More than 16,000 interviews in half a century of career: This is the impressive work of host Michel Jasmin! You will understand my nervousness to meet this great interviewer, but it was a real pleasure to speak to him in person. I discovered that it was thanks to his generosity that he touched Quebecers so deeply. Interview with a heart person, a pioneer who had the courage to be convinced.
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Dominik Goin
Michel, I come to you today with a head full of childhood memories! Their shows were a big gathering for all Quebecers! We felt that it was your heart that guided you in your work. Am I wrong?
I don’t think so! I have the impression that this is also perceived, it is felt. Speaking from your heart, you cannot be almost happy, a little proud, or a little generous. We are complete! And that’s always been the case in my mind. I’ve dreamed of doing this job since I was eight years old.
In your interviews there was love and always goodwill to seek the best in everyone. There is work behind it, but also something unique.
When I was still conducting my very first job interviews, I asked Lise Payette what she thought made a good interview. She told me: “You prepare a first question to understand the interview and a last one if you need it. In between you listen.” It’s strong! It has always haunted me and preceded me in my work: the need to stick to what she advised me to do. When you start an interview, you prepare yourself, but after that you have to follow the conversation. It must be said that there are people who are easier to deal with, who are more generous. The ones that give us everything we need, not to do a good interview, but to make something out of it. We learn from everyone!
When you worked on TV alongside Michel Louvain and Pierre Marcotte, you were at the top! Wasn’t that the heyday of traditional television?
We put on a show and we had to accept it! Life is the most precious thing; it creates magical moments. You can’t have the same feeling when the show is taped. When the interviewer and interviewee are on the same wavelength, they loosen up, and then it happens! You kind of have to surrender. There are absolutely fabulous moments. The guest doesn’t just come to sell their book or record… Some shows have drawn up to 2.4 million viewers, but I didn’t want to get into that. I didn’t do a good show to get the ratings. The person in front of me, I really wanted them to feel alone with me to let go…
Photo: Dominic Gouin / TVA Pub
When I told my mother that I would meet you, she wanted me to ask you: How are you, Michel?
I think it’s going well! But at 78 things happen when they need to happen. We pay more attention, do more health checks and go to the doctor more often than we used to. So life is! I have been taking medication for chronic pain since I was 49 years old. If we get caught taking medication, we do it, but wisely. You have to respect yourself; The doctor is there to treat us and make us live a little better and a little longer. I have been hospitalized several times in recent years; I even had a hospital stay of more than five months. It’s long and awkward, but when you have no choice, you have to do it.
Photo: Dominic Gouin / TVA Pub
Before my father died, he told me that losing friends was the worst thing for him. How do you live it on your part?
I found it hard for my friend Pierre Marcotte because when he died of Covid-19 in July I was hospitalized. I couldn’t reach him before he died and it was incredibly difficult for me. I couldn’t tell him he wouldn’t go alone… I didn’t experience this alone because my spouse was there. He knew the bond that Pierre and I had. My spouse told me that I could not leave the hospital to offer my condolences to the family. I couldn’t do it because I was following the instructions I had to follow. What hurts me the most is when I look at my phone and have to erase names and phone numbers because I will never see those people again. I find that really difficult… It’s very unfair. (With a tremolo in his voice:) I feel that I shouldn’t stay on this subject…
You have a spouse who supports you on a daily basis, but you have never revealed their identity. For what?
I have a spouse, but I respect his choice to remain in the shadows. He’s someone who has his life, his job, his career, and I don’t want to interfere with that. We’ve been together for almost fifteen years and it’s always been good. It was difficult at first because I was so happy thanks to him and I wanted to shout his name from the rooftops! Over time I realized that he had not chosen public life and that I would not force it on him. The best gift I can give her is to respect her decision.
Photo: Dominic Gouin / TVA Pub
how important is he to you
Before him I had another spouse who I had told that 90% of my happiness comes from my work. He quickly understood that he only had 10% left… I stopped saying that today. It’s no longer true that I only have 10% for my spouse. I had it for a while but my current spouse reversed the numbers. It’s 90% for him and 10% for work!
Dominik Goin
Something struck me when I was young… You were one of the first Quebec public figures to speak out about your sexual orientation. You were a forerunner. It takes courage…
I think it’s been covered enough in the media that I have a spouse and not a spouse. My life is male and it will be male until the end of my days! At the end of the 1960s I had to come out because my ex-partner and I had received anonymous threatening letters at the time. At one point, enough was enough; That went on for a good half year. I went to the police with a large stack of anonymous letters and told them I wanted to file a complaint. The policeman said to me: “You know, Mr. Jasmine, if you file a complaint, it will become public.” can?” So I dived in: I filed an official complaint. It hadn’t been long since I discovered my homosexuality and I was fine with it. That wouldn’t stop me from filing a complaint. I don’t know if I was really aware of all this, but the individual had pushed me and my ex-husband too far; it had to stop. And the public knew it. I refused to be put in a locker…
Jean-Francois Desganes/JOURNAL
Finally, what may I wish you?
Be happy! I think the most precious thing you can wish for someone is to be happy no matter what their situation in life is. First of all, you have to wish yourself to feel good. If you, as a parent, discover that your child is homosexual, you must speak to them gently and calmly. Don’t judge him. I have a son; I am certain. If he ever reads this article, I wish him happiness. I want him to live happily and make others happy.
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