Terry DiMonte does his first show back at CHOM on Jan. 9.

The news that Terry DiMonte was coming back to CHOM came out all the way back in June. The date was set and publicized in November. But details on such things as who his cohosts would be and what happens to the rest of the schedule were kept under wraps until Monday when DiMonte started his first show.

Here's the details of its new schedule:

Mornings Rock with Terry DiMonte

The morning show, from 5:30 to 10am weekdays, is being completely reconstructed around DiMonte. His cohost, starting Jan. 16, will be Heather Backman, who left CJFM a year ago for an opportunity in Cleveland, which she's leaving to come back to Montreal.

Backman and DiMonte don't have any history, which makes the choice a little out of left field. But she did a demo with DiMonte and there was something about it that he and Brand Director André Lallier liked. "She's very witty," Lallier said. "She brings a certain edge. She has a good laugh. A fresh perspective."

Backman and DiMonte together just sounds good, he said, and in radio that's what's important.

The show also includes some regular contributors:

Maureen Holloway will do entertainment segments twice each morning from Toronto.

Maureen Holloway will do entertainment segments (called "Dirty Little Secrets") at 5:50 and 7:15am daily. Holloway works out of her home in Toronto for Corus stations across Canada, and was a feature of DiMonte's morning show at Q107 in Calgary. She's also an old friend of DiMonte's.

Holloway previously contributed to CFQR, but since it and other Corus radio stations in Quebec were sold to Cogeco, there's no Corus station in this market, so they were able to negotiate having her on CHOM.

Because she happened to be in the area finishing off her vacation, Holloway joined DiMonte in studio on his first day.

(As an aside, I find it funny that DiMonte comes from Q107 in Calgary, Holloway comes from Q107 in Toronto - both owned by Corus - and Backman comes from Q104 in Cleveland. Gives you an idea of the lack of imagination when it comes to branding radio stations.)

Trudie Mason does newscasts on the hour

Trudie Mason of CJAD walks down the hall just before the top of the hour and gives the news headlines (usually preceded off-air by an apology from DiMonte for not being on time).

Eric Engels talks about the Habs

Eric Engels continues contributing his Habs report to CHOM's morning show, though it's moved to 6:55am. Engels is a Habs reporter who writes for HockeyBuzz and does the Engels Angle on CTV Montreal's website, among other things. You can follow him on Twitter at @EricEngels.

Esteban Vargas sits behind the big board pressing all the cool buttons

Esteban Vargas is the unsung hero behind the big board, queueing all the songs and audio clips and traffic reports and everything else. He's been at Astral since 2005, working mainly as an operator and in promotions.

• Tootall (Weekdays 10am-3pm). His shift remains unchanged, as does his noon-hour Made to Order show.
• Bilal Butt (Weekdays 3-8pm). Bilal gets upgraded back into the afternoon drive slot vacated when Pete Marier left the station last month. The afternoon drive show expands in length to five hours.
• Jason Rockman (Weeknights 8pm-midnight). Rockman shifts earlier to take over Butt's slot. His Amped show runs weeknights instead of one day a week.
• Brandon Craddock (B.C.) and Ron MacKinnon (Ronny Mack) continue to share overnight duties from midnight to 5:30am.

Weekends

• Sharon Hyland stays on weekend mornings, shifting earlier so she starts at 6am instead of 8. "It's all good," she writes on her blog.
• Rob Kemp takes on the midday shift on weekends, from 11am to 4pm each day.
• Randy Renaud remains the weekend evening person, 4-8pm Saturday and 4-10pm Sunday
• Jay Walker maintains his Montreal Rocks show from 10pm to midnight Sundays.

Chantal Desjardins moves to CJAD

The one personality leaving CHOM is morning co-host Chantal Desjardins. But she's not leaving the building. Instead, she's joining Aaron Rand's show on CJAD weekdays from 3-7pm, essentially doing the job of sportscaster that Barry Morgan did. Now Morgan can concentrate on his own show, which comes on after Rand's.

