H (TV series)
| Company type | Television series |
|---|---|
| Industry | Entertainment |
| Founded | October 24, 1998 |
| Founder | Abd-el-Kader Aoun, Xavier Matthew, Éric Judor |
| Headquarters | France |
| Products | Television series |
H is a French comedic television series consisting of seventy-one episodes, each lasting approximately 22 minutes. Developed by Abd-el-Kader Aoun, Xavier Matthew, and Éric Judor, the production was overseen by Phillippe Berthe, Édouard Molinaro, Jean-Luc Moreau, and Charles Némès. The show originally aired on Canal+ from 24 October 1998 until 20 April 2002 and continues to be broadcast weekly in Canada via TV5.
The title "H" stands for the central themes of the program: Humour, Histoire et Hôpital (Humour, Story, and Hospital).
Premise
Set in a suburban hospital on the outskirts of Paris, the narrative centers around a dysfunctional medical team whose daily routines blend professional challenges with absurd comedic situations.
Cast
- Jamel Debbouze portraying Jamel Driddi
- Éric Judor as Aymé Cesaire
- Ramzy Bedia playing Sabri Saïd
- Catherine Benguigui in the role of Béatrice "Béa" Goldberg (seasons 1–2)
- Sophie Mounicot as Clara Saulnier
- Jean-Luc Bideau as Professor Maximilien « Max » Strauss
- Linda Hardy depicting Charlotte, the daughter of Professor Strauss (season 3)
- Edgar Givry as the hospital Director
Guest appearances
Throughout its four-season run, H showcased a wide array of prominent French actors in guest and cameo roles, adding to its popularity and appeal.
- Marie-Christine Adam as Philippe's Mother
- Bernard Blancan portraying The Guide Michelin Inspector
- Richard Bohringer as St. Peter
- Anne Charrier appearing as Jessica
- Thomas Chabrol in the role of Sales Representative
- Gerard Darmon as Police Chief
- Mouss Diouf playing a Thief
- Gustave Kervern as Clément Dufresne
- Lorànt Deutsch portraying a Young Intern
- Jean-Claude Dreyfus as Cyril Strauss
- Claire Nadeau playing Eliane Strauss
- Guilaine Londez as Emilie
- Augustin Legrand portraying a Skinhead
- Serge Riaboukine as The Godfather
- Joey Starr in the role of The Devil
- Jean-Paul Rouve as Steward
- Élise Tielrooy playing a Psychologist
- Vincent Desagnat as Caregiver
- Danièle Évenou portraying an Inspector
- Frédéric Bouraly
- Thierry Henry
- Philippe Khorsand
- Urbain Cancelier
- Pierre Palmade
- Patrick Poivre d'Arvor
- Micheline Presle
- Christine Ockrent
- Jean Dell
- Richard Gotainer
Characters
- Djamel Driddi – Serving as the Orthopedics switchboard operator, Djamel is driven by financial gain and willing to resort to extreme measures such as cross-dressing, selling rats, distributing expired pizzas, or impersonating Santa Claus. Known for his compulsive lying, he frequently utters the phrase "dis-moi pas que c’est pas vrai" (Don't tell me that it's not true!).
- Aymé Césaire – A male nurse with mixed Austrian and Guadeloupean heritage. He exhibits cowardice and hypochondria alongside a cynical and arrogant demeanor. Highly preoccupied with women and sexuality, he claims proficiency in "Ebonics," though he actually speaks German. His name pays homage to the Martiniquais poet Aimé Césaire.
- Sabri Saïd – Initially a stretcher-bearer who later becomes a bartender at the nearby "Barbylone." Sabri embodies both humorous and antagonistic traits, including poisoning coworkers and locking Djamel out onto his balcony.
- Clara Saulnier – The Orthopedics head nurse known for her assertive and persistent nature. Her background includes struggles with alcoholism and work as a prostitute and adult film actress. She shares a complex love-hate dynamic with Aymé.
- Beatrice "Béa" Goldberg – A physician regarded as the most rational member of the group. Despite romantic misfortunes, she falls for Jean-François Nguyen, a French-Vietnamese lawyer; however, their wedding is disrupted on the day it is scheduled.
- Professor Maximilien "Max" Strauss – The chief surgeon who is passionate about sports memorabilia, money, and sexual fetishes but is professionally incompetent. Frequently threatened with malpractice litigation, he struggles to manage his team effectively and often forgets their names. He has a daughter named Charlotte; there are hints within the series suggesting he might be Hitler's son.
- Edgar – The hospital’s administrative director characterized by intelligence and ambition. Nevertheless, his schemes are repeatedly thwarted by Professor Strauss, Aymé, or Sabri.
List of episodes
| Season | Number of Episodes | Original Air Dates | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 20 | 1998 – 1999 | |
| 2 | 20 | 1999 – 2000 | |
| 3 | 20 | 2000 – 2001 | |
| 4 | 11 | 2002 | |
Distribution
A DVD titled Best of H has been released, alongside a comprehensive box set containing all four seasons. Additionally, the entire series is accessible for streaming on Netflix.