As a guest on Nice-Premium, Eric Charay tells us more about his two “young” and “dynamic” shows produced under the sun of the French Riviera!
Nice-Premium: Eric, this year, you’re back on TV hosting two daily shows on Nice-TV.
Eric Charay: The first is a cultural magazine “Cultures Nice” aimed at unveiling the behind-the-scenes of the opera, theaters, museums of Nice and discussing the current happenings in these places like concerts, performances, exhibitions, etc., while the second one is a tourism and leisure program called “Plein la vue” (Full View).
N-P: Compared to last season, “Plein la vue” has changed its formula, hasn’t it?
E.C.: Yes, last season we visited the palaces along the coast, this year we’ve decided to explore the villages of the Niçois hinterland, giving the cable and internet TV audience (since the show can also be watched online at www.nice-television.fr) a plethora of weekend ideas. We start with a guided tour of the village, then meet a key local figure, visit a place like a guesthouse, a Michelin-starred restaurant or a castle in the “tour of the owner” segment, and finally, with the agenda, we review the festive events, trails, and sports activities available from the visited village.
N-P: You’ve still kept Thierry Mesnage’s humorous touch, though.
E.C.: Yes, because “Plein la vue” is primarily a leisure show, filmed in good spirits with a genuine camaraderie that’s evident on screen, Thierry is what you’d call a mischief-maker, and he delights us each week with his segment “le beau bar de la semaine,” a comedic pseudo-street interview where he gets villagers to react to completely made-up news. Thierry has an incredible quick wit, often compared to Jean-Yves Lafesse or Laurent Baffie, but he truly has his own unique style. The best thing is to see for yourself… rush to the Nice TV site!
N-P: Speaking of good spirits, it’s also on the set of “Culture Nice.”
E.C.: Yes, because I cannot envision this job without a healthy dose of joy shared with the viewers and with the panelists. I mentioned camaraderie earlier; to me, it’s essential for the success of a program, and even though the show I host is titled “Cultures Nice,” it was unthinkable to present it in a stern manner. We also strive to have fun and enjoy ourselves with cultural topics, which is what we try to achieve every week.
N-P: Quite a “radio-like” team, in fact!
E.C.: Indeed, I was fortunate to choose my colleagues and they almost all came from radio. Adrien Mangano, who is a true friend and especially a top-notch professional. We worked together at RMC and then at France Bleu Azur, he handles live theater and concerts. Virginie Decorte introduces us to the most original exhibitions in Nice, she too is a radio veteran on Radio Trafic, and Vanessa Chartreux, a former traffic news voice on France Bleu Azur, works on the backstage of cultural venues we visit in the first part of Cultures Nice but also on the preparation and agendas of Plein la Vue.
N-P: So, is radio over for Eric?
E.C.: Suspense! I have a few months to decide, but I admit I miss the direct contact with the listeners!
N-P: For you, what are the pros and cons of TV and radio?
E.C.: TV really flatters the ego! But it often takes much longer to set up than radio, however, the setup is also very interesting—the filming, editing, sets—and ultimately, it’s also very intriguing to follow the production of a program from A to Z and to work in a.team.
N-P: Do you think Nice has a chance of becoming the Capital of Culture?
E.C.: Our strength lies in our cultural facilities, many of which are numerous and quite recent. I’m thinking particularly of the CNR (regional conservatory) but also in our union with Cannes, Monaco, and all the neighboring towns of Nice.
N-P: And finally, a little scoop, please… to give us a “Full View.”
E.C.: We will be shooting an upcoming episode of Plein La Vue at Sospel. We’ll be there all day on March 22 if you’re interested in experiencing the behind-the-scenes of a rather pleasant filming!
N-P: Oops, we almost forgot to talk about Madame Cadeau. Should we give her a little shout-out?
E.C.: That’s Nadya, our Madame Cadeau, she appears every week at the end of “Cultures Nice” to give away concert, movie, theater, or opera tickets, I can tell you that with this system, she has nothing but friends, starting with us!
Find the schedules for the shows: “Plein la vue” and “Cultures Nice” on the website www.nice-television.fr
