An Insolent Puppet Roils Canadian Politics: "An Insolent Puppet Roils Canadian Politics
By CLIFFORD KRAUSS

Published: February 16, 2004


ORONTO, Feb. 15 Conan O'Brien came to Toronto last week, and he nearly started a civil war. Just kidding, sort of.
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 Quebecois they ought to learn English since they live in North America.

'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.'"

Many of you may already be aware of my fascination with Triumph, and now he's the cause of an international incident!