Les Guignols de l'Info

of France is routinely lambasted by the Guignols as an incompetent and a liar. Here, he is depicted in front of the Élysée Palace, donning the costume of Super Liar (F: Super Menteur), a super hero with no shame about making the most outrageous lies and the most untenable promises.

Impact on popular culture

In many cases, people who watch the show begin to perceive public personae through their puppet character. Many young people, normally uninterested by politics, probably follow political actuality mainly through the Guignols.

The Guignols have an anti-American tinge, especially directed at George W. Bush and the United States armed forces.

Famous characters

• PPD is a caricature of Patrick Poivre d'Arvor (aka PPDA), a well-known news anchor. He is depicted as a rather cowardly journalist who tries to get along with the mighty and the powerful. He is also offering a wide variety of hairstyles, trying to mask his receding hairline.
• Commander Sylvester and Mr Sylvester are fictional characters. During the first Gulf War, the Guignols had a character called Commander Sylvester with Sylvester Stallone's face. Cdr Sylvester would explain the war in broad terms, like "here we're the Good people, and here are the ragheads, so we'll kill everybody there...". After the war was over, Cdr Sylvester changed into Mr Sylvester, the ubiquitous executive from the military-industrial complex, the corporate world (all mixed into the World Company fictional holding), and the CIA. Mr Sylvester is dressed with a suit and tie and wears a security badge. Mr Sylvester has twin copies of himself in all such positions (some with greyish hair).
• Jacques Chirac is depicted as a kind of beer-guzzling, lying, impulsive incompetent pilfering public money. The Guignols went as far as to introduce the character of Super Menteur (Super-Liar), a super hero, into whom Jacques Chirac changes in times of need (see Clark Kent/Superman). Super Menteur is capable of uttering the most unbelievable lies, while not getting caught.
• Joey Starr and Doc Gynéco: The gangsta rapper Joey Starr, convicted for various violences, is portrayed as a brutal individual. He is often coupled with rapper Doc Gynéco to discuss matters related to the consumption of cannabis.
• Bernard Tapie is represented has a bully, speaking in a very vulgar way. However, he is often used by the authors to present their own viewpoint.