight. I laughed outloud.... literally..... when I read that. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
knightni Posted February 15, 2004 Share Posted February 15, 2004 O'Brien's team were also shown replacing street signs in the province with those that read "Quebecqueer Street" and "Rue des Pussies". And I missed it? Aw man! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gene Honda Civic Posted February 15, 2004 Share Posted February 15, 2004 Triumph = Comedy Gold Saw the whole thing on Thursday. IT was great. (not quite the dog show, or Star wars opening quality, but great) Triumph videos Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Critic Posted February 15, 2004 Share Posted February 15, 2004 Yeah, it was GREAT! Triumph is almost always a highlight on Conan's show. The Star Wars bit is legendary, of course, and this one came close. Watching the smug-ass Quebecois go "harrumph" once it was clear that a dog puppet was insulting them was beautiful. Quebec really should secede from Canada, so they can stop poisoning Canada's reputation. Quebec is just France with worse shoes and a cold. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FlaSoxxJim Posted February 15, 2004 Share Posted February 15, 2004 Quebec is just France with worse shoes and a cold. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cwsox Posted February 15, 2004 Share Posted February 15, 2004 Oh wait, thats funny s***. I can only wonder if that comment initiates a 20 page thread. Because you KNOW how people on this board treat that topic. only invites a 20 page thread from Craig Kilbourn fans when you are enjoying Conan words used as intentional derogatory or hate speech has one meaning goofy humor has a whole other meaning now as to your comment about Canadians not showering - well, supernuke and mathew can handle that one! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mathew Posted February 15, 2004 Share Posted February 15, 2004 I'm not too surprized at the reaction by the left wing politcos that's the kind of useless s*** they like to get paid to b**** about. I thought it was funny, when I read it Americans were bitter 'cause the CN Tower kicked the Space Needle's ass on the show last week You guys making the shower cracks are all a bunch of raving anti-Canadites! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
baggio202 Posted February 15, 2004 Share Posted February 15, 2004 only invites a 20 page thread from Craig Kilbourn fans when you are enjoying Conan words used as intentional derogatory or hate speech has one meaning goofy humor has a whole other meaning now as to your comment about Canadians not showering - well, supernuke and mathew can handle that one! i think he meant just quebecers dont shower...or at least i hope so..or we might a 100 page thread Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KipWellsFan Posted February 15, 2004 Share Posted February 15, 2004 Lets just make this clear that it is French Canadians that are upset. I couldn't give a damn what Triumph said to the Quebecers. Hell, close to 50% of them don't even want to be Canadians. P.S. I just had a shower! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BrandoFan Posted February 15, 2004 Share Posted February 15, 2004 It has always been my enlightened contention that Kilborn and Kimmel fans should be sterilized for the good of mankind. Quebecistan wanted Conan. They knew he is morre irreverent than Leno. They got burned and now the outrage? Are they for real with that "this is racist filth" garbage? Critic is right, the Star Wars putdown was priceless. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Flash Tizzle Posted February 15, 2004 Share Posted February 15, 2004 i think he meant just quebecers dont shower...or at least i hope so..or we might a 100 page thread Nope, I meant the other comment too. If anyone feels the reason to complain about it then I'll ignore you. (; ) Even those who are sensitive to this issue can hopefully distinguish the difference between a JOKE and a deragtory statement. I've seen numerous Simpsons episodes where they have made similar quotes and nobody was complaining. CRenaming Quebec streets "Quebecqueer Street" and "Rue des Pussies" wouldnt of been funny by itself, except that Canada is SO pissed off about it. Odd thing to say, considering Conan was in Toronto to help tourism after the SARS outbreak. Obviously I don't believe Quebec is gay or full of pussies, but when people take offense to something so trivial it becomes humorous. Comprende? If I made any sort of comment within this post (or another) that you have a problem with, then email me at [email protected]. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
supernuke Posted February 16, 2004 Share Posted February 16, 2004 Sometimes I have to wonder what the f*** is wrong with my beloved Country, I mean if you can't make fun of a french Canadian then who can you make fun of. As for the NDP politicians that are outraged by this they are just doing anything they can to try and gain some relevence in this country and take advantage of the conservative party falling apart. This just shows that this Country is going to hell in a handbasket, soon we will be no better than you Americans. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FlaSoxxJim Posted February 16, 2004 Share Posted February 16, 2004 This just shows that this Country is going to hell in a handbasket, soon we will be no better than you Americans. No, you've still got a way to go before you fall to our level. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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