In Quebec, hockey is like a religion. The fans religiously watch hockey games on TV, and when there’s no game on, they crave it in other formats. That appetite led to Rejean Tremblay’s soap opera “Lance et Compte” success, as well as the success of the film franchise “Les Boys”.
On Tuesday night, the team became the first inductee of the Juste Pour Rire Hall of Fame. The new HOF will induct new members annually and has been created to pay homage to those who have made a lasting impact on comedy in Quebec.
Numerous artists were on hand to honour the actors from the franchise who have made the people of Quebec laugh through five films and a TV series. Marc Messier (the actor, not the former Edmonton Oilers), Michel Charette, Remy Girard, Pierre Lebeau, and the gang were all there; the sole empty chair was Paul Houde’s, who passed away much too young. Broadcasting legend Pierre Houde’s brother played goaltender for Les Boys famously well and was one of the funniest characters, known for his encyclopedic knowledge of hockey and his tendency to sulk.
The induction night included a speech from Guy Jodoin (who played Jean-Charles’ boyfriend in the first film), while Katherine Levac and Ludovick Bourgeois took to the stage to thank the cast for making them love both humour and the game.
Even the Montreal Canadiens were involved in the ceremony; Diane Bibaud was tasked with playing the national anthem, while Chantal Machabee, the vice president of communications, sent the names and numbers to the rafters.
Twenty-eight years after hitting the big screen, it was high time that Les Boys be rewarded for the role they played in Quebec’s culture and for giving us so many memorable one-liners such as “La durete du mental”. Martin St-Louis has nothing on Les Boys’ coach when it comes to memorable speeches.
Photo credit: Eric Bolte-Imagn Images
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