Before turning to acting, Michel Charette long planned for a career as a comedian. A dream with which he reconnects more than thirty years after having put it away by presenting Charette on stage: 64% authentic, the rest…his first solo show.
It’s the historian Éric Bédard’s fault – manner of speaking – if Michel Charette did not become a comedian. “When I was in high school, Éric and I had a comedy duo,” says the actor. The Éric Bédard with the stentorian voice? Éric Bédard, professor at TELUQ University? Éric Bédard, author of numerous books, including Quebec history for dummies ? This Éric Bédard there, yes.
“He was amazing! A real clown! », exclaims his former college classmate Jean-Eudes, already a disciple at the time of the humor of Claude Meunier and the man who would become his mentor, Louis Saia. “To tell you: it was I who was his straight man, it was he who punched and who imitated the teachers. I sincerely thought I would have a career with him. ” But ?
But Éric Bédard was caught up in the story, leaving his partner to his own devices. It was more than three decades ago, during which Michel Charette inscribed himself in the hearts and memories of tens of thousands of Quebecers thanks to his characters as a touching sufferer and occasional rapper (Jean-Lou “Le Hot Dog » Duval in Radio Hell), son of a brewery owner (Léopold in The Boys) and detective sergeant (Bruno Gagné in District 31).
PHOTO MARCO CAMPANOZZI, THE PRESS
Michel Charette
It is also thanks to this role, although very serious, that Michel Charette returned to humor in 2021, through the main door of co-hosting with his friend Gildor Roy a ComediHa gala!, then another solo in 2022.
More than happy experiences following which ComediHa! offered to support him in the creation of a first comedy show, Charette on stage: 64% authentic, the rest…the running-in of which will begin in August 2024. Man, I am 53 years old ! », Exclaims Michel again, as if his days were numbered, while he seems to be bursting into flames.
I don’t want to tell myself at 75 that I missed something.
Michel Charette
Get to know him better
Even if he wants his audience to wonder what is real and what is exaggeration in his show, hence this title in the form of a nod to the ubiquity of the word “authentic”, Michel Charette promises that we will have gotten to know him well before the curtain falls. He will not hesitate to explore certain more delicate, even painful subjects, including his relationship with his weight.
“I decided to talk about it, because it’s an extraordinary comedic lever, but also because we never completely get over it,” he confides. There are days when, in my head, I am still very fat. »
The actor recently watched The weight of appearances, by Phil Roy. “And I cried so much watching his documentary. It’s like he’s telling the story of my life. Phil is one of those who told me that Jean-Lou gave them hope, by showing them that a big guy could exist on screen. »
PHOTO PROVIDED BY RADIO-CANADA
Michel Charette in District 31
Present on TV since 1993, Michel Charette has long been relegated to the role of second fiddle. “I like to say that before, I was always on the third or fourth line,” illustrates the man who clearly likes images borrowed from hockey. “ District 31 allowed me to play on the first line and the power play, Happiness too,” he says about the scathing comedy by François Avard, the third season of which will be broadcast on TVA in January.
From District 31, I sense an openness on the part of producers and broadcasters. Until then, when I presented projects, people told me: “We really like it, but if Claude Legault could play in it, we would be even happier.” Now I present ideas and the producers agree to me starring in them.
Michel Charette
The proof: Noovo announced on Monday that it would release in 2024 a dramatic comedy by Michel Charette entitled Marco Lachancein which it is not Claude Legault, but his creator, who will play the title role.
No one now has to defend Michel Charette, as has often happened during his career. It was Fabienne Larouche who had to convince Luc Dionne to hire her in District 31the screenwriter wishing not to turn to members of the cast of the previous Radio-Canada daily, 30 Lives.
PHOTO MARTIN CHAMBERLAND, LA PRESSE ARCHIVES
With Paul Houde and Louis Saia in 2001
It was the director Louis Saia who put his participation in the comedy The Boys in play so that we accept that Charette plays Stan’s son in the first film of the franchise, which will celebrate its 25th anniversary on December 12. Producer Richard Goudreau for his part had a presentiment… José Gaudet. “Louis had sent cassettes of Radio Hell to Richard. Diane, his wife, found me funny, and he decided to trust Louis. »
His best friend
It was obvious: there was no question of Michel Charette imagining his solo solo show without the contribution of his chum always, François Chénier. “François is my brother, my confidant, my psychologist,” he explains about the man with whom he has created five plays over the last fifteen years for the Théâtre des Hirondelles in Saint-Mathieu-de- Beloeil. And who is staging his comedy show.
IMAGE FROM RADIO ENFER
Michel Charette, Robin Aubert and François Chénier, in a scene from Radio Hellin 1995
Their relationship, which dated a little before Radio Hell, could however have been derailed by a war of egos, if they had both had big ones. This is because originally, it was the character of Carl “Le Kat” Charest who was supposed to get the majority of the laughs.
“But Robin [Aubert] and I started doing our crazy things and our characters scored highly in the audience tests, remembers Michel. François could have reacted badly, but he decided to become the best straight man in the world. He made the game, he put it on the palette for us and we just had to score. »
With the voice of Pierre Houde: and now Charette sets off on her escape!
Charette on stage: 64% authentic, the rest…
On tour throughout Quebec from August 2024