Listening to Michel Charette enumerate his many summer commitments in one breath, a thought crosses our minds: did he knowingly fill his wall-to-wall diary to avoid feeling a post-summer blues?District 31 ? “That’s a very good question,” replies the actor, slightly confused.
Posted at 9:00 a.m.
After a few seconds of silence, the time for a short introspection, Michel Charette continues his reflection. “I hadn’t seen it like that, but maybe subconsciously, I didn’t want to experience this kind of… ‘but what’s going to happen to me?’ »
For the past few months, Michel Charette has effectively been managing a prime minister’s schedule. Two TV projects in the works, the creation of a one man show, directing and writing a play, filming a series, preparing a ComediHa! and the animation of a daily on the radio.
It is moreover in the premises of Rouge FM, in Montreal, that we meet the jack-of-all-trades, who obviously knows the recipe for cushioning the inevitable fall that accompanies the end of such a dizzying adventure. Since June 20, he has held the reins of the comeback show, Copilot for the summer, with Jessica Barker. He describes the experience as “extremely positive”, despite a difficult first day.
“I looked like a deer in front of lights on the highway,” he recalls, performing his best deer imitation. Before the show, I had the dog. And yet, I had done my homework, I had attended a few recordings. But the technique, the roadmap, the commercial breaks, the weather, the traffic… It was a lot. »
After the show, I arrived home, and ten minutes later, I was in bed. I was drained! I felt like a truck had run over me.
Michael Charette
Fortunately, most of the pieces of the puzzle fell into place the next day, and Michel Charette quickly found his way around.
“Am I going to make a career out of it? I do not know. Will I repeat the experience? I do not know. But I’m glad I did. »
On the way to his first one man show
Another unprecedented experience for Michel Charette: he will be piloting his first ComediaHa gala on Wednesday! solo at the Capitole theater in Quebec. In addition to comedic stand-up monologues like Stéphane Fallu, Dominic and Martin, and Sylvain Larocque, Michel Charette promises the participation of Gildor Roy, his co-master of ceremonies for 2021, as well as a special conclusion bringing together several “characters” from a project that would have “worked well”. A popular work of fiction in which the actor participated? When you look at his roadmap, the range of possibilities is wide. radio hell ? Watatatow ? cover girl ? The Boys ? The lands above ? ladies night ? District 31 ? Impossible to find out more.
SCREENSHOT FROM YOUTUBE
In radio hellbroadcast from 1995 to 2001, Michel Charette played the memorable Jean-Lou Duval.
the one man show that he is preparing for 2024 is no secret, however, and Michel Charrette describes in clear terms the pressure he imposes on himself to meet expectations.
“A gala is six or seven-minute numbers, while a one man show, it’s an hour and a half non-stop, all alone. It’s another game. I’m going to run in. I will make sure to be 100% satisfied with the result. That’s my name on the poster. I am proud. I’ve been working like crazy for 30 years to build my career. It’s not in my nature to present something half-baked. People must get their money’s worth. »
Nonstop
As you can imagine, few things slow Michel Charette down. Even when he contracted COVID-19 last month, the workaholic continued to host Copilot for the summer from his home in Montérégie.
The pandemic hasn’t slowed down either At the Institute, the play he wrote and directed with François Chénier, his faithful accomplice. While other blockbusters like Symphorian and Anne have – temporarily – lowered their flag when the seventh wave hit their distributions, that of the Théâtre des Hirondelles, in Saint-Mathieu-de-Belœil, was spared.
Michel Charette is delighted, because At the Institute attracts crowds and provokes laughter despite a sensitive subject, mental illness.
“This is the fourth play I’ve written with François [Chénier], and very humbly, I think it is the most complete, the best built. It must be said that we take experience, too. We make fewer rookie mistakes. »
A cruel dilemma
Among all his professional activities, Michel Charette still finds time to play. He is currently filming in High demolition, the television adaptation of Jean-Philippe Baril Guérard’s novel for Séries+. In this production by Christian Laurence (The skid, 5e rank), he plays Sylvain, an ex-comedian who takes over after an anxiety attack.
In a few weeks, he will shoot the second season of the Happiness, this TVA comedy written by François Avard and Daniel Gagnon, in which he plays a teacher who decides to leave everything behind to settle in the countryside. The sequel, which will be directed by Yannick Savard (trapped, The blue Hour) replacing Alain DesRochers, will be “more caustic”, promises the actor.
The guys spoiled themselves. It swings even more. I’m reading the new episodes, and it makes no sense!
Michel Charette, about the Happiness
To conclude the interview, The Press decides to tackle a thorny subject with Michel Charette: Indefensible Where STAT ? From September, these two new daily dramas will occupy the 7 p.m. slot left vacant by District 31 in spring. The first will be broadcast on TVA, the second on Radio-Canada.
SCREENSHOT FROM THE SHOW
Bruno Gagne (Michel Charette) in District 31
This is a cruel dilemma for the actor. On the one hand, Indefensible features his friend and former colleague Detective Sergeant Sébastien Delorme; the other, STAT brings together a large part of the team behind District 31including its producers, Fabienne Larouche and Michel Trudeau, who are also responsible for the Happiness.
“Honestly, I’ll watch both,” says Michel Charette, as a good politician. I’ll give both a chance. It’s two completely different worlds: lawyers, doctors. I can’t wait to see what my boyfriend Delorme will do in Indefensible. I’m glad he got it after Poupou’s death. And I have friends in STAT : Patrick Labbé, Geneviève Schmidt… These are people with whom I have worked a lot. My heart swings between the two. »
Michel Charette will host a ComediHa gala! at the Théâtre Capitole de Québec on Wednesday, August 17. Until Thursday, he animates Copilot for the summer in Rouge, weekdays from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. The room At the Institutewhich he wrote and directed with François Chénier, is presented at the Théâtre des Hirondelles in Saint-Mathieu-de-Belœil until August 27.