2018 is the year of his 60th birthday, but it is also the year when Alain Chabat decides to relaunch his famous TV show: Burger Quiz. Wacky questions and crazy games, the game has been broadcast on TMC since April 25, every Wednesday at 20:45. The opportunity to rediscover the journey of a man of many talents.
Born in Oran, Algeria in 1958, Alain Chabat is the youngest of three boys. He moved to Massy in the Paris region at the age of five alongside his family. Alain is a distracted and boisterous student in class, which earns him a dismissal from several schools. He has always been passionate about artistic fields. His first dreams of becoming a comic book artist or rock singer faded for an orientation as a radio host. He debuted in the 80s on France Inter in the show L'oreille en coin. During his stay on RMC, where he hosted several shows, he met Pierre Lescure. It was this meeting that pushed him to join the Canal+ group. He will host various programs, ranging from Soon on Canal+ to the press review of Michel Denisot's show: Zénith. Always passionate about music, Alain also conducts various musical programs for the radio.
Dummies: "I'm going to commit suicide"
It was in 1987 that Alain Chabat's career took a major turn. That year, he gave birth to the collective Les Nuls. A quartet of comedians that remains, even today, a reference in French humor. A formation originally composed of Bruno Carette, Chantal Lauby and Dominique Farrugia. Together they launched the series Objectif : Nul on Canal+. With an absurd and offbeat humor, they quickly create a place for themselves in the daily life of the public. Thanks to this, host Philippe Gildas offers them their real chance: a place in his iconic show Nulle Part ailleurs. The Dummies then present their JTN: News Television Dummies. Acclaimed by the public, they found themselves the following year running their own show every Saturday night. It is with famous sketches and quotes such as "I'm going to commit suicide" that the legendary image of the quartet is formed.
From small to big screen
This success led to the first film of Dummies in 1994: The City of Fear. A very successful thriller parody, directed by Alain Berbérian (Les Nuls, l'émission, Le Boulet, L'enquête Corse) and now serving as a classic of French cinema. Chabat becomes an actor to follow. He was then offered different proposals to the cinema. He notably turned for Josiane Balasko in Gazon Maudit, a role for which he was nominated for the César for Best Actor in 1996. After which, Alain Chabat continues the feature films, often received with success (Turf, Chouchou, Prête-moi ta main…). The actor even lends his voice to the animated character Shrek. The diversity of his performances makes him a versatile actor. However, he is sometimes considered a comic actor only for burlesque characters. But directors highlight his talent in more dramatic works such as Alain Corneau's Le cousin (1996) or Michel Gondry's L'Ecume des Jours (2013).
In 1997 Alain decided to go behind the camera to direct his first film. He delivers his best interpretation on screen in his work Didier where he holds the main role. In duet with Jean-Pierre Bacri, Alain plays the role of a labrador who has taken human form. An extraordinary interpretation that proves the full extent of his talent as an actor. The film is a great success and receives the César for Best First Film as well as a new nomination for the César for Best Actor.
Consecration
But it was in 2002 that Alain met his true cinematographic consecration with the production of Asterix and Obelix: Mission Cleopatra. A pharaonic production that adapts Goscinny's eponymous work. Helped by a breathtaking cast ranging from Monica Belluci to Edouard Baer via Jamel Debbouze, the comedy made more than 14 million admissions. He followed the same year with the direction of his third film RRRrrrr!!!co-written with the Robin Hood comedy troupe.
After being content to play in several works for half a dozen years and having tried a breakthrough as a producer in Hollywood, Alain returns to his love of directing that he combines again with his passion for comics by making On the trail of the Marsupilami. He gave the lead role to Jamel Debbouze. His gift for comedy still hits the mark with more than five million admissions. His latest film for the big screen is Santa et Cie, a fantasy comedy starring Alain Chabat as Santa Claus overwhelmed by his work.
Thunderous return to television
Alain Chabat marks his big return to TV this year by putting back on the air a show he hosted in the early 2000s: Burger Quiz. Concentrated in absurd and offbeat humor, this game show is a nugget of good humor. Alain invites actors, comedians, perosnnality of the moment, like the friends of his beginnings and makes them play by team to improbable games in order to win an anonymous candidate. A program that is a real success and places the TMC channel in first place on DTT on the night of the launch.
Producer, director, screenwriter, animator, actor… Alain Chabat continues to multiply the caps for our greatest pleasure. This makes him an emblematic figure of French cinema and humour. The absurd humor of his public persona would only be better summed up by his talent as host of the Burger Quiz.
