Then that’s something that really needs to have some humor made of it, innit? However lame. Major political hotbeds can be very effectively handled if people start laughing over them, even a little bit.
To summarize the OP - Our gummint uses a pile public money in a stupid way, but it’s our gummint, by Jayzus, so let me just notice it in passing to defuse it and move on. There was a show doing pretty much the same thing to the other guys up here, but it was our show, by Jayzus, so let me just notice *that * in passing to defuse it and move on. But then these other people had the nerve to make fun of us instead! That’s outrageous! Pit material! It goes beyond the pale in a way nothing else I’ve noted is! Matt, your reflexive anti-American sentiments have become more nuanced lately, but they’re clearly still there. You still need to get a grip.
Just curious, what’s wrong with their use of ‘begat’? It looks ok to me.
Oh, and (as a Canadian) I thought it was pretty funny. I had expected them to put Ed and Triumph on together and was disappointed that they didn’t, I think it could have been really hilarious - a lot better than the CN Tower & Space Needle showdown!
This is true, but there is the nature of the tone of the humour that must be taken into consideration. In Quebec, insult humour is entirely the wrong approach to a subject that has such a deeply entrenched volatility.
There have been tons of stand-up routines and sketch comedy about the French/English rivalry and separatism that is pee-your-pants funny, but insult humour doesn’t go over well with that particular subject.
jarbabyj I was trying to explain some of the history of how heated and hostile the French/English issues have been in Quebec and why an American making insults about it may not go over well. My point was simply that insult humour was ill-advised when there is a cultural difference that will affect the way it is perceived. Insult-humour that takes a bash a specifically French Canadian culture and/or separatism is not generally going to be well-received, in particular if it comes from an outsider who simply does not know the historical context. It runs the risk of being taken as a serious slur and according to some newspapers, it has been.
Making fun of Celine Dion a national icon is funny, saying “hey, Frenchie” will not get the same reaction.
I’m familar with Ed the Sock and Triumph (don’t find either particularly funny, but that’s neither here nor there). However, most people know of Triumph’s visit from the reprints in the morning paper (I guess that’s where Matt heard of it) and morning radio news reports. Which means it is also being taken completely out of context.
Conan O’Brien managed to get on the front page of several newspapers in a way that portrays the whole thing as almost scandalous. Without the raspy-voiced dog puppet, the humour comes across as much more tasteless. So thre’s bound to be some mightily pissed off people.
Me too! Though I don’t normally like either of them (their voices bug me), a verbal showdown where Ed the Sock and Triumph go head to head (sock to sock?) in a battle of wits would definitely be worth watching!
I can’t speak for Matt, or anyone else, but if you’re going to be doing non-PC humour with politically-loaded subjects, at least make sure you have at least some understanding of the situation. If only for the sake of making jokes that are actually funny, and accurate.
Seriously, though, I know I haven’t seen that much of him, but did Triumph ever thread (or poop) on politically volatile issues in America? It seems to me that for all his insults, he sticks to fairly safe territory. I might be wrong, though.
jarbabyj, you’re being a dumb fuck. You really need to know the context of the situation if you’re going to make a comedy routine that isn’t patently offensive.
And yes, it does make it worse that it’s really not funny. The fact that I think the whole routine is moronic and completely humourless has nothing to do with being offended by it. If it was actually funny, then you know, at least there was a point.
If you hear a joke that’s a little bit racist, it’s a whole lot worse if
(a) the joke isn’t funny at all
(b) the person saying the joke doesn’t understand why it would be offensive
Triumph to a fat black American: “hey, why don’t you emancipate yourself from that hamburger!”
And on the “begat” thing, it’s my understanding that begat is a past form of beget, so “he did begat” would be on par gramatically with “he did ran”. Am I wrong?
Bullshit. He makes fun of fat people, black people, Jewish people, the president, the presidential CANDIDATES, EVERYONE.
And here’s another thing. I don’t know if you realize how t.v. works, but anyone who participates in a Triumph, the INSULT COMIC DOG sketch has to sign a release to allow it to air. If they were so on the verge of social riot and upheaval over being called Frenchy, why did they sign the release and let it be broadcast.
