Behind the scenes of Zénith | Véronique Cloutier’s moment of truth

We felt she was in perfect control throughout the day. Relax, even. Except 60 seconds before going on the air, time to hear him confess a certain agitation: “Moman is on edge! »

Framed in close-up while waiting for the countdown to begin which will launch the second season of Zenith, Véronique Cloutier suddenly appears worried and – surprisingly – fallible. His gaze transformed. Her face shows signs of nervousness, something she will confirm to us after the show. Alone in the middle of a crowded studio, she silently rehearses her opening text. “Let’s go Véro! », chimes a spectator.

The host then cracks a joke that she repeats when she feels her stress level skyrocketing: “I’ll do a load of white!” »

But as soon as the recording starts, we know she doesn’t want to be anywhere else, especially not in front of her washer, monitoring a delicate cycle.

It’s 8 p.m. and Véronique Cloutier regains her usual confidence… which she will maintain until the closing credits, and then some. Crossed after the show, the host seems galvanized and “full of gratitude”, an expression she has been using regularly for some time. Admiring the work of the team behind Zenithshe admits to being moved.

Rigor and pleasure

Véronique Cloutier has not left Grandé Studios since this morning. When we arrived, around 10 a.m., she was already in technical rehearsal. Dressed in black jeans and a gray hoodie emblazoned with the logo of Zenithshe sees us and approaches for two reasons: to greet us… and above all, to explain to us that she wears her cap backwards to allow the technicians to adjust certain effects of light, and not because she is crossing her “rapper” phase.

The step is tedious and lasts up to 12:30. In particular, it allows you to correct several transitions and camera movements. The singers who will perform in the evening do not participate. While waiting for their arrival, communications students replace them. On TV, these extras are commonly called “crabs”.

Despite the heaviness of the exercise, Véronique Cloutier finds pleasure in it. She invents choreographies with Mariève Proulx and Franck Julien (the chorus members), she gossips (Claude Bégin is said to have proposed to Lysandre Nadeau in Jamaica), she imitates Marie-Mai in Big Brother Celebrities (“I love Marie-Mai,” she explains), she sends emails (her cell phone within reach, in her back pocket)… When a “crab” sings You Oughta Know by Alanis Morissette to allow the team to find their bearings during the karaoke segment, the host shows so much enthusiasm that you would swear that the recording is in full swing. Same enthusiasm during Three little blows by Johnny Farago.

“I want us to take the time to do things well, but we have to keep the spirit of the show,” she explains in an interview.

“A war machine”

Véronique Cloutier works without a teleprompter, except when she presents the artists at the start of the program, when they appear behind the rotating columns, while we hear the introductory music. Everything must be perfectly synchronized. One sentence too many, and everything goes to shit, as we noticed during our visit. The host also wears a headset, but the instructions are clear: it should only be used in the event of a technical glitch, such as a pointing bug, for example.

“It’s a war machine,” says Sophie Morasse, new interim general director, television, of Radio-Canada.

Throughout the day, Véronique Cloutier establishes a relaxed atmosphere in front of and behind the camera. Whether she is laughing out loud at the CCM (hair, costume, makeup) with Marcus Villeneuve, her official hairdresser, encouraging the candidates between two blocks of rehearsals or recording messages to feed social networks, her Energy circulates behind the scenes, confirms the content producer and co-designer of the show, Dominic Anctil, who has worked with the host for around ten years.

“Everyone is trying to take the machine further. People are generous. It starts from Véro. She’s a trooper. She always puts her team forward. It percolates. It creates a ripple effect. »

Just a facilitator

Ordinarily, Véronique Cloutier would slip away in the afternoon to host her radio show on Rouge FM, from a specially equipped room less than a hundred meters away, “graciously lent by Grandé and the team of France Beaudoin”, where the latter records Live from the universe each Saturday. She would reappear around 6 p.m., just in time to complete the preparations. But this week, the host took leave of Fantastic to concentrate its efforts on Zenith.

On this cold winter day, does she feel that she is taking one last breath of air before beginning a free dive from which she will not emerge until spring? Not at all, she replies.

Tiki Debrief

It is now 9:45 p.m. The recording ended almost an hour ago. The show went well. For a first after nine months of stopping, we can speak of a flawless performance.

Véronique Cloutier is surrounded by the team of Zenith in the cafeteria area of ​​the Grandé studios, for a festive debriefing session over a drink, served by Élyse Marquis, seated at the Tiki-style counter. The president of KOTV and spouse of the host, Louis Morissette, joined the group. The real assessment will take place tomorrow.

Still on adrenaline, Véro plans to continue her conversations, let the dust settle and then return home, to fall asleep around 1 a.m.

“When I was 22 and I hosted Furyit was more like 4 a.m.,” she explains.

At 49, Moman needs sleep to stay at her peak.