Desjardins says she's "really enjoying" her new job already. "I think Aaron and I have natural chemistry...he is very encouraging and his energy is contagious. And have I mentioned I've slept in until 9am the last two days? Amazing."

She says she also plans to keep doing stuff for CTV on the side and is "looking forward to a new adventure."

Rand says he's excited about Desjardins. "Chantal is funny, opinionated, and smart, AND she brings a female perspective to the show, which is something I’ve always thought was a good complement my style," he told me. "We’d worked together before on a couple of occasions, and I immediately liked her style and personality."

"And, it gives Barry Morgan a chance to spend all his time focusing on his evening show from 7-10, without having to worry about doing the afternoon sports run on my show."

"So as far as I’m concerned, it’s a win/win all around."

Rand has made Desjardins a part of the last half-hour of his show, from 6:30 to 7pm, when the two chat about weird and funny stories. "I figured that would be a good way to incorporate her into the show beyond her sports reports,  and give her a feel for how I work so she can get comfortable with my style," Rand said. "After that it’ll be a matter of getting her more involved on a regular basis."

Desjardins let her Facebook friends know about her new job, drawing dozens of encouraging comments.

Rob Kemp okay with weekends

Kemp also put on a happy face about his new job. Kemp posted on his CHOM blog taking the bright side of being on the radio only two days a week.

Lallier talked up the new weekend lineup, saying that ratings show that 30-35% of the audience is now on weekends, which means Saturday and Sunday are no longer audience wastelands. Weeks after the Q became the Beat and put big names Ken Connors and Nat Lauzon on the weekend, resulting in ratings boosts, it seems CHOM is also paying attention to weekends.

What about Pete?

I asked Lallier about Pete Marier, and the possibility of him coming back. A cursory look at the new schedule suggests it wouldn't be that difficult to shift things around to put Marier back on the afternoon drive show.

Lallier's answers differed little from what Astral VP Martin Spalding told me just before Christmas. They wanted Marier to stay and form one of the "three pillars" of the station. They offered him a "very, very good" contract for an afternoon drive host, and gave him multiple opportunities to accept. Lallier pointed out that even after it became clear Marier wouldn't take the contract and his show was terminated, management still let him go on air one last time (something that is very unusual in professional radio because it can lead to people saying things on air that make the station look bad) but that again Marier said no.

Marier himself remains quiet, despite lots of activity from his fans (a protest had been planned via Facebook for Monday morning outside CHOM's offices, but was called off because a poor showing would have seemed worse than none at all). At least one other radio veteran who works at Astral has expressed hope that Marier can put his emotions aside and work out a deal with management to come back.

Coverage

Astral's press release explaining all these changes was issued Monday morning.

The Gazette's Bill Brownstein had a feature on DiMonte in Saturday's paper, in case you haven't read it yet. It includes a sidebar on what happened to Marier.

Global and CTV both sent cameramen to document DiMonte's first show. CTV later sent reporter Cindy Sherwin to talk to DiMonte. Global's brief is at the end of Monday's newscast (skip to 23:15).

CTV Montreal also interviewed DiMonte on the noon newscast on Thursday.

A live chat with the Gazette

UPDATE (Jan. 11): The Gazette invited DiMonte to do an hour-long live chat on Wednesday, in which he talks about his favourite music, his weight loss and what it's like to come home. Even his mom stops by and asks him to get some rest.

Of interest to us, he offered the following on Pete Marier:

I feel bad that Pete left but have been hopeful that there is a raprochement possible. He chose to leave. I hope we can change his mind

(Answering a question on whether Marier would come back) I hope so Pat... there seems to be a detente brewing there

On Ted Bird:

I would LOVE to have Ted back..the best fun I ever had...and maybe someday...but right now he loves what he's doing at K 103...so not in the NEAR future I don't think...unless we can change his mind

DiMonte also called Rob Kemp a "talented young broadcaster" and said he met Backman for the first time in October but "liked her very much".