Guess what? That sound exactly like something Triumph would say, and it’s funny. Why? Because it’s awful. Triumph is a satire of the Rat Pack comics of the 50s and 60s who tore people of every nationality and shape and size a new asshole on a regular basis. Don Rickles being the most egregious of offenders.
Christ, Triumph walks up to kids and tells them they’re going to die alone because they’re such nerds. Again. Hilarious.
Again, if the person participating didn’t like the joke, don’t sign the release to air it, go get therapy and tell them a puppet upset you.
Sorry, I know you are not the only one who put the line about the obnoxious and dumb in their post. What I heard was “So you’re French and Canadian, yes? So you’re obnoxious and DULL” which makes more sense and in my opinion is much funnier.
I said I might be wrong, no need to call bullshit. Do you have examples of outrageous comments made to black or Jewish people? I’m not asking to prove a point, I’m asking because I’m curious.
BTW, I don’t have a problem with the donut joke. Donuts are prime humour material in Quebec, although mostly for their association with cops. My problem is only with the “learn the language” comment. It’s not funny because of it use verbatim IRL. That could have been avoided.
You’re right, it is funnier that way. On this one I’ll actually join the other side of the fence and say that might even be a crowd pleaser in Quebec.
The first Triumph at the Westminster Kennel Club dog show, Gold. Anyone know where I can get ahold of it? And yes it is Robert Smiegel from SNL’s Saturday TV funhouse is the hand in puppet(for whoever asked).
[QUOTE]
Going into Quebec and telling a “fat guy” to try “separating himself from donuts” is treading on very dangerous waters.
You’re being more than usually dense here, jbj. The use of “separate” in this case is an obvious reference to Quebecois separatism, and to my mind it’s deliberately provocative. That, of course, is why it’s funny. I think it’s similar to visiting Atlanta and telling General Sherman jokes (which I’d pay to see).
I would, however, like to second your point about signing the release; I was going to make it, but I see on preview that I’m too late.
Nametag, why do you think I pointed out the word separate? I GET IT. I understand separatism. That’s why I suggested the word is probably off limits to even say.
I worked in an office for SIX years, with a Canadian man, who’s business was primarily in Toronto and Montreal. If we sent mail to them with the address Quebec, Montreal CANADA, it would be sent back UNOPENED until we left the country name off.
So I understand it’s a touchy subject. It just seems to some to be so over the top touchy that WE MUST make fun of it.
Oh, and thanks for seconding my point about signing a release even though I’m, you know, DENSE. :rolleyes:
I saw the bit last night. The title of the OP is rather misleading. Triumph didn’t make fun of Canadians, he made fun of a sub-set of them (Quebeckers) and the (Toronto) audience didn’t seem to mind. They loudly boo’d at any mention of Quebec, and cheered during Triumph’s segment. It was obviously a bit that was meant to play well with the audience. I’m not familar with Canadian comics/TV, but are Quebeckers never made fun of in Ontario? There certainly seems to be an audience for it.
The release thing is a good point, but something tells me that the average person would be very reluctant to refuse to sign, and they would probably give you a good goading and treat you like you don’t have a sense of humour, which may or may not be true.
FTR, I stopped watching Rick Mercer and “This hour has 22 minutes” when he was on due to his “Talking to Americans” schtick. Anti-Americanism now matter how it is presented is stupid and embarassing. He should be doing a “Talking to Canadians” segment if he really feels the need to show stupidity, but I guess he’s not brave enough for that.
I don’t watch Conan, but from what I’ve read in this thread, that insult dog bit sounds pretty moronic, maybe it plays better in real life. If you want to insult your own people that way and southerners find it funny when he calls them inbreds, good for them. But, I get the feeling from this thread that Americans don’t really get the sensitivity of this subject with many Canadians, it’s not just a simple regional semi-friendly rivalry. Some more reasearch was in order to find out what would actually be funny.
Well then, I hope I never see any of you Quebecois making fun of George W. Bush, United States Southerners, bad decisions regarding Iraq war, Clinton/Lewinsky or any of the other assorted rip roaring hilarities. Some of those things are sensitive to us as well.
And if you don’t think Triumph ripping Star Wars Fans to shreds is funny, then I KNOW there’s something wrong with you.
“Here are a bunch of star wars fans playing STRATEGO. A game usually played indoors…by TWELVE YEAR OLDS”
