In approaching the serious question of the present economic recession, the authors of this program rejected sermonizing, pithy debate and edifying presentation. Their point of departure was a serious analysis, of course, one offered by economist Michel Albert in his boo “ Le Pari Français” (The French Wager). But they turned it into ENTERTAINMENT. They selected the famous actor YVES MONTAND as the guide, since he is well known and credible to the French television audience. In addition, they made use of little fictions, video effects, games and humour. They wanted to tell a story, rather than explain. And they tried to meet the challenge once launched by sociologist Alfred SAUVY: “ If somebody managed to make a clear presentation of the world’s economic affairs, it could be as fascinating as a detective story.” SIGNIFICANCE FOR INPUT: Since economic is an arid subject that often drives the public away, VIVE LA CRISE took the course of dealing with it as entertainment, but without falsifying it. TWELVE MILLION televiewers watched this broadcast.