Top Pickle (Top Cornichon), along with his friends Brigitte the toothbrush and Galipette the ninja hamster, gets little ones moving and laughing by transforming mishaps into funny and whimsical adventures, on Télé-Québec. In Sleepover With… (Une nuit avec Christine) on illico+, Christine Morency invites three friends for a sleepover and challenges them to a sleepless night! Two documentaries about topics close to Quebecers air : Pothole (Nid-de-poule) on Télé-Québec and Where Were You, Serge? (T’étais où Serge?) on ICI Tou.tv. Pushing the Limits (Le grand saut : le pari de Justine Dufour-Lapointe) tells the emotional story of the skier’s first season on the Freeride World Tour’s perilous circuit, on ICI Tou.tv. Hit youth series First Line (Premier trio) continues to gain popularity abroad with its sale in France, Belgium, and Switzerland. Sonia Cordeau’s comedic thriller, Breathe In Breathe Out (Inspirez expirez), returns to Crave for a second season, this time tackling the world of motivational speakers. Car Tracker (Traqueur de chars) follows bailiff Michel Gaucher as he leads investigations to recover stolen and fraudulently acquired vehicles, on Canal D. On Évasion, Philippe Laprise travels across Quebec on his ATV and discovers new trails to explore with Off-Road Phil (Phil tout terrain). Still as relevant as ever, the documentary series On Duty 24/7 (De garde 24/7) wins three Gémeaux awards and returns for an 11th season. In Simon et Tyler racontent (Un balado de Simon et Tyler), the beloved comedy duo perform their own version of classic works of literature and cinema with their guests.
Winning a total of nine awards at the 39th Gémeaux Awards, Avanti-Toast positions itself among the key players in the industry by offering quality, unifying and diversified programs. First Line (Premier trio) is sold in Finland and Sweden, generating excitement on the international market, and becomes the most-watched original youth series in Quebec since the launch of the ICI Tou.tv platform. Discreet (Discrètes), written and directed by Sophia Belahmer and Juliette Gosselin, premieres at the opening of the Courts d’un soir festival, before finding success internationally as part of the official selection of several festivals, garnering over 30 nominations and 19 awards around the world. Mélissa Bédard, Mélanie Couture and Guylaine Guay prove that nothing should be an obstacle to fun activities in Big Girls Just Wanna Have Fun Too (Toutoune journée). On Unis TV, The Farmer’s Table (La table du fermier) follows Jean-Martin Fortier as he pursues his dream of food sovereignty on the lands of the Old Mill in Stanbridge East. On Duty 24/7 (De garde 24/7) airs on Télé-Québec for a tenth season.
Critics are praising Breathe In Breathe Out (Inspirez expirez) and calling it the comedy of the year. A real breath of fresh air, this yoga retreat turned nightmare stars Sonia Cordeau and Virginie Fortin. The Quirky Family (La Petite Vie) reunites for a new season thirty years later; the Parés might be older but they are still united by love… and a good dose of humor. First Line (Premier trio), based on Nadia Lakhdari’s book series, charms viewers on ICI Tou.tv EXTRA and ICI TÉLÉ. This inspiring youth series follows Chloé, a star hockey player who integrates an elite men’s team. Patrick Senécal propose : De glace, a horror fiction podcast set in the middle of an ice storm, launches online on Radio-Canada OHdio.
In June 2022, Monique Lamoureux (Avanti Groupe), Patricia Blais (Avanti Groupe) and Ian Quenneville (TOAST Studio) announce the creation of the television production company Avanti-Toast. The teams from both companies pooled their expertise and, in the first year, produced over 90 hours of content of different genres, pointing to a promising future for this new partnership.
