When Eva Longoria, actress of “Desperate Housewives”, announced a month ago in the show “En aside” on Canal + that she had fallen under the spell of Limoges (Haute-Vienne) by following her ex-husband Tony Parker during a basketball game, the residents blushed, unaccustomed to being complimented in this way.
But on RTL, comedian Alex Vizorek was surprised by this unexpected declaration of love. “Eva Longoria says she loves Limoges. And that’s the shock,” he laughed. The mayor declared a week of national holiday. A popular ball will be held every day at Limoges Bénédictins station. »
RTL went a little further, on November 1, through Philippe Caverivière’s column. “80 euros is still four spritzes in Paris and 42 spritzes in the provinces. This is why you are more alcoholic ladies in the provinces, especially in Limoges,” he said. A running gag within the radio station which does not unduly sadden the residents interviewed.
“You have to take it for what it is, 3rd degree”
“As long as people talk about us… We have to take it for what it is, 3rd degree,” summarizes a Limougeaud we meet in the street. It must be said that residents are rather used to seeing their city presented negatively to the outside world. When we know that the commonly used verb “sack” comes directly from the name of the city and sticks to it like chewing gum to a shoe. Residents have no choice but to self-deprecate.
Others, however, did not really appreciate these repetitive humorous features. “It’s low-level province bashing,” analyzes Guillaume Guérin, LR president of Limoges Métropole. “It’s more ridiculous than funny. The spritz is cheaper here and we are happy about it. I leave the pollution, the rats in the streets and everything else to this caste of Parisian bobos. Stay where you are. »
Mayor LR Émile Roger Lombertie recognizes that it was “more pleasant to hear Eva Longoria repeat that she loved Limoges than to hear taunts”. And to add, without resentment: “Limoges suffers from a very unfair regular bashing. We are waiting for the RTL comedians with arms wide open for a live broadcast from Limoges, as they launched the idea! » For sure, spritz will be served to them… And for cheap.