Editing Les Guignols (section)

=== Political influence ===
The impact of political caricature in the ''Guignols'' is unclear, but some polls have shown that they have influenced voters.<ref name=":0" /> According to [[Ipsos]] (2002), the show had a good reach within the younger 18-32 audience segment. The popularity of Chirac's puppet has undeniably played a role in his 1995 election as Les Guignols had become a major broadcaster of biased political opinions.<ref>{{Cite news |date=2019-09-27 |title=Jacques Chirac, le Guignol |url=https://www.lemonde.fr/disparitions/article/2019/09/27/jacques-chirac-le-guignol_6013220_3382.html |access-date=2024-08-22 |language=fr}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2019-09-26 |title=Jacques Chirac, le chef d’oeuvre des Guignols de l'Info |url=https://www.lejdd.fr/Medias/jacques-chirac-le-chef-doeuvre-des-guignols-de-linfo-3921893 |access-date=2024-08-22 |website=lejdd.fr |language=fr}}</ref> The show had created an electoral slogan for Chirac ("Mangez des pommes") that the candidate reused publicly during his campaign.<ref>{{Cite news |date=2002-03-22 |title=Présidentielle française - Le triomphe des "Guignols de l’info" |url=https://www.lorientlejour.com/article/370940/Presidentielle_francaise_-_Le_triomphe_des_%253C%253C_Guignols_de_l%2527info_%253E%253E.html |access-date=2024-08-30 |work=L'Orient Le Jour |language=fr}}</ref>

The French journalist Hugo Cassavetti criticized how the show evolved from a political goof for everyone to a partisan show with a political agenda, turning Canal+ into a leftist political hub.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Cassavetti |first=Hugo |date=2000-03-18 |title=Les Guignols de l'info, canal hystérique |url=https://www.telerama.fr/television/les-guignols-de-l-info-canal-hysterique,128845.php |access-date=2024-08-27 |website=www.telerama.fr |language=fr}}</ref> Bruno Gaccio reminded that Les Guignols "aren’t real, it’s fake news-it’s just comedy", and also said "if American audiences could get a brief dose of ''Guignol'' humor, their perceptions would never be the same again."<ref name=":1">{{Cite web |last=Crumley |first=Bruce |date=2002-01-21 |title=No Strings Attached |url=https://time.com/archive/6952479/no-strings-attached-2/ |access-date=2024-08-30 |website=TIME |language=en}}</ref>

''Les Guignols'' created mixed reactions regarding their provocative coverage of the [[September 11 attacks]], for example when they portrayed [[Osama bin Laden]] triumphantly singing "''It’s Raining Planes''", or by depicting [[George W. Bush]] as mentally challenged. By 2002, 3.5 million viewers watched the show everyday, including 25% of the 15-25 segment.<ref name=":1" />