Network: Société Radio-Canada (SRC) TV Network
Broadcast Run: 1972 to 1997
Broadcast Medium: Television
Génies en herbe invited young francophones in their senior high school year from all across Canada to participate in a quiz show where they were able to display their knowledge, verve and intelligence.
Several TV hosts piloted these educational duels, including Serge Arsenault, Marc Filion, Michel Benoît, Jean Moreau, Pierre McNicoll, Claude Deschênes, Élaine Lauzon and Martin Gélinas.
Broadcast until 1997, the Génies en herbes formula underwent several modifications during its run. As of 1986, it even took on an international flavour with the presentation of an initial Canada-France match-up, and then a series involving the championship teams from seven francophone countries.
The program concept proliferated far and wide outside of the TV studio and became a mainstay in the educational milieu, where thousands of schools and colleges from coast to coast participated in numerous tournaments.
Written by Yvon Chouinard – February, 2006