Mélanie Maynard will take over the management of the summer culture magazine sweet salty from May 22nd. A new challenge that she’s approaching with a good dose of confidence, but also a certain enthusiasm at the idea of rediscovering the frenetic pace of a daily TV show: “I think it comes at a good time in my career because I don’t have ‘I have no stress and I don’t feel like I have to prove anything,” says the moderator in an interview.
• Also read: “Sucré Salé”: many new comrades-in-arms around Mélanie Maynard
• Also read: Virtual aggression: Mélanie Maynard reports to the police
Nine years ago, Mélanie Maynard raised a hand very much to show her interest in hosting the summer culture magazine Sucré Salé when Guy Jodoin announced his departure after 13 seasons. We know the rest: the position was eventually entrusted to Patrice Bélanger, who hosted the show for the next eight summers.
However, when Bélanger announced last fall that he was leaving the show, Mélanie Maynard didn’t even have to report it: the position of presenter of Sucré Salé was offered to her on a silver platter. This makes her the first woman in 22 seasons to host TVA’s summer daily.
“I can imagine that I had to be more patient,” laughs the actress and presenter. It is a beautiful gift of life and it comes at the right time. »
Back to TV
Mélanie Maynard is not exaggerating when she says that she is experiencing a great moment in her career. Aged 51, she returned to television last fall after spending the last few years as a radio presenter, succeeding Édith Cochrane opposite André Robitaille in Les enfants de la télé. Sucré Salé’s animation will now allow her to relive the energy of a daily show, she co-hosted the morning show “Two Girls in the Morning” from 2005 to 2010.
“I’m very fortunate to have this opportunity at this point in my career because I feel like I’m going to be really better than I was 20 years ago,” she says.
“I feel like I’ve never been so on the lookout for current events and never had as much say as I have now.” But unfortunately in our environment it often happens that hostesses my age from the disappear from the picture. It’s a shame because it’s usually the time in our careers where we’ve gained the most depth and experience. »
Although she’s been keeping a low profile on film sets for the past few years, Mélanie Maynard hasn’t let it all down.
For the past three years she has co-hosted the morning radio show On part ça d’âme on WKND 99.5 FM. As an interviewer, she developed this experience a lot, she says.
“Radio is still a great medium,” she argues. The box is much bigger. The frame can take any shape you want and as I’m a very spontaneous person it’s a medium that suits me well. »
authenticity
It is this spontaneity that she wants to bring to her role as presenter of Sucré Salé. She wants to avoid conducting interviews that are overly prepared or prepackaged. She’s also not too keen on the idea of riding upside down in a merry-go-round to job interviews or jumping in the river with her guests.
“I think we’re going to go back to a kind of more authentic simplicity that’s very similar to mine,” she explains. I have the impression that Sucré Salé will continue to develop in my painting. We’re not going to reinvent the wheel, but I’ll try to meet people instead of doing interviews. I also asked to have moments where I can talk to the audience, which was not the case in Sucré Salé before. It’s also about welcoming people to more festive Fridays in my home, in my garden. »
And which artists does she dream of meeting this summer? Mélanie Maynard says she has already put several names on her wish list.
“There’s Serge Fiori, who I’ve never met, and Michel Rivard, who I’ve never had the privilege of interviewing in person. I’ve been listening to their music since I was 12. These are vintage cars that I want to meet with my new, old eyes! She closes with a laugh.
►sweet salty will air on TVA Monday through Friday at 6:30 p.m. from May 22.
The new reality of social media
Photo Jocelyn Michel, byconsulate.com
The world of television has come a long way since Mélanie Maynard last hosted a daily show. The advent of social networks has significantly changed the relationship between animators and viewers, for better or for worse…
Mélanie Maynard, who is very present on social networks, does not hide the fact that she is very afraid of this new reality that animators have to face nowadays.
“I’m still in a dilemma, wondering if I’m going to read the comments or not,” the moderator admits.
“What reassures me is that I only received positive comments for Les enfants de la télé. The reactions were also very positive when it was announced that I would be moderating Sucré Salé. But just because it’s a female animator, I expect we’ll get 15x more reviews than Patrice [Bélanger] may have received, for example, in previous years. I even suggested that they put me in a uniform to make sure the physical aspect wasn’t neglected! »
Mélanie Maynard says she has developed a special bond with her fans on social media. Some of her admirers don’t hesitate to defend her once she becomes the subject of derogatory comments on Facebook.
“It’s like a little self-esteem army that works for me,” says the host.
“I always say that I am the Michel Louvain of social networks because Michel took the time to answer all the letters he received. I do the same with the messages I receive. I have made important connections and would like to develop them further. »
Junk Messages
However, Mélanie Maynard felt the harmful effects of social media last March. After receiving unwanted sexual messages from a man who also sent her a photo of his genitals, the presenter decided to publicly denounce him by sharing his messages on Instagram. This post caught her in a storm she didn’t see coming.
“It’s my overly spontaneous side,” she admits afterwards. It always comes back to the big debate of whether we should post on social media or make a formal complaint. In my case, the fact that I had denounced on social media allowed me to testify four more times from women who also had problems with this person. This allowed me to flesh out the file and persuaded me to file a formal complaint with the police. I’m glad I did. »