Three seasoned lawyers hear disputes between citizens and deliberate to grant damages in Everyday Justice (Les Justiciers) on Noovo. In the documentary What Now? (Et maintenant?), led by Mélissa Désormeaux-Poulin, five victims of sexual assault recount the emotional trajectory of their recovery. Christine Morency : sans filtre takes us into the daily life of the comedian as she prepares her first one-woman show. On the Vrai platform, the second season of Wild Cooks (Chefs de bois) is a feast for the eyes… and the stomach! Oh What A Year! (Cette année là) returns with a new formula for its 5th season, with the incomparable Marc Labrèche still at the helm. For the first time in the series’ history, On Duty 24/7 (De garde 24/7) highlights the challenges of healthcare professionals in remote areas on top of those in major centers.
The web series Sleep With Me (Dors avec moi), a psychological thriller starring Sophie Cadieux, arrives on ICI Tou.tv and is recognized internationally in the official selection of several festivals. The youth series Unexpected Family (Les Bienvenu… ou presque!) allows us to discover talented young actors on ICI Tou.tv EXTRA. Police On Duty (Police en service) is back for a second season on Télé-Québec, along with new episodes of the podcast Police en service – retour en arrière online.
New Faces (Nouveaux visages), broadcast on Vrai, offers a VIP entry into the world of modeling through the eyes of Marikym Hervieux, the founder of Humankind Management. Seven Feet Over (Sept pieds sur terre) arrives on AMI-télé, offering an incursion into the lives of four men who are over 7 feet tall. On Unis, three young adults take flight across Canada to complete 40 challenges with the series L’effet papillon.
In May 2021, Patricia Blais and Monique Lamoureux become the new owners of Avanti Groupe, continuing the activities of the company’s Television and Distribution divisions.
The comedy Surviving Parenthood (Survivre à ses enfants), starring Mélissa Désormeaux-Poulin and Mani Soleymanlou, arrives on ICI Tou.tv EXTRA. On Télé-Québec, the new documentary series Police On Duty (Police en service) immerses the public in the lives of police officers from the Quebec City police department, the SPVQ. Its companion podcast, Police en service – retour en arrière, looks back on two significant events of the TV series. We continue to discover the daily life of Saint-Henri high schoolers in the third season of the documentary series 180 Days (180 jours). A major cultural rendez-vous, Oh What A Year! (Cette année-là) begins its fourth season on Télé-Québec. Alix and the Wonderfolk (Alix et les Merveilleux) brings fantasy to the hearts of children for a third season on ICI Télé and Télé-Québec.
Three TOAST productions feature in the launch of the new Vrai platform: Wild Cooks (Chefs de bois), the wildest culinary competition in Quebec; Love Me (Aime-moi), an emotional true crime; and The Last Glacier (Le dernier glacier), a documentary series about an expedition to spectacular but dangerous lands. Trois fois par jour et vous, in which Marilou and her guests cook together while discussing food-related topics, arrives on Zeste.
In March 2020, the WHO declares a global pandemic and Quebec, along with the whole world, goes on “pause”. On Duty 24/7 (De garde 24/7), with the help of the hospital staff, gets to document the daily lives of the healthcare professionals as they face an unprecedented crisis. With the situation rapidly changing every day, Talk of the Town (Tout le monde en parle) adapts its format and moves to live broadcasts. A real breath of fresh air for culture lovers, Oh What A Year! (Cette année-là) is back on Télé-Québec and Marc Labrèche never fails to cheer up viewers every week with a good sketch. A new adaptation of Fib Finders (Les détecteurs de mensonges) is released in Finland. Internationally, the documentary series On Duty 24/7 (De garde 24/7) and 180 Days (180 jours) shine with their wins of two medals and an award.
TOAST continues to produce podcasts, now with its first horror fiction: Patrick Senécal propose : Écho. On the Savoir Média channel, That Is the Question (Telle est la question) allows groups of citizens to obtain answers to various questions, directly from experts in the matter. With Le country de Drummond, Pascal Allard, also known as the cowboy in sneakers, tells the story of a unique bit of Quebec musical history.
Alix and the Wonderfolk (Alix et les Merveilleux) transports youngsters into a fantasy world on ICI Télé and Télé-Québec. In the United States, the series Adam & Eve is adapted for the FOX network, which orders a pilot based on Claude Meunier’s concept. The captivating documentary series On Duty 24/7 (De garde 24/7) is back for a 5th season on Télé-Québec. 180 Days (180 jours) continues its incursion into public schools, this time in the Montreal district of Saint-Henri.
