Triumph, the Insult Comic Dog is a character puppet best known for mocking celebrities. Triumph was identified in the early appearances as a Yugoslavian Mountain Hound, hence his distinct Eastern European accent (although Triumph himself insists it is a regular "dog accent"). As his name indicates, Triumph's comedic style is almost exclusively insult comedy. Triumph often puffs a cigar, which usually falls out of his mouth when he starts talking. Triumph is performed by comedian Robert Smigel. He debuted in 1997 on NBC's Late Night with Conan O'Brien . Triumph continues to make appearances on The Tonight Show with Conan O'Brien from time to time.
Professional career
Triumph's debut was in a comedy skit about unusually talented dogs at the Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show, from which he was eventually banned (though his third visit to the show was by invitation). In addition to other dog puppets who played banjos and performed magic, Triumph appeared in his trademark persona of an obnoxious and ribald insult comic in the vein of Don Rickles. The character rapidly grew in popularity, and became a recurring fixture on the show, often mocking the show's celebrity guests and leaving the studio to harass the general public in pre-taped remote segments.
Some of Triumph's best known skits involved him visiting the Westminster Dog Show, where he would often be found "humping" (attempting to mate with), and occasionally being "humped" by other dogs. Smigel and Triumph have been ejected from several events for Triumph's antics, including Westminster (three times), the Honolulu line for auditions for American Idol , and the 2004 Democratic National Convention (while shooting an aborted movie project).
In one memorable segment, Triumph interviewed Star Wars fans waiting in line for the theatrical premiere of Attack of the Clones . In that segment, Triumph met Blackwolf the Dragonmaster (who calls himself "New York's unofficial wizard"). Originally visiting the lineup to "pay his respect" to the Star Wars fans, Blackwolf was spotted by Triumph and cited as being "a geek from another dimension". Approaching Blackwolf, Triumph quickly associated him as being part of the Lord of the Rings fan base (based on Blackwolf's fantasy costume) and then asked, "Have you ever spoken to a woman without having to give your credit card number?" Triumph then pitted a Star Wars fan (in full Jedi costume) in a mock duel against Blackwolf and stated that the winner would be declared the "uber-dork". Another moment involved a pregnant Star Wars fan who was also waiting in line. When told of the baby's expected due date, Triumph responded, "that's the last time he (the baby) will see female genitalia." Later, while talking to a fan dressed in full Darth Vader regalia, Triumph directs his attention to the buttons on his chest and remarked, "Which one of these calls your parents to pick you up?" Eventually irritated by the Star Wars cosplay activity, Triumph concludes his day at the Star Wars lineup by summoning "Angry" Spock (another Late Night with Conan O'Brien character). Dressed as the Vulcan character Spock (from the Star Trek franchise) and possessing a quiet demeanor, "Angry Spock" promptly and silently proceeds down the lineup and nonchalantly gives everyone the finger. The segment was shown as part of a series of Late Night with Conan O'Brien Best-Ofs during the final two weeks of that show's run.
Triumph went on to insult the entire state of New Jersey when he traveled to the Meadowlands to interview Bon Jovi on their return to their home state (according to Triumph: "much like poop, returning to the butthole.") He proceeded to tear down everything the band has done, knocking their age, lack of media ("People have come from as far away as exit 12!"), Jon Bon Jovi's foray into acting ("I hear your next movie is a vampire flick. Finally a role that requires you to suck!") and even humped Heather Locklear's arm. (She was married to Bon Jovi lead guitarist Richie Sambora at the time). Triumph displayed a mock playlist on the stage consisting of song titles like Crap , Poop , Loads of crap (ballad version) and others saying "They haven't performed Poop since 1987! Awesome!" He visited the "real heterosexuals" (the road crew) and produced his own bong made from a doggy squeaky toy. He, naturally, insulted every drunk fan he could find knocking the 1980s dress and hair along with the blue collar and unemployment jokes. For his finale, he got to sing You Give Love a Bad Name with the band and his own words. Humped a shar pei/ pulled out too late/ now that bitch has a litter of eight/ they eat all the Alpo off my plate/ oh why the hell didn't I just masturbate?! Look at you guys, have you no shame, you give poop, a bad name!
