Rock et Belles Oreilles
Encyclopedia
Rock et Belles Oreilles, often referred to as R.B.O., was a Québécois
radio and television comedy group that was very popular in the essentially French-speaking Canadian province of Quebec during the 1980s. Its name was a pun on the name of the famous Hanna-Barbera
blue dog character Huckleberry Hound
("Roquet Belles Oreilles" in French).
The group was formed in 1981. The original lineup consisted of Guy A. Lepage
, Yves P. Pelletier
, Bruno E. Landry
, André G. Ducharme
, Richard Z. Sirois
and Chantal Francke. Sirois left the group in 1987, and Francke left in 1992. The group separated in 1995.
RBO specialized in performing parodies
of well known advertisements, TV shows and movies, as well as impersonating politicians, showbiz stars and various famous people. They quickly became known for being highly politically incorrect. Many of their sketches poked fun at English Canadians, though this was counter-balanced by making fun of Quebec nationalists and political icons such as René Lévesque
as well. They also caused a few scandals with sketches involving feces, super-Jesus, dildos or the Holocaust.
One of their most famous recurring sketches, "Bonjour la police", was about police officers who were always eating doughnuts and coffee at Dunkin' Donuts
instead of working; a song written by the group (also titled "Bonjour la police") was based on these sketches.
Team member Guy A. Lepage became in the early 2000s a media mogul and TV series director, very popular on the Quebec entertainment scene, with popular series such as the sitcom Un gars, une fille
and the talk-show Tout le monde en parle
, based on a popular French TV show with the same title. Most other members were stand-up comics or talk-show hosts in the early 2000s.
Rock et Belles Oreilles came back for a New Year's Eve special on December 31, 2006, "Le Bye Bye de RBO" and did it again in 2007.
Quebec French
Quebec French , or Québécois French, is the predominant variety of the French language in Canada, in its formal and informal registers. Quebec French is used in everyday communication, as well as in education, the media, and government....
radio and television comedy group that was very popular in the essentially French-speaking Canadian province of Quebec during the 1980s. Its name was a pun on the name of the famous Hanna-Barbera
Hanna-Barbera
Hanna-Barbera Productions, Inc. was an American animation studio that dominated North American television animation during the second half of the 20th century...
blue dog character Huckleberry Hound
Huckleberry Hound
The Huckleberry Hound Show is a 1958 syndicated animated series and the second from Hanna-Barbera following The Ruff & Reddy Show, sponsored by Kellogg's. Three segments were included in the program: one featuring Huckleberry Hound; another starring Yogi Bear and his sidekick Boo Boo; and a third...
("Roquet Belles Oreilles" in French).
The group was formed in 1981. The original lineup consisted of Guy A. Lepage
Guy A. Lepage
Guy A. Lepage is a Canadian comedian turned producer.-Career:Lepage was one of the five founding members of the Quebec comedy group Rock et Belles Oreilles , and remained with the group from 1981 to 1995.Lepage became a media mogul and...
, Yves P. Pelletier
Yves P. Pelletier
Yves P. Pelletier is a Canadian film director, actor and comedian....
, Bruno E. Landry
Bruno Landry
Bruno Landry is a Québécois comedian and humorist. He was part of the humor group Rock et Belles Oreilles from 1981 to 1995.-External links:...
, André G. Ducharme
André Ducharme
André Ducharme is a Québécois author, comedian and humorist. He was part of the Rock et Belles Oreilles group from 1981 to 1995. He was credited as André G. Ducharme in RBO; "G. Ducharme" has the same sound in French as "J'ai du charme," which means "I have charm" or "I am charming."-References:...
, Richard Z. Sirois
Richard Z. Sirois
Richard Z. Sirois is a Canadian radio and television comedian. Previously associated with the programs 100 Limite, Les Bleu Poudre et Rock et Belles Oreilles, he currently cohosts the afternoon program Les Cerveaux de l'info on CKOI-FM in Montreal with the comedy duo Masked Avengers.He also hosts...
and Chantal Francke. Sirois left the group in 1987, and Francke left in 1992. The group separated in 1995.
RBO specialized in performing parodies
Parody
A parody , in current usage, is an imitative work created to mock, comment on, or trivialise an original work, its subject, author, style, or some other target, by means of humorous, satiric or ironic imitation...
of well known advertisements, TV shows and movies, as well as impersonating politicians, showbiz stars and various famous people. They quickly became known for being highly politically incorrect. Many of their sketches poked fun at English Canadians, though this was counter-balanced by making fun of Quebec nationalists and political icons such as René Lévesque
René Lévesque
René Lévesque was a reporter, a minister of the government of Quebec, , the founder of the Parti Québécois political party and the 23rd Premier of Quebec...
as well. They also caused a few scandals with sketches involving feces, super-Jesus, dildos or the Holocaust.
One of their most famous recurring sketches, "Bonjour la police", was about police officers who were always eating doughnuts and coffee at Dunkin' Donuts
Dunkin' Donuts
Dunkin' Donuts is an international doughnut and coffee retailer founded in 1950 by William Rosenberg in Quincy, Massachusetts; it is now headquartered in Canton...
instead of working; a song written by the group (also titled "Bonjour la police") was based on these sketches.
Team member Guy A. Lepage became in the early 2000s a media mogul and TV series director, very popular on the Quebec entertainment scene, with popular series such as the sitcom Un gars, une fille
Un gars, une fille
Un gars, une fille is the title of a Quebec comedy television series created by Guy A. Lepage and broadcast on Radio-Canada, as well as the title of its French adaptation on France 2. It is one of the most successful Quebec television shows, with a concept exported to more than thirty markets...
and the talk-show Tout le monde en parle
Tout le monde en parle (Quebec)
Tout le monde en parle is a Quebec talk show hosted and co-produced by Guy A. Lepage, broadcast on Radio-Canada since 2004. It has been adapted from the French show of the same name, created and hosted by Thierry Ardisson.- Concept :...
, based on a popular French TV show with the same title. Most other members were stand-up comics or talk-show hosts in the early 2000s.
Rock et Belles Oreilles came back for a New Year's Eve special on December 31, 2006, "Le Bye Bye de RBO" and did it again in 2007.