Patrick Lagacé downloaded an app that counts down the time left before he has to get up to host his first morning show on 98.5 FM this Monday. When our interview began, his phone displayed 6 days, 10 hours and 22 minutes.
Does this type of countdown soothe or annoy the journalist? Neither, he answers on the other end of the line. On the road after another day of preparations, Patrick Lagacé speaks of simple “curiosity.” The real countdown began in 2022, when he committed to taking over from Paul Arcand, who hung up his microphone last June after 34 years at the helm of a morning show.
As the successor to the “king of the airwaves”, Patrick Lagacé obviously expects comparisons. But once again, it doesn’t seem to worry him.
“I have been compared to [Benoit] Dutrizac when I started at Free-shooters. I was compared to Paul Houde when I started at Quebec now“I’m immune to comparisons. I’ve had my booster shots. Today, I don’t give a damn,” the host says resolutely.
PHOTO FRANÇOIS ROY, THE PRESS
Patrick Lagacé will be surrounded by many collaborators from Since we have to get up.
“Normal” nervousness
So much the better if he doesn’t care, because in the coming months, Patrick Lagacé is likely to be the subject of much commentary. For some time now, the media have been announcing a “colossal challenge”. After all, he is moving into a key time slot on 98.5 FM. Since we have to get up was still the most listened-to show in Greater French-speaking Montreal last spring, according to Numeris surveys. From Monday to Friday, from 5:30 a.m. to 10 a.m., Paul Arcand’s show garnered 34.8 market share, far ahead of its rivals.
PHOTO PATRICK SANFAÇON, LA PRESSE ARCHIVES
Paul Arcand and Patrick Lagacé, in March 2023
When the fall results of Lagacé in the morning will appear next December, they will obviously be scrutinized and dissected. Even if the channel receives the audiences daily, Patrick Lagacé refuses to fixate on them.
” HAS The PressI never asked for my reading rates. The only thing I control is the passion I put into it, the work I do up front to arrive prepared.
After that, every now and then, you look at the trends. If there’s a particular weaker hour, you try to work on that. It can also be a 20-minute segment… But I would go crazy looking at the numbers day by day.
Patrick Lagace
At 98.5 FM, they believe they can retain a good portion of the audience. “Patrick must not try to copy Paul,” comments the program director, Julie-Christine Gagnon. “He has everything it takes to steer this boat well.”
In terms of atmosphere, Julie-Christine Gagnon feels the new morning man “a little nervous.” If he wasn’t, she would be wondering, she emphasizes. “It’s a normal and human reaction. Next Friday, the nervousness may give way to more pleasure,” she adds.
A well-surrounded host
Part of Paul Arcand’s team will surround Patrick Lagacé in the fall. Regulars of Since we have to get up will recognize the voices of Bénédicte Lebel (legal affairs), Catherine Brisson (arts and entertainment), Frédéric Labelle (social networks), Jonathan Trudeau (politics) and Marc Brière (traffic). Philippe-Audrey Larrue-St-Jacques (humor and world) and Jean-François Lépine (international) will also return to their positions.
PHOTO FRANÇOIS ROY, THE PRESS
Patrick Lagacé will be at the microphone of 98.5 starting this Monday.
Radio is a medium of habits. For me, it was important that several of them raised their hands to come back.
Patrick Lagace
Three “recruits” will complete the group: journalists Marie-Eve Fournier (economics, consumption and personal finances), Yannick Bouchard (sports) and Stéphanie Gagnon (news) will add their voices to the group already in place.
“These are people who are experienced in their field, with whom I have a good personal connection,” explains the host.
Invited to the Quebec now In June, to mark the departure of Patrick Lagacé, Paul Arcand gave some advice to the columnist and presenter. He said: “Listen to your team, stay in a good mood and create a positive environment.”
“That’s the basics,” Patrick Lagacé said in an interview. However, he added that he doesn’t know how to interact “with everyone from 4:30 in the morning.” “I’ve never experienced that.”
PHOTO FRANÇOIS ROY, THE PRESS
Patrick Lagace
“I look ahead”
Patrick Lagacé will return to service four months after the dismissal of Dave-Éric Ouellet, alias MC Gilles, from 98.5 FM. Regular contributor to Quebec nowthe man in the cowboy hat, who is regularly seen at Infoman and to Everyone is talking about itleft the station amid tensions with the host.
When asked how this media whirlwind has colored his last few months, Patrick Lagacé responds by using an automobile metaphor. “Right now, I’m in a car. I’m driving. If I look back, I’ll have an accident. I’m looking forward.”
The columnist will abandon The Press in the fall, to devote ourselves entirely to the launch of Lagacé in the morningHe is expected to return to work at the newspaper in January.
The workaholic had adopted the same strategy in 2019, when he took the helm of the show’s return to 98.5. But he had gotten so bored with writing that he had returned earlier than expected.
“I have already shown that I am capable of leading several projects at once,” insists the former host of Second chance, Our 20s And Two golden men. But this time I wanted to make a statement. I wanted to focus solely on that. Because there is a lifestyle challenge. I want to get used to it. [à l’horaire]. »
Lagacé in the morning takes the airwaves at 98.5 FM Montreal this Monday at 5:30 a.m.