As he was the creator of many TV shows about art abroad, he failed to realize his TV projects, always refused by French TV officials. With the victory of the socialist candidate at the Presidential election in May 1981, he was « persona non grata » on French TV.« La chronique de Jean-Pierre Thiollet : M. l'académicien a des ennuis », Le Quotidien de Paris, 20 May 1983.
