Patof

''Patof'' is a character in the highly successful Canadian children's television series ''Patofville''. He was portrayed by actor-comedian Jacques Desrosiers.

Television, performances, and comics

In January 1972, the clown Patof made his appearance in the series ''Le Cirque du Capitaine'' on the French-language Quebec television station CFTM-TV Channel 10. He hosted three different series: ''Patofville'', ''Patof raconte'', and ''Patof voyage''.Jacques Desrosiers, ''Millionnaire'' (1981). Retrieved 3 October 2011.

Patof told jokes and stories characterized by puns and often ended his numbers by exclaiming "On m'applaudit!!!" (applaud me!!!)

He had a successful recording career during the 1970s. Songs like "Patof Blou" (1972), "Patof le roi des clowns" (1972), "Patofville" (1973), "L'éléphant Tic-Tac" (1973), "La plus belle poupée du monde" (1973), "Bienvenue dans ma bottine" (1974), "Gros minou" (1975), and "Bonjour Patof" (1975) are among his greatest hits.

Patof participated in the Shriner Circus in 1973 and 1974, at the Montreal Forum.

He recorded an English single called "The King of Clowns".

Some of Patof's adventures were released as recordings and comic strips, including ''Patof en Russie'', ''Patof chez les esquimaux'', ''Patof chez les coupeurs de têtes'', ''Patof dans la baleine'', ''Patof chez les petits hommes verts'', ''Patof chez les cowboys'', ''Patof raconte'', ''Patof découvre un ovni'', ''Patof en Chine'', and ''Patof chez les dinosaures''.

Character background

The character's full name is Gregor Patof. According to his background story, he was born in Bobruisk, Belarus. Patof's father was a clown, and he and his wife both worked for a circus in Moscow. Patof lost his father at the age of six, and his mother died a few years later, reportedly from laughter after seeing a bearded woman.Pierre Richard, ''25 ans de télévision au Québec'' (1986). Retrieved 3 October 2011

As an orphan, Patof went to work at a circus. Everything in his environment reminded him of his parents, however, so he decided to leave. Not wishing to drastically alter his climate, he moved to Montreal in Canada, a city as cold as Moscow.

He was lucky to meet "Capitaine Bonhomme" who, always ready to help, found him clowning work on television. Patof rapidly became popular with children. Making numerous personal, unpaid appearances at hospitals and orphanages, he won many hearts.''34th Shriners Circus Program at the Montreal Forum, 29 May to 2 June 1974'' (1974). Retrieved 3 October 2011

Besides being a clown, Patof is also the mayor of Patofville, a fancy city filled with surprises for young and old alike, where he lives with his friends Boulik, Polpon, and Itof.

Characters

Patof

Gregor Patof is a Russian clown and the central character of Patofville, of which he is also the mayor. He appears for the first time in the television series ''Le cirque du capitaine''. His costume consists of red pants and a tweed fitted coat with collar and matched cuffs. He wears enormous red shoes named "tatanes". In Patofville, he lives in a big yellow bootee. He is also the director of the Patof Circus.

Polpon

Mister Polpon is the police and fire brigade chief of Patofville. The best friend and confidant of Patof, he lives in a huge teapot, which doubles as a prison.

Itof

General Itof is a Russian spy whose mission is to return Patof to Moscow. Inventor, imitator, and practical joker, he is also a master in the art of disguise. He wears a Cossack's traditional costume as well as a surprising moustache, which transforms according to its own wishes. In Patofville, he lives in a huge pumpkin.

Boulik

Boulik (full name: Boulik Scavanovitch) is Patof's faithful dog. Stemming from the famous Toutousavanski race, he can speak and goes crazy when he sees a cat.

