Radio on the TV

As I type, I’m in the middle of watching Les Stars des l’Année 2007 on France 2. It’s a year-end wrapup for the world of French pop culture with music performances throughout – so far, Amel Bent, um, Céline Dion and the irrepressible, fiftysomething Johnny Hallyday. The show is mentioning stuff like actress Eva Longoria’s marriage to the San Antonio Spurs’ Tony Parker (who’s French); the death of guitarist Fred Chichin of the excellent 80s synth-rock band Les Rita Mitsouko; President Sarkozy’s divorce; the deaths of Nicholson/Beatty-era actors Michel Serrault, Jean-Claude Brialy and Vincent Cassel. The program isn’t really like a Grammys or Dick Clark’s New Year’s Rockin’ Eve, mainly because the hosts are sitting around talking about the year after each performance (talking and talking, in typical French fashion).