UPDATE (Jan. 14): Richard Burnett talks to DiMonte for his Gazette blog. DiMonte also talks to the Cornwall Free News.

Related Posts

• Terry DiMonte leaving CHOM for better offer in Calgary
• Terry DiMonte’s first day at CHOM … again
• Pete Marier leaves CHOM over contract dispute
• Terry DiMonte returns to CHOM Jan. 9
• Astral’s Martin Spalding on Terry DiMonte, CHOM, CJAD and Virgin Radio

Conan O'Brien, who isn't allowed to "be funny on television" until the fall as a condition of his $45-million buyout from NBC, has launched a North American comedy tour to pass the summer until he's inevitably picked up by Fox.

The Legally Prohibited from Being Funny on Television Tour has three stops in Canada: Vancouver (two shows April 13-14), Enoch, Alta.(just west of Edmonton, April 17), and Toronto (May 22).

Sadly, Montreal isn't on this list (though neither is Calgary, Winnipeg, Ottawa, Halifax and a bunch of other cities). People have been pleading on Twitter for him to come, hoping that the eight-day hole after his Toronto stop could be easily taken up with something at a Montreal venue.

Rob Kemp, the afternoon host at CHOM, has taken it a bit further, starring in a video in which he dons a wig and does Conan's "string dance" in front of some local attractions.

(He even helpfully translates "Bell Centre" into the Americanese "Bell Center")

Related Posts

• CHOM’s new schedule adds Terry DiMonte, Heather Backman in mornings
• Pete Marier replaces Rob Kemp on CHOM morning show
• Terry DiMonte leaving CHOM for better offer in Calgary

The truth, however, is far less interesting. CHOM is simply shuffling their talent around.

The big news is that "Bad" Pete Marier and Rob Kemp will be switching slots on the schedule. Marier will join Kim Rossi and Ted Bird on the morning show, while Kemp will DJ in the afternoons.

The schedule tightens up the shows during weekdays, enough to add a new one: "Jo's Garage" with Musique Plus VJ and CBC radio host Joanne Vrakas, in the late evenings.

The old schedule

Weekdays:

• Ted, Kim and Kemp in the Morning: 5:30 am to 10:00 am
• Sharon Hyland Show: 10:00 am to 3:00 pm
• Pete Marier Show: 3:00 pm to 7:00 pm
• Evenings with Bilal: 7:00 pm to 12:00 am
• Overnight Rock w/ Brandon: 12:00 am to 5:30 am

Saturdays:

• Best of Ted, Kim & Kemp: 9:00 am to 12:00 pm
• Tootall Weekend Show: 12:00 pm to 6:00 pm
• Randy Renaud Show: 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm
• CHOM's That 80's Show: 8:00 pm to 11:00 pm
• Randy Renaud Show: 11:00 pm to 12:00 am
• Jimmy Spencer Show: 12:00 am to 6:00 am

Sundays:

• CHOM Rocks Your Weekend Mornings: 6:00 am to 9:00 am
• The Deep End with Nick Michaels: 9:00 am to 11:00 am
• Electric Brunch with Tootall: 11:00 am to 1:00 pm
• Tootall Weekend Show: 1:00 pm to 5:00 pm
• Randy Renaud Show: 5:00 pm to 7:00 pm
• CHOM's Black Cat Alley Show: 7:00 pm to 9:00 pm
• Little Steven’s Underground Garage: 9:00 pm to 11:00 pm
• Off The Record: 11:00 pm to 12:00 am
• Overnight Rock w/ Brandon: 12:00 am to 5:30 am

The new schedule

Weekdays

• Ted, Kim and Bad Pete in the Morning: 5:30 am to 9:00 am
• Sharon Hyland Show: 9:00 am to 12:00 pm
• The Electric Lunch Hour: 12:00 pm to 1:00 pm
• Rob Kemp Show: 1:00 pm to 4:00 pm
• Butt Show (Bilal): 4:00 pm to 8:00 pm
• Jo's Garage with Joanne Vrakas: 8:00 pm to 12:00 am
  
• Overnight Rock w/ Brandon: 12:00 am to 5:30 am

Saturdays and Sundays are unchanged. Tootall and Randy Renaud aren't going anywhere.

