Triumph, the Insult Comic Dog
Triumph, The Insult Comic Dog is a puppet created and performed by Robert Smigel in a variety of situations, primarily on NBC's Late Night with Conan O'Brien where the character originated.
Triumph's debut was in a comedy skit about unusually talented dogs. 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.
In 1999, pets.com filed a lawsuit against Late Night and Robert Smigel claiming that Triumph constituted a trademark violation because of possible confusion with their sock-puppet dog mascot (which first appeared two years after the first appearance of Triumph); however, the bankruptcy and closing of the company during the dot-com bust of 2000 terminated this lawsuit before opening arguments had even been heard. Similarities have also been noted between Triumph and Ed the Sock, a Canadian TV personality who is also an insult-hurling, cigar-chomping sock-puppet (though in Ed's case, he is actually a sock).
Triumph's longtime catch phrase is "...for me to poop on," usually spoken to negate a compliment that precedes it, i.e. "You're a great audience... for me to poop on!"
In addition to regular appearances on Late Night with Conan O'Brien, Triumph has appeared on the MTV Movie Awards and Smigel's TV Funhouse.
In 2003 Triumph released his first album, Come Poop With Me, featuring adult comedy and songs, plus a bonus DVD of live performances by Triumph.
On August 10, 2004, NBC released a DVD featuring select Triumph appearances from Late Night.
Famous Triumph sketches
- Triumph visits Quebec during Conan's special series of shows taped in Toronto, Canada, generating a small firestorm of controversy from local politicans. - A sample insult, hurled at an overweight man, was "Are you a separatist?... Maybe you should try separating yourself from donuts first."
