REMINDER: Our jury consisted of twelve journalists and columnists: Cédric Bélanger, Alexandre Caputo, Maxime Demers, Sophie Durocher, Guy Fournier, Raphael Gendron-Martin, Bruno Lapointe, Sarah-Émilie Nault, Mélissa Pelletier, Emmanuelle Plante, Guillaume Picard and Danny Vear .
40. Belle and Boom
Broadcast: September 2003, presented on Télé-Québec
Normand Brathwaite Photo provided by Télé-Québec
The Belles came and went, but the Bum stayed true to his post. Normand Brathwaite has been running this musical event for two decades, where veterans and new faces meet on set every week. (BL)
39. Hello Hello
Airdate: September 1988 to present on TVA
Gino Chouinard Photo provided by Salut Bonjour
Since its debut on the air, Salut Bonjour has quickly become the must-see morning gathering for Quebecers, who now religiously eat lunch in the company of Gino Chouinard. (BL)
38. Floor and Tumbler
Broadcast: October 1968 to December 1971 on Radio-Canada
Luc Durand and Marc Favreau in “Sol et Gobelet”. Photo provided by Radio-Canada
An entire generation grew up with Sol and Gobelet, the characters created by Marc Favreau and Luc Durand. Thanks to numerous new broadcasts and new lives on VHS and DVD, the series continued to make a name for itself. (BL)
37. 19-2
Broadcast: February 2011 to April 2015 on Radio-Canada
Réal Bossé and Claude Legault in “19-2”. Archive photo
Réal Bossé and Claude Legault starred in this series, portraying two police officers who worked together against their will. The adaptation of 19-2 to English Canada was also a great success. (BL)
36. Outliers
Aired: January 2018 to March 2020 on TVA
Jean-François Ruel (Damien) and Ludivine Reding (Fanny) in the series “Fugueuse”. The Quebec Journal
This descent into the hell of a teenager into the world of prostitution was not only the starting signal for Ludivine Reding's career, but also caused quite a stir in the cottages after the first episodes were broadcast. (BL)
35. Shovel
Broadcast: January 1992 to April 1995 on Radio-Canada
Macha Grenon and Roy Dupuis in “Scoop.” Archive photo
Created by Réjean Tremblay and Fabienne Larouche, this popular feature film series takes us behind the scenes of the newsroom of a major Montreal newspaper and enjoyed enormous success on the small screen in the early 1990s. (MD)
34. Me and the other
Broadcast: October 1966 to August 1971 and September 1995 to April 1997 on Radio-Canada
Dominique Michel and Denise Filiatrault in “I and the Other”. Photo provided by Radio-Canada
This comedy, starring Dominique Michel and Denise Filiatrault, was one of the first color programs to air on Radio-Canada. In its first season in 1966, it attracted nearly two million viewers per week. A sequel was broadcast on the same antenna 30 years later. (MD)
33. The World Target Race
Broadcast: October 1988 to April 1999 on Radio-Canada
World Target Race 1993-94. From left to right: Guy Nantel, Michelle Widmann, Marie-Julie Dallaire, Isabelle Leblanc, Felix Phuc Nguyen-Tan, Chloé Mercier, Marie-France Bojanowski and Stéphane Prévost. PHOTO provided by RADIO-CANADA
What do Denis Villeneuve, Ricardo Trogi and Philippe Falardeau have in common? These renowned filmmakers were featured in this legendary show, where contestants had to film short reports every week in different locations around the world. (MD)
32. The end of the world is at 7 o'clock
Broadcast: September 1997 to April 2000 on TQS
Marc Labrèche as part of the program La fin du monde est à 7 o'clock, on TQS. Archive photo
Marc Labrèche laid the foundation for his absurd humor by hosting this fake news show, which also introduced us to Bruno Blanchet, Isabelle Maréchal and Jean-René Dufort. (MD)
31. The anger
Broadcast: June 1998 to December 2007 on Radio-Canada
Véronique Cloutier hosted “La Fureur”. Archive photo
Hosted by Véronique Cloutier (then of Sébastien Benoit and Élyse Marquis), this musical variety show, presented live each week from Radio-Canada's Studio 42, was must-see television in Quebec for about ten years. (MD)
