Juvénal Tehua and Valéry Ndongo are respectively the editor-in-chief and presenter of the show "Burger Quiz," produced by On est ensemble Productions.
What are your backgrounds? Valéry:
I am, at heart, an actor and storyteller. I discovered comedy through the association "La ronde des poètes" and started doing stand-up in 2003. Then I became an entertainment producer, notably for the Africa Stand-Up Festival in Cameroon, broadcast on CANAL+.
Juvénal:
I trained as a lawyer and after graduating in law, I became interested in comedy, initially as a secret passion and as a self-taught artist. In June 2019, I started performing wherever I had the opportunity. In March 2021, I had the privilege of joining the show "LE CHŒUR DES FEMMES" before joining "BURGER QUIZ," first as a writer and then as editor-in-chief.
Can you tell us more about the adaptation of the Burger Quiz show? Is the concept the same as for the French version? Are there any specific features? Juvénal:
We are still in a burger restaurant, with two tables competing against each other by answering the host's questions. The format and its pre-existing codes provide us with a solid foundation on which the writers (from Ivory Coast, Burkina Faso, and Gabon) are free to apply themes that are specific to their culture and African realities. That's both the challenge and the appeal of adaptation work.
How did the filming go? Any anecdotes to share? Valéry:
The filming is very professional: square cue cards, costumes, teleprompter, script, jingle… it's very different from Cameroon!
There's also the pressure of this new challenge, and you have to know how to meet the broadcaster's expectations, which is only natural, since they're the ones paying… But everything still takes place in a friendly atmosphere, and mistakes are obviously tolerated, as on a show where I didn't understand the "Grand Miam," who is the invisible referee of the game. I was asking him to validate an answer given by a contestant, and I didn't understand what he was saying, so I gave an answer that made sense to me… He tried to correct me, but for me it was too late, and since there's no VAR on BURGER QUIZ, I stuck to my decision even though I was completely wrong!
Juvénal:
Filming takes place in sessions lasting several days, so that the writers have time to work on the scripts, hone the jokes, test them, and even tie them in with current events. In terms of production, it took us a few shows to get the machine up and running, but once everyone got their bearings, it started to run as desired. Then we have to juggle the unexpected, and there's always something: a fit of laughter that lasts and means we have a lot of work to do in the editing room, a presenter who loses their notes, endless discussions because the contestants and guests are playing along or are being very dishonest… In short, each show is unique, for us and for the viewer, and that's what's so enjoyable.
Who are the guests on the set? Juvénal
: We have a wide variety of artists: comedians, singers, TV presenters, actors, influencers… To name a few, we've had Digbeu Cravate, Michel Gohou, Prissy la Dégammeuse, and Willy Dumbo from Ivory Coast, as well as Omar Defunzu and Shan'L from Gabon, Edoudoua non glacé from Cameroon, Oualas, Halima Gadji from Senegal, and Moussa Petit Sergent from Burkina Faso…Once again, we want to involve all African cultures!
As the presenter and pillar of the show, how did you approach this new project? Valéry
: I was very excited about the idea of presenting Burger Quiz! It requires a lot of concentration and listening to interact with the guests while keeping control of the game so it doesn't get out of hand. Fortunately, I also have Maréshal Zongo and Omar Defunzu to help me present and bring this entertainment to African audiences.
How do you think this new program will be received? What are its strengths? Juvénal
: The strength of the program is its innovative, well-paced format. With BURGER QUIZ, we have an entertainment show that aims to make viewers smile, in a style that is different from what has been offered until now.
Valéry
: I'm inclined to believe that the reception will be positive because people in Africa never really tire of entertainment shows. The format comes from elsewhere, of course, but a good format is universal; it works everywhere. Provided it's adapted, of course! But with the team of writers behind us, and the quality of the cast on the show, we're confident.
Are there other TV shows of this kind in French-speaking Africa? Juvénal
: There have already been TV game shows and comedy shows, of course! BURGER QUIZ offers a mix of the two, with a deliberately offbeat approach. In fact, the game itself isn't really taken seriously by the guests! The questions, the different challenges, the race for points—it's all more of an excuse to have fun, talk nonsense, and enjoy ourselves!
Valéry
: But you can also learn a lot and get a taste for competition! I can assure you that the contestants will be jumping on the buzzers to try to win up to 300,000 CFA francs! But of course, viewers will mainly remember having a good time with their favorite stars!
When is it broadcast? Juvénal:
BURGER QUIZ is every Friday at 9:05 p.m. on CANAL+POP!
Valéry:
And our restaurant stays open on the MyCanal service after the broadcast…