Triumph also had several memorable segments filmed during the 2004 Presidential Campaign. During that year's Democratic National Convention in Boston, which Triumph was eventually thrown out of, he and Michael Moore attempted to crash Bill O'Reilly's set. O'Reilly, getting makeup at the time, shouted, "If I have to come out there, Insult Dog, you're gonna be talking a lot higher than you are now." Later in the campaign, after the third presidential debate, Triumph went on a memorable tour of 'Spin Alley', the traditional post-debate press briefing in which high-profile members of both parties "in the tradition of Joseph Goebbels, Baghdad Bob, and Carson Daly, ladle out poop stew", according to Triumph. During this segment Triumph insulted many famous political strategists, including Karl Rove ("You're Bush's brains, Karl. I was expecting a much smaller man"), Paul Begala ("This guy's head was so far up Clinton's butt, they called him The Colonoscope"), and Joe Lockhart ("Can you spin a woman into thinking you don't look gross in the shower?") In an exchange with conservative commentator Ralph Reed, Triumph tried to ask a question about gay marriage, only to be rebuffed as Reed said, "I don't take questions from dogs." Triumph responded: "Oh, you'll take it, bitch!"
In addition to regular appearances on Late Night with Conan O'Brien , Triumph has appeared on the MTV Video Music Awards, including an exchange with Jennifer Lopez in which he asks Lopez for permission to sniff her butt because "for a dog, it's like climbing Mount Everest." MTV later removed the segment from rebroadcast airings. The following year, Triumph interviewed Moby and then approached an angry Eminem, prompting MTV to cut away from the segment. Eminem later referred to and impersonated Triumph on the track "Ass Like That" from his 2004 album Encore , and subsequently appeared in the video, with Eminem playing Triumph. Other appearances include CBS Television Distribution's Hollywood Squares live in New York City in 2000, The Osbournes (Christmas Special) and Smigel's TV Funhouse . In February 2004, there was a skit where Triumph hurled insults at French Canadians in Quebec during Late Night' s special week of shows taped in Toronto. He poked fun at Quebec nationalism, at one point telling a portly French-Canadian that before separating from Canada he should "try separating from donuts first." Triumph also told non-English speakers that he could smell their crotch (in English). When one person walked away from the camera (with a string of curses) because he did not understand what Triumph was saying, the puppet replied, "You are in North America, learn the language!"
In June 2005, Triumph went to the Santa Maria courthouse, where fans were awaiting the Michael Jackson verdict. "Until the trial is over," reported Triumph, "none of us can really know if Michael is innocent or guilty. But there is one thing we do know... he's guilty!" Triumph also made fun of several foreigners supporting Jackson, including a Bulgarian man who was wearing a bright lime-green shirt. In front of the man there was a sign, stating "the only victim is Michael," to which Triumph replied with, "he's not the only fashion victim, I can see that!", and, "Tainted Love, 'bee bee boop', tainted love," implying the man was wearing a 1980s wardrobe. He suggested to a female fan that if she really wanted to get Michael's attention she should "wear a nice dress, something low cut, maybe with a six year-old boy on your shoulder." Upon seeing a Michael Jackson impersonator sing and do the moonwalk, Triumph asked him if he could "do Michael masturbating to Home Alone ."
In November 2005, Triumph hosted "Poopapalooza" at the Flamingo Showroom in Las Vegas as the closing act of the initial "The Comedy Festival". Triumph pooped on various Las Vegas performers, including Cirque Du Soleil-style gymnasts, "The Neon Man", and the Michael Jackson impersonator he'd met at the trial. There were also cameos by Jon Stewart, Penn and Teller, Lance Burton and Gilbert Gottfried.
Triumph also made an appearance on Conan's show on a recent Christmas-themed skit ("The Lighting of the Vigoda") where he sang "I Saw Mommy Humping Santa Claus."
Triumph gave his New Year's resolutions and showed a montage of his work over 2005 on Conan's show.
In 2006 Triumph made an appearance on Conan celebrating the Chinese New Year being "The Year of the Dog," stating "It's my year!" and helping himself to various merchandise in New York City's Chinatown. He visited a butcher shop and vomited immediately upon tasting a Chinese delicacy. He also made an acupuncturist wear S & M gear.
In March 2006 G4 aired a special, The Best of Triumph the Insult Comic Dog , consisting of clips from Triumph's Best of DVD. Triumph filmed short segments with Blackwolf the Dragonmaster
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