At the beginning of the 1970s, a new technology revolutionized the world of television: cable. Gone are the same four stations, 2, 6, 10 and 12. We can have access to lots of channels. American channels and specialty channels.
All my friends have cable. Not us. My mother only watches Radio-Canada. Why would we have that? In my opinion ! There are plenty of sporting events on CBS, NBC and ABC. Every time I plead my case to my mother, it’s no. According to her, I already watch enough TV. I should take the time I have left to read. The house is full of books. My mother reads all the time. Reading means brightening your future.
I am fru. I feel like I’m living in the old days, with our four-channel black and white TV. I have to find a way to convince my mother.
I came across an article in the TV Weeklyabout a literary phenomenon in France, at the top of the ratings, called Apostrophes, hosted by Bernard Pivot, and which will be broadcast on TVFQ, French Television in Quebec. TVFQ is on cable. I have my strong point. I do my pitch :
“Mom, you don’t know what? There is a new show that welcomes all the greatest authors to discuss their books. It seems that the host is fantastic. Everyone watches this in France. We could watch it together.
– Of course ! I’m glad you’re interested in reading. When is it?
– Sunday afternoon.
– Is it on Radio-Canada?
– No, it’s at TVFQ.
– What is that, TVFQ?
– It’s on the cable. »
My mother was right. Reading means brightening your future. Thanks to my reading of TV Weeklywe finally subscribe to cable!
Every Sunday afternoon I watch Apostrophes with my mother. Of course, before and after, I watch American football on CBS, NBC and ABC, but to my amazement, watching Apostrophes with mom pleases me as much as a Miami-Dallas game. Thanks to the prestigious guest authors, but above all thanks to the brilliant host, who, as his name suggests, is the pivot of this talk show.
Bernard Pivot is lively, passionate, not a snob for two cents. Nothing to do with the pinched intellectual who unpacks his knowledge. Just a guy who loves a good story. And who knows how to ignite those who write them. How to highlight them. And above all, how to make great minds accessible to the general public.
The plateau ofApostrophes, it’s not an ivory tower, it’s our own living room. With books lying around everywhere. The viewer never feels too much. Even if the guests are 1000 times more learned than us. Pivot’s talent is to liven up philosophical discussions, so that they do not get lost in the clouds, so that they remain on earth. With glasses on the tip of his nose, a little lost in his Post-its, he doesn’t think he’s his guests. He is a reader. And proud to be. He asks the questions we ask ourselves. React to comments as you react. We identify with him. Plus, he’s a sports fan. A football madman. We love it!
If Bernard is comfortable with Vladimir Nabokov, Norman Mailer, Alexandre Solzhenitsyn, Marguerite Yourcenar, Milan Kundera, George Simenon, Umberto Eco and Marguerite Duras, we are too. We are not intimidated by their intelligence. If Bernie can chat with them, so can we. And as a result, the reflections of these thinkers open our minds.
Bernard Pivot made a literary program a popular program. Apostrophesit was the 110% quotient of 150.
Thanks to him, I discovered lots of great authors, I devoured their works and I was able to watch lots of football, baseball and hockey games. He gave me, without knowing it, the best of both worlds: literature and cable!
He made a son and his mother happy.
I had the chance to tell all this to Mr. Pivot, during a show on ICI Première, it made him laugh.
Rest in peace.
They say that no one is irreplaceable.
But what Bernard Pivot managed to do with Apostrophesno one did it before him, no one has done it since him.
The era surely had something to do with it. But without him, it would not have been the scene of such an audience phenomenon for literature. It took his verve, his good nature, his demeanor, his franchouillard side, his knowledge, his pride and his humility.
There are people who succeed in doing something exceptional, Bernard Pivot is one of them.
Bernard Pivot is the French cultural exception.