Nostalgia, when you hold us… For some time now, we have been witnessing the resurrection of countless shows from the 1990s and 2000s. If reality TV programs like “Star Academy” or “Secret Story” are examples, the games are not left out. The proof with “The Fair Price”, relaunched by M6 in March 2024. The French channel seems to follow in the footsteps of the late D8, which also had fun dusting off certain concepts, such as those of “Take it or leave it” or of the “Weakest Link”. The latter is now the subject of a new remake, created by M6 and broadcast here on RTL-TVI.
Vincent Dedienne thus succeeds Julien Courbet (host of the game, from 2014 to 2015, on D8) and, above all, Laurence Boccolini, historic figure of the program, whom she played from 2001 to 2007 on TF1. The host had left her mark on the show as a sadistic examiner, with an austere look and a detestable attitude. If Julien Courbet had somewhat watered down this character, making him more mocking than cruel, Vincent Dedienne should return to a much more incisive and sarcastic tone. An exercise to which he almost never took part…
A year ago, the daily “Var-Matin” unexpectedly announced the return of “Maillon Weak”, with Vincent Dedienne as host. A leak which did not particularly please the actor. “I no longer want to do it,” he declared in the columns of “Télérama”. Before reconsidering his decision, on the air of Europe1: “I am going to refute my own denial (…) I am going to do it. » An inveterate fan of Laurence Boccolini, the actor put enormous pressure on himself before starting filming the show. The encouragement from the host finally confirmed his decision. “She knew I was hesitant, because I was afraid I wouldn’t have time to do it properly. So she just sent me a text that said: Just do it, damn it! I place a sword of blessing on your shoulder. “, he revealed to “Télé-Loisirs”.
For fear of “giving the impression of a parody”, Vincent Dedienne did not ask Laurence Boccolini to participate in this return. “I find it strange to see Jean-Pierre Foucault playing Who Wants to Be a Millionaire? “, he thus justified himself. On the other hand, other celebrities will answer the budding host’s questions. For a single evening, two teams of eight players will go to work. Among the guests, we will find Florence Foresti, Clémentine Célarié, Bernard Campan, Camille Combal, Julie Gayet, Marc Lavoine and Arnaud Ducret. People who are “paratified”, according to the presenter, but who will not lack humor, according to the first hilarious images revealed on social networks, where they all invent a character.
For a good cause
Everyone will try to put as much money as possible in the bank for the Women Safe & Children association, helping women and minors victims of violence. “Because they all prefer to show their faces on TV than make a transfer,” says Vincent Dedienne. The tone is set.
“The Weak Link”, October 19, 8:25 p.m., RTL-TVI.
Belgium