Related Posts

• CHOM’s new schedule adds Terry DiMonte, Heather Backman in mornings
• Pete Marier leaves CHOM over contract dispute
• Terry DiMonte leaving CHOM for better offer in Calgary
• Terry DiMonte’s first day at CHOM … again
• Radio ratings: A good fall for Cogeco and CKGM

Strangely, the announcement doesn't mention where he's going, calling it only "a new opportunity in Western Canada." But he has accepted a five-year contract at Calgary's Q107 classic rock station, where he will begin a show in January.

DiMonte's last day is this Friday.

Through two stints at CHOM (separated by five years at Mix 96 and four years at CJAD), DiMonte has spent 14 years at the classic rock station, becoming one of its most recognizable names. He's been a perennial favourite among anglo Montrealers, and won the Mirror's No. 1 choice for best radio host in its 2005 Best of Montreal poll.

Metroblogging Montreal has already declared war. Adrian's a bit more sombre about it.

DiMonte's replacement on the Terry Ted and Kim morning show is Rob Kemp, who currently hosts the Rob Kemp show on weekday afternoons on Mix 96. He starts Monday, when the show will become the Ted, Kim and Kemp show (a name which sounds cooler than "Ted Kim and Rob" but makes no sense logically).

As for Kemp's old slot, Mix 96 is currently hiring to fill it. So if you have a sunny disposition and at least three years of on-air experience in the format, feel free to apply.

UPDATE: The Gazette (after talking with DiMonte) confirms what's been pretty obvious to everyone, that DiMonte's move was about contract negotiations. Talks to re-sign him weren't going well, giving him the distinct impression that CHOM didn't really want him back. (Classy man that he is though, he doesn't blame management for the deal going sour, lamenting only that he and Bird don't have the star power they used to.)

Q107 gave him an offer he couldn't refuse. So Montreal loses another star to free agency.

UPDATE (Nov. 23): On the morning of his last day, a tribute cartoon from Aislin, and a column from Mike Boone. And, of course, the obligatory Facebook group that misspells his name.

UPDATE (Nov. 24): In this morning's Gazette, a recounting of DiMonte's final day on the air.

There's also an article in the Calgary Herald about how DiMonte's arrival will affect the radio landscape there. It notes how DiMonte's departure is "front-page news" here, though with the exception of The Gazette and CTV News I find this story vastly under-covered in the Montreal media. A brief Presse Canadienne piece, a couple of sentences at CJAD (where he spent a few years). Not a peep from CBC, Global, or any of the French media.

The news item is already off CHOM's front page, replaced by a Led Zeppelin promo. Hell, even Ted Bird's blog is absent any mention of his best bud's departure (what the hell is the point of these blogs if you're not going to use them for things like this?). Kim Rossi mentions it briefly, though it sounds more like a press release than a heartfelt goodbye to a friend.

So I'll leave you with this video from CTV News on YouTube (I would have linked to the one on CTV's website, but all the links I found to it say the video is "no longer available"):

UPDATE (Dec. 12): The Gazette's Bill Brownstein follows Terry around for his last week in Montreal, going to some of the places he'll miss most.

UPDATE (Jan. 4): DiMonte has already begun his morning show at Q107, where he's being partnered with former Montrealer "Peppermint" Patti MacNeil. The show can be heard online weekdays 7:30am-noon (5:30-10am in Calgary).

Related Posts

• CHOM’s new schedule adds Terry DiMonte, Heather Backman in mornings
• Terry DiMonte’s first day at CHOM … again
• Pete Marier leaves CHOM over contract dispute
• Terry DiMonte returns to CHOM Jan. 9
• Astral’s Martin Spalding on Terry DiMonte, CHOM, CJAD and Virgin Radio