Bad Dog

Surpisingly the reaction to Triumph the Insult Dog's ministrations in Quebec last night, has been rather muted. Perhaps it was the hour of the insult, the fact it was on an American network or maybe a talking hand puppet, just doesn't boil the blood as much as a senior citizen hockey commentator. Or it could have been they were pre-occupied with the funeral of former Premier, Claude Ryan. Whatever the reasons, Quebecois commentators haven't reacted quite as hysterically to Triumph, as many, including me, expected.

The usual suspects expressed their shock and dismay at the caustic canine, politicians of all stripes endeavoured to distance themselves from any kind of controversy regarding Triumph's tirade. Mauril Belanger, Deputy House Leader for the Liberals, said he found nothing funny about the American comedian. Alexa McDonough of the NDP, called it vile and vicious. Even Stephen Harper of the Conservatives weighed in, saying we can all make jokes about each other, but you can't tell people in Quebec they have to speak another language. Harper, commenting while at a Conservative leadership function in Quebec City, called the skit unacceptable. Ontario Premier Dalton McGuinty advised one and all, that Triumph does not speak for Ontarions. Quebec Premier Jean Charest, simply had no comment on the issue what so ever.

CHUM television, no doubt mindful of CRTC and CAB regulations and protocols, issued an apology and promised to edit Triumph out of the nightly rebroadcast on their Star channel.

Conan O'Brien himself addressed the issue, during the taping of his final show in Toronto this afternoon. O'Brien, reportedly told the crowd and assembled media types that; "I'm the guy they hired to make Don Cherry look good".

I think I've figured out where all of this went so horribly wrong. Surely what was supposed to happen was that Triumph was to make a guest appearance on the Mike Bullard show. Instead, the misguided mutt must have made a wrong turn. Had he gone to the right theatre, none of this would have happened. And as most television viewers and ratings service executives know, there wouldn't have been much chance of anybody watching that show, let alone get offended by it.