Triumph, the Insult Comic Dog is a puppet create and performed by Robert Smigel premiering in 1997 on NBC's Late Night with Conan O'Brien best known for mocking celebrities. Triumph was identified in the early appearances as a Serbian Mountain Hound. Triumph often puffs a cigar, which usually falls out of his mouth when he begins speaking. The crudeness of the puppetry behind Triumph — Smigel's arm is often clearly visible in the shot — has added to the character's popularity.