TOAST enters the world of podcasting with three projects that are as interesting as they are diverse: Entre filles, Comment être drôle, and Les jeunes sages.
Avanti Ciné Vidéo, Avanti Présente and Distributions Avanti Ciné Vidéo become Avanti Groupe. On Télé-Québec, Oh What A Year! (Cette année-là), a big cultural TV production hosted by Marc Labrèche and his collaborators Simon Boulerice, Emilie Perreault and Fred Savard, goes on the air for the first time. For a 15th consecutive year, Talk of the Town (Tout le monde en parle) remains the must-see Sunday night event in Quebec. A third cohort of comedians emerges in the documentary series Les 5 prochains.
For the first time, TOAST collaborates with Télé-Québec on This Is a Serious Time (L’heure est grave) in which Virginie Fortin and Guillaume Girard put a humorous spin on current affairs, along with their collaborators and guests. The documentary Montréal XXX exposes the city’s porn scene. In Moment décisif, three entrepreneurs go head-to-head and respond to the same call for tenders.
Acclaimed by both critics and viewers, the documentary series On Duty 24/7 (De garde 24/7) provides a peek into the inner-workings of a new hospital for its third season on Télé-Québec. Comedic duo Dominic and Martin celebrate 25 years of career with Juste Dominic & Martin.
The docu-series Traqueurs d’ondes spotlights news photographers, who listen to police frequencies in order to find recent accident scenes. La magie de Casse-Noisette takes us behind the scenes of one of Canada’s greatest ballets in their production of the Nutcracker.
After the broadcast of 1,298 episodes from 1993 to 2001, Hot Pepper (Piment Fort) and its host, Normand Brathwaite, are back on air on TVA. The comedy My 80s Teen Misadventures (Mes petits malheurs) charms people of all ages on ICI Radio-Canada Télé. On Télé-Québec, the documentary series On Duty 24/7 (De garde 24/7) offers a never-before-seen incursion into the unusual daily lives of doctors, while the documentary Neither Boy Nor Girl (Ni fille ni garçon) focuses on the phenomenon of intersexuality.
Two short-form series for kids are produced for Radio-Canada: Do Not Recreate at Home (À ne pas faire à la maison) and Le monde est petit.
With the success of The Angel’s Crib (Le berceau des anges), Séries+ achieves record ratings. Also on Séries+, the dramedy Dumped! (Mon ex à moi) receives rave reviews and brings a breath of fresh air to the channel. The patriarch of the beloved Paré family is back with the Ti-Mé show on ICI Radio-Canada Télé. We follow the rise of five comedian newcomers in the second season of the documentary series Les 5 prochains.
The documentary Kurdistan, de gré ou de force airs on RDI.
Talk of the Town (Tout le monde en parle) celebrates its 10th anniversary. The format Love Bugs (Un gars, une fille) is crowned Best Fiction Format in International Television History by the prestigious independent research house The Wit.
Miss Chic Tonic (Miss Chic Tonique) is a new series that aims to inspire teen girls and help them gain self-confidence. With the show being so popular, a holiday special called Sapins et paillettes is produced for Vrak. On Canoë, the documentary series Outrun (Toujours plus loin) follows Sébastien Sasseville as he races across Canada to raise awareness for diabetes.
Ahead of its very own 25th anniversary, Avanti celebrates many others. 20 years of The Quirky Family (La Petite Vie) are recounted through an exhibition at Trois-Rivières’ pop culture museum. Je suis né un lundi… au Club Soda pays tribute to the actors and comedians who made their big break at the Lundis des Ha! Ha! comedy shows 30 years earlier. The special 25 ans de l’École nationale de l’humour celebrates the school’s quarter of a century.
Claude Meunier presents a satire of couple life over three generations with Adam & Eve. On Canal D, Solved! Forensic Police Files (Police scientifique) sheds light on the solving of crimes in Quebec.