Minor characters

* Patof Circus members: Patof Circus is composed of the fortune teller Madam Sauratout, the acrobats "Les Fabuleux Risquetout", the giant Pandemur, the elastic man Sétir, the two dwarves Fromage and Chocolat, the tamer Mister Desfauves, the mahouts and elephant trainers "Pachy et Derme", as well as the ringmaster, Turira.
* Patof Circus animals: Among the main attractions at the circus are the performing horses Macaron and Macaroni, Bananof the gorilla, and Tic-Tac the elephant.
* Amikwan
* Fafouin
* Madeleine
* Midas
* Monsieur Qui
* Monsieur Tranquille
* Uncle Tom
* Tut-Tut

Filmography

Television series

* ''Le cirque du Capitaine'' (1972–1973)
* ''Patofville'' (1973–1976)
* ''Patof raconte'' (1975–1976)
* ''Patof voyage'' (1976–1977)

DVDs

* ''Bonjour Patof'' (20111)

Discography

Albums

Singles

Compilations

Collaborations and performances as guest star

Charts

Meritas hit parade chart

On the Meritas chart, which was the most reliable chart list in Quebec at the beginning of the 1970s, ''Patof Blou'' reached #1 during two weeks on 16 September 1972''Le palmarès Méritas, 16 septembre 1972''
Photo-Vedettes, 16 septembre 1972, page 8.''Le palmarès Méritas, 23 septembre 1972''
Photo-Vedettes, 23 septembre 1972, page 8. and ''Patof le roi des clowns'' reached #7 on 30 December 1972. Jacques Desrosiers received two golden recordsIn Québec at the time, the benchmark for a gold record was 100,000 sales. for the two singles.

Reconstituted chart

= Songs

=
Title / Date / Best rank / Weeks on chart
* 1972 "Patof Blou" / 1972-07-01 / #1 / 16 weeks on chart
* 1972 "Patof le roi des clowns" / 1972-10-21 / #2 / 22 weeks on chart
* 1973 "Oh! Les enfants" / 1973-04-07 / #14 / 5 weeks on chart
* 1973 "Patofville" / 1973-09-01 / #15 / 19 weeks on chart
* 1974 "Bonjour les enfants" / 1974-01-12 / #15 / 11 weeks on chart
* 1974 "Bienvenue dans ma bottine" / 1974-11-16 / #31 / 1 week on chart

=Albums

=
Title / Date / Best rank / Weeks on Top 30
* 1972 ''Patof en Russie'' / 1972-09-23 / #5 / 7 weeks in Top 30
* 1972 ''Patof dans la baleine'' / 1972-12
* 1972 ''Patof chez les petits hommes verts'' / 1972-12
* 1972 ''Patof chez les cowboys'' / 1972-12
* 1973 ''Patof chante 10 chansons pour tous les enfants du monde'' / 1973-05
* 1974 ''Patofville – Patof chante pour toi'' / 1974-03
* 1974 ''Bienvenue dans ma bottine'' / 1974-12
* 1975 ''Patof le roi des clowns'' / 1975-04
* 1975 ''Amikwan – Koi koi ayaho'' / 1975-04
* 1980 ''Nestor et Patof – Pour tous'' / 1980-05

Bibliography

* 1972 ''Patof raconte'', Éditions de l'Homme
* 1972 ''Patofun'', Éditions de l'Homme
* 1972 ''Cuisinons avec Patof'', Éditions de l'Homme
* 1973 ''Patof découvre un ovni'', Éditions Mirabel
* 1974 ''Patof en Chine'', Éditions Mirabel
* 1976 ''Patof chez les dinosaures'', Éditions Mirabel
* 2009 ''Une journée à Patofville'', Éditions Les Intouchables (Non-canon)
* 2009 ''Patof à la rescousse de la forêt'', Éditions Les Intouchables (Non-canon)
* 2009 ''Patof et le monstre du lac'', Éditions Les Intouchables (Non-canon)

References

External links

French blog about Patof and Jacques Desrosiers

{{Authority control

Television characters introduced in 1972
Fictional clowns
Fictional Russian people
Television shows filmed in Quebec
1970s Canadian children's television series
1972 Canadian television series debuts
1978 Canadian television series endings
TVA (Canadian TV network) original programming
Television shows about clowns