Scoop

The authors of the successful "Lance et Compte" series, Fabienne Larouche and Rejean Tremblay (both real journalists), wrote this fiction about the world of journalism through its oldest form: the daily newspaper.

The intrigue evolves mainly about two caracters: Michel Gagne (Roy Dupuis, from Nikita fame...), comes fresh from rural Quebec to Montreal and gets a job in the prestigious newspaper L'Express (a send-off of real Montreal French newspaper La Presse). There, trying to find stories in all layers of society (including the Mob...), he falls in love with Stephanie Rousseau (Macha Grenon), the daughter of the newspaper magnate Emile Rousseau (Claude Leveille) who owns L'Express. Though he does not approve of this, he must resignate to his daughter's choice as the couple gives birth to the future heir of the Rousseau huge fortune, a son named Francis.

For the rest: a star journalist, Dumoulin (Rene Gagnon), wonders if his future remains with L'Express, as he is also tangled with his daughter's Alex (Joelle Morin) adventures and the love relationship he has with a sexy but tough accountant of L'Express (Sophie Lorain). The chief editor, Rivard (excellent Remy Girard), is a Lou Grant-type guy: tough but straight, always arguing with the tv critic (Francine Ruel) but at the end, stays fair (however, he's hiding a gay life...). A rather klutzy journalist, Tintin (Martin Drainville), makes also its way into this world, falling in love with a colleague called Gabriella (Charlotte Laurier). And the president of the Express, Louise Duguay (France Castel) must face a tough decision of Mr.Rousseau to include a former Union Leader, Vezina (Raymond Bouchard), to increase the sales volume of the newspaper by any means, including job cuts and the menace of a strike, as the newspaper has hidden financial problems due to new and upcoming electronic media (we are in 1992 here, Internet was just close to become a "in" thing...)

Add on some intrigues, like a Canadian government MP's suicide, the management of a boxing champ by the Mob and other stories (even hockey is involved) and you got a passionnate, moving story about the journalistic world and its implication. You might be surprised how they can influence the People's way of thinking...

I've seen all the four series and it's great. Good acting, well written, and gives you a thought of how it is hard to deliver a good story to the public...

Only journalists can do that...

Scoop is steamy romance, crime uncovered, media concentration, illegal immigration and scandal all wrapped up in an hour-long package.

Dubbed in English, Scoop covers the issues of the day while digging into the lives of reporters of a fictional daily Montréal Newspaper, The Express.

Stephanie Rousseau (Macha Grenon) and Michael Gagné (Roy Dupuis) find love and conflict in their professional lives at the newspaper office and in the bedroom. The fact that Stephanie's father is the wealthiest man in Québec and owns The Express becomes temporarily, immaterial.

In one episode their relationship appears cemented when Michael is trapped in a mine while covering a story on mine workers and Stephanie waits in hope of good news on the surface.

Michael becomes the "bad boy" when he leaves Stephanie and their baby to live on his own. Will they get back together?

Will Richard (Martin Drainville) ever find fulfillment in writing an arts column instead of sports? Will the source of desk editor, Lionel's (Rémy Girard) drinking on the job and mystery of his roomate come to light?

All this and the reporters continue to cover corrupt government deals, racial discrimination, homelessnes, organised crime and abused women and children.

Fans of the "Lou Grant" series should see this one!