The sexuality of lobsters

“As I was surfing through night TV channels on the cable, I eventually stumbled upon one where some people were having an apparently entertaining discussion and seemingly having a good time at it. With my broken French, I could understand they were talking about the sexuality of lobsters. And then, after a while, they changed the topic and started a vehement debate about the letters of Gustave Flaubert. I was totally mesmerized. And I realized a vivacious man was the moderator and he seemed so impassionate and at ease with every subject that could possibly be addressed. "Oh so French did I then say to myself!”

This statement made by James Lipton, the famous American interviewer, totally unknown in France, is an example of how Mr. Lipton became enthralled with Bernard Pivot, a famous French TV moderator, totally unheard of in America. What seemed to particularly impress Mr. Lipton was the famous questionnaire which Bernard Pivot presented to his guests at the end of each program. So impressed was Mr. Lipton with this questionnaire that he decided to use it at the end of his own programs.

The French program Mr. Lipton had encountered, called “Apostrophes”, was famous in France in the 70s and 80s. It was a weekly literary opportunity to discuss new books covering a wide range of topics including novels, essays, sports, sciences, and philosophy. Nothing was deemed unworthy of Mr. Pivot’s attention. Aired each Friday in the second part of the evening, the program had obtained an absolute cult status in France, with an audience in the millions! Simply put, life would stand still for two hours as millions of French citizens had eagerly waited for Friday to arrive. Editors were dying to have their authors presented by Mr. Pivot because they knew their books would be instant best-sellers the very next day. It is fair to say that the impact this program had on French literary life cannot be underestimated.

After some 15 years, and after over 1,500 French and foreign authors had the opportunity to promote their books, “Apostrophes” came to an end to the dismay of most of the French. Mr. Pivot had to start another similar program called “Bouillon de Culture”. But in the end he was worn out and decided to finally put an end to it. However, Mr. Pivot also created another program, again an incredible success, called “La Dictée”, (The Dictation) a yearly competition focused on the most terrifying traps the French language can conceal. Needless to say, even the best-educated scholars were prone to make numerous mistakes when they dared have a try at it. This competition was open to foreigners of course. Once, the Dictation even took place in New-York.

Ok, you may think, we’ve read enough about this Mr. Pivot, and what does he have to do with Americans, other than this strange fascination our James Lipton has with him? Well, Mr. Pivot also conceived a program after the year 2000 called “Double Je” (play on words meaning “double me/double game”) which introduced to the French people foreigners who had decided to embrace French culture and often had decided to settle in France. Among these foreigners were a fair number of Americans including historian Robert Paxton and musician William Christie. This last program was aired 25 times with something like 80 foreigners being introduced, mainly artists.

Is that all? No, apart from his TV programs, Mr. Pivot is also the publisher of a monthly literary review, “Lire”. He’s a dedicated football fan and also a wine grower in Burgundy where he’s from. Books and discussions, football and wine, seductive appearance, all smiles and elegantly clad. Would that be why Mr. Lipton sees the archetypal Frenchman in Mr. Pivot?

Note 1: The performance of American author Charles Bukovsky is still very vivid in French memory. He was dead drunk on the set and had to be moved away by the security staff.

Note 2: Another American appeared on Apostrophes: Mohammed Ali for the French version of his auto-biography.

Note 3: The painting is “Un coin de table” by Henri Fantin Latour at the Musée d’Orsay in Paris. Two famous French poets, Arthur Rimbaud and Paul Verlaine, sit on the left side of the table,