For several weeks, Jean-Sébastien Girard has been watching two episodes of the soap opera Under a variable sky before going to sleep. And sometimes even three. “Because the punches are good!” »
Published at 6:10 a.m.
Although it is an “old series” (its original broadcast dates back to the 1990s), the comedian and host takes pleasure in diving, evening after evening, into the universe imagined by Anne Boyer and Michel D’ Astous (Yamaska, The blue Hour), which revolves around the inhabitants of Belmont, a small town in the Eastern Townships.
“It’s a basic soap opera,” describes the TV nostalgia enthusiast. “It’s filmed in a studio. And it’s very slow: people sit down to dinner, Charlotte Boisjoli serves tea… It takes three minutes before we hear a line of dialogue.”
In terms of intrigue, Under a variable sky seems far, very far from the 10 twists and turns per minute offered by STAT and Company.
PHOTO MARCO CAMPANOZZI, ARCHIVES LA PRESSE
Jean-Sébastien Girard
Patricia Nolin opened an inn. She is constantly making salads and muffins. Yesterday, a customer specified that he was allergic to garlic. They talked about it for a whole scene. I was convinced he was going to get poisoned… but no! In the end, nothing ever happened!
Jean-Sébastien Girard, on the subject of Under a variable sky
“It was totally unnecessary, but I liked it. I just felt like I was a voyeur in the hostel,” he continues.
Cultural Heritage
Jean-Sébastien Girard is far from being the only one addicted to covers of Under a variable sky. Since ICI ARTV began broadcasting last April, its episodes have attracted an average of 30,000 viewers, reveal confirmed data from Numéris, provided by Radio-Canada.
Besides Under a variable skyICI ARTV’s current schedule includes titles like Me and the other, Pepper and salt, The beautiful stories of the countries above et Blanche. And until recently, we could also follow Caleb’s daughters, Time for peace et Throw and count.
First director, acquisitions and specialty channels at Radio-Canada and a big fan of old Quebec series, Simon Dupuis confirms that the nostalgia offering from ICI ARTV represents “a large part of the viewing experience”.
Broadcasting our television productions from another era is part of ARTV’s DNA. We don’t present it more than before, but we promote it more. Because it’s become trendy to listen to series from the past. It’s less annoying than before. And this is our cultural heritage.
Simon Dupuis, first director, acquisitions and specialty channels at Radio-Canada
Comfort
Quebec tele-souvenirs also occupy a good portion of the Unis TV menu, thanks to They will, The ups and downs of Sophie Paquin, The heart has its reasons et Rooms in town. And should we mention the umpteenth covers ofA boy a girl and of The little life who continue to be a hit on ICI Télé?
As for Prize 2, it offers Catherine, The parents, Between dog and wolf, Girls’ stories, Les boys et km/h. For its part, 450, chemin du Golfwith François Morency, will join the schedule on August 12, we are informed.
PHOTO SUPPLIED BY TAKE 2
Chantal Baril, Michel Barrette, Sonia Vachon, Marilyse Bourke and Gilbert Turp in km/h
According to Nathalie Fabien, senior director, channels and programming at TVA Group, the “cocooning” and “feel-good” side of the series presented on Prize 2 explains their popularity. “When you see something again that you’ve already seen and know you liked, it brings emotions to life. »
PHOTO BERTRAND EXERTIER, PROVIDED BY TVA
Nathalie Fabien, senior director, channels and programming at TVA Group
At Take 2, we’re not very dramatic. We are not in the bombs exploding. We prefer good humor. And that is something that everyone greatly needs today.
Nathalie Fabien, senior director, channels and programming at TVA Group
According to Simon Dupuis, of Radio-Canada, television attracts viewers who are looking for “comfort”. “The films we see when we are children, the music we listen to when we are teenagers, they follow us throughout our lives. It’s something we know that takes us back to a time when we were happy, when everything seemed less complicated. »
Also young people
Listening to series from past decades is not an activity reserved for people aged 40 and over, insists Nathalie Fabien. “You would think that Take 2 would just attract old people, but no. Young people also like old fiction series,” she emphasizes.
PHOTO FRANÇOIS ROY, THE PRESS
Nicholas Richard
Sports journalist and daily work colleague The Press, Nicholas Richard is one of these “young people” who love the Quebec television of yesteryear. “ Caleb’s daughters, Time for peace… This is my true passion. Euphoria, Game of Thrones et Breaking Bad, I do not know anything about it. I am much more ARTV than Netflix. »
“I’m a cable kid,” continues the 26-year-old telephile. There is something comforting about watching Janine Sutto and Gilles Latulippe. They speak like my grandparents, like my uncles, like my aunts. »
PHOTO PROVIDED BY RADIO-CANADA
Roy Dupuis and Marina Orsini in Caleb’s daughters
THE Symphorian et Throw and count may attract young people who were not old enough (or perhaps not even born) during their first on-air tour, their target audience remains quite old. “ARTV remains a channel for 60 and over,” confirms Simon Dupuis.
“I’m an alien in my group of friends,” Nicholas Richard admits. I watch Caleb’s daughters every Christmas. My friends, they are zero at this. »
Beware of spoilers!
Whether you’re following new releases or prefer to watch old classics, one challenge remains: escaping spoilers.
Jean-Sébastien Girard realized this recently. After revealing that he watched the soap opera Under a variable sky to the listeners of the show The day (is still young) on ICI Première, some people started listening to it. And the inevitable happened. “I was at a restaurant, and a lady wrote to me that we had just learned that Guy Provost was Robert Toupin’s father. But I hadn’t watched the episode yet!”
“At the same time, it must be said that she spoiled something from 1993 for me, so…”
