WATCH ABOVE: The excitement is real and the cast is dreaming big as the hit TV show was started by Canadian Lorne Michaels 39 years ago heads to Quebec. As Rachel Lau reports, Saturday Night Live in Quebec joins a surprisingly short list of international counterparts.
MONTREAL – “It’s amazing, exciting, fun, awesome – I’ve run out of adjectives!” said an excited Virginie Fortin, one of the six stars of the new Saturday Night Live Quebec.
The excitement is real and the cast is dreaming big. The hit TV show was started by Canadian Lorne Michaels 39 years ago.
“Who’s Tina Fey?” asked Pier-Luc Funk.
“I’m not nervous yet,” said Fortin. “I know I’m going to be nervous. It just doesn’t seem like it’s real yet.”
SNL Quebec joins a surprisingly short list of international counterparts with just Italy and South Korea boasting successful shows.
“The biggest challenge is that it’s live and it has to be perfect and it’s our first show and they’ve been doing it for 39 years in the US,” said Fortin.
“No pressure,” added Funk, laughing. “It’s not like it’s a legendary show.”
In the past both Spain and Japan tried to launch their own versions of SNL but folded after a few episodes each.
Quebec, though, has a little luck on their side. In an old SNL “Wayne’s World” skit, Mike Myers shares some love with the province.
“I think we’re in a great comedy era for this to happen,” said Fortin.
“I don’t know if 10 years ago it would have worked. I think now, comedians are…the shizzle. Can I say that?”
From witty comebacks to political incorrectness, Fortin says the show isn’t going to shy away – from anything.
“It’s part of the deal to criticize politics, to criticize what’s in the news, to make fun of people that we saw,” she said.
“It’s going to happen.”
With weeks of preparation now behind them, reality is finally sinking in.
Fortin says if the show’s a success, she plans to stay on the SNL stage as long as they’ll have her.
“The biggest dream is that the show comes back, it’s a hit and it lasts forever,” she said.
“40 years – like the original one.”
SNL Quebec’s first pilot episode airs February 8 on Tele-Quebec with guest host Louis-Jose Houde.
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