Malenfant shatters viewership records for an original series on Séries+ and obtains 8 nominations at the Gémeaux Awards. ARTV takes an interest in the next generation of comedians with the documentary series Les 5 prochains. Radio-Canada pays tribute to a legendary comedy trio with C’est Noël avec Paul et Paul.
Jean-François Mercier takes the helm of the entertainment talk-show Un gars le soir on V. The public grants The Quirky Family (La Petite Vie) an honorary Gémeaux award for the “Best series of the last 25 years”.
The Paré family reunites the time of a TV special in La Petite Vie Noël Story, all the while the documentary 15 ans de La Petite Vie highlights the success of the cult series in an exclusive broadcast. Avanti also produces Spectacle de la Fête nationale dans la Capitale and creates its very first webcast, La joute junior.
La joute, a Croatian format, is adapted with Stéphan Bureau as host and reinvents Friday nights on Télé-Québec. On Radio-Canada, the sitcom Roxy debuts, while the successful series Casino returns. Avanti creates and produces the show Rencontres as part of Quebec City’s 400th anniversary.
With Shooting Stars (Les étoiles filantes), Avanti Ciné Vidéo trusts in a new generation of creators with François Archambault as writer and Ricardo Trogi as director. On Canal Vie, Maître chez soi helps dog owners and their pets live together in harmony. A DVD of the best moments of the original Quebec version of Love Bugs (Un gars, une fille) is released in France.
Casino airs for the first time on Radio-Canada, garnering impressive audience ratings that exceed a million viewers.
Ding et Dong : la vraie histoire revisits original sketches from the famous absurdist comedy duo formed by Claude Meunier and Serge Thériault. On Canal Vie, the documentary series Erreurs médicales punctuates personal stories with hard-hitting legal and medical information.
SMASH, Daniel Lemire’s first television series, is broadcast on Radio-Canada. In collaboration with Guy A. Lepage and Radio-Canada, Avanti forever changes Sunday evenings with Talk of the Town (Tout le monde en parle).
By producing a 15-DVD compilation of all 130 episodes of Love Bugs (Un gars, une fille), the company launches the most ambitious DVD project to date in Quebec. This marks the beginning of a new adventure that allows the team to develop their expertise in distribution.
The dramatic comedy 3 x rien airs for the first time, revolutionizing the production of comedy shows with its bold and enhanced visual style. Avanti makes its debut on specialty channels with C’est ma vie and the docu-series Le monde est sexe on Canal Vie.
The popular series Willie airs with great success on TVA.
France buys the format Love Bugs (Un gars, une fille), which will become the most adapted scripted format ever in the world.
André Melançon takes a thoughtful and moving look at Olivier Guimond’s career, with Benoît Brière playing the great and influential Quebec comedian. The series Cher Olivier wins nine Gémeaux awards and two Can Pro awards.
Love Bugs (Un gars, une fille) is broadcast for the first time. The trials and tribulations of Guy and Sylvie will span 130 episodes.
A new generation of writers and actors emerges in Majeurs & Vaccinés. This is where Catherine, the character played by Sylvie Moreau in the eponymous comedy, is born.
Avanti brings back a great classic, Moi et l’autre with Dominique Michel and Denise Filiatrault.
On October 16, The Quirky Family (La Petite Vie) airs for the first time. A cultural phenomenon, the show will go on to become the most-viewed television program of all time in Quebec. Hot Pepper (Piment Fort) revolutionizes early evening television with an average of 800,000 daily viewers through their eight years on air.
Roch Voisine, L’idole is decorated at both the ADISQ and the Gémeaux awards, kicking off the development of Avanti’s recognized expertise in variety programs.
The game show Fib Finders (Les détecteurs de mensonges) wins its first Gémeaux award, pointing to a promising future for this original concept of which over 1,100 episodes have been produced. Avanti presents its first drama series, Montréal ville ouverte, and focuses on developing its youth and variety offerings.
Jean Bissonnette and Jean-Claude Lespérance establish Les Productions Avanti Ciné Vidéo in the spring of 1989.
