2 minutes du peuple

Radio sketches

2 minutes du peuple is a series of two minute radio sketches, created in 1990 and recorded by Quebec Canadian comedian François Pérusse. These approximately 2 minute sketches were initially broadcast in Quebec on the show Yé trop d'bonneheure on CKOI FM before airing on CHOE FM, CPIC FM or Énergie. From 1996 to 2012 they were also regularly broadcast on French speaking radio stations: in Belgium on Joker FM, in France in particular on Europe 2 and Rire et Chansons and in Switzerland on Couleur 3. In total, more than 3000 episodes were made between 1990 and 1996. In 2016 François Pérusse announced the end of 2 Minutes of People and instead launched Pérusse Express, a similar concept but more focused on current events. However, after this date episodes of 2 Minutes have been released occasionally, as during the COVID 19 pandemic in 2020. The sketches of 2 Minutes of People called 'capsules' by their author are recognisable by the acceleration that Pérusse applies to his voice to interpret the different characters, which gives a lively and comic effect without time outs. The absurd humour of the capsules is mainly based on a huge amount of puns, nonsense, and trick or treating. The vast majority of episodes are almost independent of each other, but have recurrent characters. They feature scenes from everyday life, songs or parodies of television shows such as The X Files, ER, Columbo, and Ça se discute and films etc. Over the years, the series attained cult status in Quebec and Europe. It has won several awards (seven Félix, six Olivier, a Juno and several Golden Ribbons), has been adapted into a TV series ("La serie du peuple") and the albums made from it have sold over 2 million copies.

The 'capsules' of 2 minutes of people form a succession of independent sketches that deal with various subjects (everyday life, news, animals, telephone canvassers or advertising) but which can also form a mini series on a specific theme (for example historical figures such as Jacques Cartier, Ludwig van Beethoven, Louis XIV, Thomas Edison or the series on musical instruments) and even parodies of games, radio and TV programmes (especially debates and talk shows or variety shows as well as television series such as the X Files, ER and Columbo) and finally humorous songs. The capsules are either in a Quebec version (Quebec French) or in a French version (French from France), with several series being unpublished in Quebec or France. There are a few recurring characters like Doctor Malcolm, Inspector Bocolon (a parody of Inspector Columbo), Krikett the super cop (capsule "Action Movie" and "Police Investigations"), "the guy who shops by telephone", Jean Charles, or even duos: Roger and Caroline, Fux Molder and Dana Scully (X Files of the People), the apprentice and the boss, the couple of the "Slangster House" or a couple who is at home or going out on the town. Other characters make a unique (but noticeable) appearance during capsules, like the Human of the Year 2000 (as imagined from the 1960s). There are also recurring elements, such as mockery of politicians, businessmen and companies, sportsmen, actors, singers and music groups etc.