Conan the obnoxious; berates audience for laughing with Triumph segment

The Star ^ | 02/14/04 | The Star

[Pikamax]

Feb. 14, 2004. 01:00 AM

Conan the obnoxious

In an editorial yesterday, we praised U.S. talk-show host Conan O'Brien for bringing his program here and featuring lots of Canadian talent.

Well, we spoke far too soon.

The editorial went to press before Thursday's episode was broadcast. Had we known the mean-spirited content of that instalment of NBC's Late Night With Conan O'Brien, we never would have invited him to return anytime.

The program featured a nasty segment taped in Quebec city in which the show's obnoxious canine hand puppet stopped unsuspecting residents in the street and crudely insulted them for being francophone.

It wasn't just poking fun, it wasn't clever — it was hateful and, yes, racist.

O'Brien would never have dared such a stunt at home in New York City with American Hispanics or Jews. Not a chance.

Many Canadians will dismiss O'Brien as an out-of-touch American who doesn't realize how sensitive French-English issues are here.

What is truly appalling, however, was the reaction of the audience at Toronto's Elgin Theatre. Most members laughed wildly at the crude anti-French jokes. Earlier in the week, the crowd, many their 20s, booed the mention of singer Céline Dion.

Regrettably, French-bashing is once again becoming all too prevalent in English Canada, and in Toronto. It is as if all the efforts over the past 25 years by both anglophones and francophones to ease tensions between the two groups was a waste of time for these young Canadians, who you would think would be more tolerant in multi-ethnic Toronto.

Taxpayers chipped in $1 million to bring the show here. We welcomed O'Brien to our turf and fawned over him. In return, we were repaid with ill-mannered conduct.

Goodbye, Conan. Don't come back soon.

[StatesEnemy]

...it was hateful and, yes, racist.

Since when are the French a "race"?

[dirtboy]

It is as if all the efforts over the past 25 years by both anglophones and francophones to ease tensions between the two groups was a waste of time for these young Canadians, who you would think would be more tolerant in multi-ethnic Toronto.

Or maybe the young Canadians are getting sick and tired of being told how to think.

[Dialup Llama]

>Taxpayers chipped in $1 million to bring the show here.

Suckers. Thats the best part. You'd figure a major corporation could pay for is own promotions. But no. Everyone has their hand out. In fact, the bigger your are, the more tax bennies you get. Wonder how people still go to the bathroom by themselves.

[Paul Atreides]

I hope that all of the Natalie Maines defenders will step in to take up for Conan.

[KarlInOhio]

It is as if all the efforts over the past 25 years by both anglophones and francophones to ease tensions between the two groups

Huh? Most of those efforts seem to be: "Give the Quebecois what they want and smile when you do it. Try not to make eye contact because that might provoke them."

[prion]

What is truly appalling, however, was the reaction of the audience at Toronto's Elgin Theatre. Most members laughed wildly at the crude anti-French jokes.

Hm. You don't say...

[swampfox98]

The program featured a nasty segment taped in Quebec city in which the show's obnoxious canine hand puppet stopped unsuspecting residents in the street and crudely insulted them for being francophone.

I'm sorry, I'm laughing so hard at this, I am starting to sweat. Think I'd better call it a day on FR.

[Gil4]

I'm sure they'd like some cheese to go with all of that whine

[anniegetyourgun]

Francophone? Does this make some one from Televiv a Telephone?

[Paul Atreides]

They're just mad because he didn't come up there calling President Bush "Hitler," and cracking jokes about ignorant Southern whites and/or Christians.

[Paul Atreides]

San Francisco is full of homophones.

[bvw]

Well, since this was humor by one species against another, that's not racist, that's speciesist.

[Dan from Michigan]

The French is a race? Last I checked they were Caucasian, albeit the weakest of the Caucasians.......

[Dan from Michigan]

are a race....

[billbears]

I can count on one hand the number of times I've watched Conan. I'm usually asleep by then or I'll catch a few minutes of Kilborn. But last week for some reason I thought I would watch since I kept hearing about these shows in a different venue. Didn't see Thursday's episode but I did watch on Tuesday and last night for a few minutes. I don't care what he said or didn't say, I can't believe someone gave this man a television show. None of it was even remotely funny

[Bullish]

The French and the Canadians are becoming the biggest joke on the planet. They deserve every last bit of derision.

[Arkinsaw]

Funniest thing I've seen in a while.

[js1138]

It is as if all the efforts over the past 25 years by both anglophones and francophones to ease tensions between the two groups was a waste of time for these young Canadians

Tolerance enforced at the end of a gun barrel. Good lesson for young people.

[anniegetyourgun]

And San Quentin if full of cellphones! HAHAHA....how long can we keep this up!?!?