30. Everyone is talking about it
Broadcast: Since September 2004 on SRC
Photo from the archives of Karine Dufour, provided by Radio-Canada
Tout le monde en parole is modeled on a French format and was hosted by Guy A. Lepage, who welcomes current players to his table. It quickly became a must-see Sunday event. (CB)
29. Claire Lamarche
Broadcast: 1990 to 2002 on TVA
Photo archives provided by TVA
From life after death to relationships between men and women, every topic imaginable was discussed at this daily meeting. It is estimated that Claire Lamarche has heard the testimony of more than 90,000 people in twelve years. (CB)
28. Never two without you
Aired: September 1977 to June 1980, then September 1990 to December 1992 on SRC
Photo archives provided by Radio-Canada
The immortals Jean Besré and Angèle Coutu play the famous Duval couple in this television novel by Guy Fournier, one of the first novels with a gay character on Quebec television. (CB)
27. Infoman
Broadcast: Since October 2000 on SRC
Photo archives provided by Radio-Canada
For almost a quarter of a century, on the fine line between information and entertainment, Jean-René Dufort imposed an irreverent style that made him the best enemy (or worst friend) of politicians. (CB)
26. Unit 9
Broadcast: September 2012 to December 2019 on SRC
Photo archives
In the role of the unforgettable Marie Lamontagne, Guylaine Tremblay was the cornerstone of this gripping and unprecedented break-in at a women's prison in Lietteville, watched by two million viewers. (CB)
25. In a galaxy near you
Broadcast: 1999 to 2001 on Canal Famille, then on Vrak
Guy Jodoin, Didier Lucien, Mélanie Meynard and Stéphane Crête in a scene from “In a Galaxy Near You”. Archive photo
Science fiction comedy, we are aboard the ship Romano Fafard in the year 2034. Captain Patenaude and his crew must find a new planet to welcome humans as the Earth is too polluted. Raised to the status of legend, Claude Legault, Guy Jodoin, Réal Bossé, Mélanie Maynard, Stéphane Crête, Didier Lucien and Sylvie Moreau distinguished themselves there. (EP)
24. 4 ½
Broadcast: 1994 to 2001 on Radio-Canada
Actor Robert Brouillette played Louis in “4 and a Half.” Photo provided by Radio-Canada
Louis and Isabelle are a young couple who share an apartment where friends often come to chat and express their opinions. At the same time, Louis works in a veterinary clinic where strange situations arise and which is run by a rather gruff veterinarian. This television novel marks the beginning of a long literary collaboration between Sylvie Lussier and Pierre Poirier. (EP)
23. Fortier
Broadcast: 2000 to 2004 on TVA
Anne Fortier, played by Sophie Lorain. Photo provided by AETIOS PRODUCTIONS INC
Sophie Lorain plays the title role in this detective series by Fabienne Larouche. Fortier is a bumbling clinical psychologist who is busy exposing criminals in his work with the police. As the intrigue progresses, we discover that Anne Fortier is hiding a past that explains her insight into dealing with criminals. (EP)
22. Virginia
Broadcast: 1996 to 2010 on Radio-Canada
Chantal Fontaine as Virginie Boivin. Photo provided by Radio-Canada
Daily soap opera directed by Fabienne Larouche and set in a high school. Virginie Boivin (Chantal Fontaine) is concerned about the success of her students and the well-being of her colleagues and family. The everyday life of the Sainte-Jeanne-d'Arc school has been depicted in more than 1,500 episodes with a gallery of endearing characters. (EP)
21. Time for peace
Broadcast: 1980 to 1986 on Radio-Canada
Nicole LeBlanc (Rose-Anna Saint-Cyr) in “The Time of Peace.” Photo provided by Radio-Canada
Television novel by Pierre Gauvreau with Nicole Leblanc that touched the hearts of Quebecers. We are in rural Quebec between the wars and its social divides. We follow the fate of four families, including that of Rose-Anna, a strong-willed widow and mother who manages her land in La Malbaie. (EP)