Claude Meunier would have liked Radio-Canada to broadcast the six new episodes of The little life on television rather than initially releasing it on the paid platform Tou.tv Extra – but what attracted more attention when watching the first two episodes on Monday was the lightning appearance of Serge Thériault in her role as Moman in the very last scene of the sixth episode.
Serge Thériault was not expected to return to duty, but he eventually agreed to wear one of Moman’s jackets and one of his famous hats, as he did in the hit comedy’s 59 episodes from 1993 to 1998.
Moman (Serge Thériault) is omnipresent in the new episodes of “La petite vie”. Popa (Claude Meunier) is very bored. PHOTO BY ERIC MYRE PROVIDED BY RADIO-CANADA
The scene in question was – unlike the rest of the series and the new episodes – recorded without an audience and with a reduced crew on set. The conclusion was also presented to the media gathered at the Maison de la Culture in the Verdun district. We’re talking about a striking appearance, but one that warms the heart and will certainly delight fans of La petite vie.
“He was happy to be there, but of course he was upset. He experienced the same as the rest of us,” said Claude Meunier at the round table, saying that the magic is still there and that the return of Serge Thériault, as unexpected as it is surprising, has allowed us to “close the circle “.
Claude Meunier during the press screening of the first two episodes on Monday at the Maison de la Culture in Verdun. MARIO BEAUREGARD/AGENCE QMI
“I was always afraid that he wouldn’t come because Serge sometimes comes down because of his condition. But he was in a good phase there.”
We know that Serge Thériault, as we saw in a touching documentary, had mental health problems and depression that isolated him from his friends and playmates.
“We laughed, we had fun. “It was clear to us that this scene was short and sweet,” added Claude Meunier, who had a lot of fun aging his characters.
They haven’t changed!
In the new episodes we find our favorite characters, the same settings and even the credits have been preserved. And it’s still just as funny as we saw when we viewed it in the presence of 100 lucky spectators. Despite her absence, Moman is omnipresent until the very last scene.
The actors Marc Messier, Josée Deschênes, Marc Labrèche and Diane Lavallée in one of the six new episodes. PHOTO BY ERIC MYRE PROVIDED BY RADIO-CANADA
Ti-Mé (Claude Meunier) always takes care of his trash, but in Moman’s absence he has to cook and whips up all sorts of disgusting muffins; Réjean (Marc Messier) leaves prison and falls into his usual plans; Thérèse (Diane Lavallée) undertakes astral travel and continues to wear extravagant wigs; Raynald (Marc Labrèche) and Lison (Josée Deschênes) are still together, but Raynald is having a hard time; Caro (Guylaine Tremblay) remains “covered” after a long stay in Africa and Rod (Bernard Fortin) still needs help with his laundry!
For his part, Pogo (Rémy Girard) no longer has all of his abilities, but fortunately his Linda (Sylvie Potvin) wants him.
The focus in the episodes is therefore on family, even if there are cameo appearances, such as that of Marina Orsini as a Tinder fan and with a real mommy look…
Only on TV in February
As for not broadcasting the episodes initially on ICI Télé, as Claude Meunier demonstrated on Sunday in Tout le monde en parole, the broadcaster justifies its “strategy” by saying that most of the people who watch Radio-Canada are also subscribers to the paid platform Tou are. tv Extra and that a “switch to digital” must now take place.
Actors Rémy Girard, Claude Meunier, Sylvie Potvin, Marc Labrèche, Diane Lavallée, Josée Deschênes, Bernard Fortin, Guylaine Tremblay and Marc Messier pose in the company of composer Luc Gilbert, script consultant and director Josée Fortier and director Pierre Séguin and producer Monique Lamoureux during the press screening on Monday. MARIO BEAUREGARD/AGENCE QMI
“We have the same audience. […] We want to offer it ad-free initially. I believe that this is how people want to consume,” explained Christiane Asselin, the main director of ICI Tou.tv, specifying that those who are not subscribers will have to wait until February 2024 to watch the six new episodes on television on Saturday evenings see.
Claude Meunier still feels “hurt” that we have to wait three months for La petite vie au petit screen to air, while the return of Un Guy, Une Fille with Guy A. Lepage and Sylvie Léonard is a week to air We have to wait for the unveiling on Tou.tv Extra.
The six new episodes of La petite vie are produced by Avanti-Toast and will be available on Tou.tv Extra from October 3rd.