FBI agents Bullit (Kad Merad) and Riper (Olivier Baroux) have no choice. Their unacceptable behavior while representing the famous Federal Bureau of Investigation is about to earn them a sanction from the disciplinary committee. If they want to escape it, and at the same time restore their image, they must get their hands on the mysterious serial killer of YouTubers who is rampant in Washington… Time for nine episodes of Pamela Rose, the series, directed by Ludovic Colbeau-Justin, we find all the burlesque and offbeat humor that usually characterize the adventures of these characters who have become cult. Because they have been supporting the careers of the two actors for thirty years. “We did everything with Pamela Rose : radio, TV, cinema, podcasts…” laughs Kad Merad.
“If we had known that 30 years later, we would be here talking about it…”
It all started in 1993 on OuiFM. “At that time, the radio was directed by Bruno Delport (who now co-produces the series). It’s thanks to him that we are here, remembers Kad Merad. With Olivier, we were each involved on our own. We didn’t do the same time slot. At 9 a.m., he handed me the microphone and I went until 1 p.m. The longer it went, the more this passage was an opportunity to do micro-sketches. Bruno decided to make us work together and we created the “Rock’n’roll circus”, a show that woke up Parisians.” In this morning, priority is given to humor. “We started doing improv, knowing that we were very cinema and TV.” This is how it is born But who killed Pamela Rose? – with reference to Twin Peaks – and what are these two American cop characters created. “How come Bullit and Riper?” We don’t know, we haven’t thought about it. If we had known that 30 years later, we would be here talking about it… It was improv, we weren’t writing. A sketch among many others,” assures Kad Merad.
Being able to “enjoy the characters even more”
The matter does not end there. On TV, Kad and O continue to bring these FBI agents to life in “La Grosse Emission”, the daily show that they present on Comédie!. Their popularity with viewers is such that they become the heroes of two feature films, which multiply references and nods to American series and films (X Files, Seven, Thesilenceofthelambs, 24 hours flat…): But who killed Pamela Rose? by Éric Lartigau, in 2003.; And But who killed Pamela Rose again ?, produced by the acting tandem nine years later. Then we remain without news from Bullit and Riper until 2020. The project of a Pamela Rose live, on television, was once considered but did not see the light of day. But the scenario exists. Between two confinements, Kad Merad and Olivier Baroux have the crazy idea of offering Canal+ an audio film, a sort of 90-minute podcast, available on Christmas Eve. “It worked pretty well and we said to ourselves: why don’t we do a series? », remembers Bruno Delport, the co-producer. With these 9 30-minute episodes, the two actors appreciate being able to “enjoy the characters even more”. Faced for the first time with writing this format, Olivier Baroux emphasizes that if in films, “the investigation could seem anecdotal to leave as much room for gags and jokes”, here we have a real investigation.
Mister V, fan of Bullit and Riper
“ Pamela Rose, it’s our bond, our cord to both of us, we are connected for life. Then it’s so pleasant to play, to write, then to take young people with us,” rejoices Kad Merad. Because the two FBI agents have their fans, as attested by the comedian and actor Mister V, who plays a YouTuber in the series. “When I was little, I dreamed that I ended up with Bullit and Riper. I grew up and started in comedy having seen Pamela Rose so the circle is closed,” he summarizes. Today the “Pamela Rose” franchise has enough fans for the series to be called that without it ever being referred to in any of the nine episodes! Moreover, internationally, this production is entitled Bullit and Ripera much simpler and more effective title for those who don’t have the codes.