German television comedy
Encyclopedia
Germany
has a long tradition of television comedy
stretching as far back as the 1950s, and with its origins in cabaret
and radio
.
When Otto
's first show came out in 1973, it differed in many ways from those of traditional comedians also around at the time, such as Rudi Carrell
(then aged 39) and Loriot
(then 50). Rudi Carrell and Loriot dressed rather more formally in a suit and tie, and stood on a large stage with the audience seated in rows, whereas Otto, then only 25, with his long blond hair falling in his face, wore t-shirts and jeans, and sat on a smaller cabaret-style stage, closer to the audience. This generation gap was reflected in Ein Herz und eine Seele
, a sitcom similar to Till Death Us Do Part, where the old-fashioned character Alfred Tetzlaff clashes comically with his daughter Rita and his son-in-law Michael, who stands for the German student movement
of 1968. The more traditional shows remained extremely popular, however, and repeats are still regularly shown today. The older comedians also adapted; Rudi Carrell continued to appear in comedy shows until shortly before his death in 2006.
came into its own in Germany: Sketchup, So Isses, Harald und Eddi. Like Britain's Not the Nine O'Clock News (1979-82), one such show, Rudis Tagesshow, although not exactly alternative comedy
, also poked fun at the main news programme (Tagesschau) and involved political satire
. This caused trouble in 1987 when Carrell cut together footage of Ayatollah Khomeni with shots of veiled women throwing their knickers. The outraged Iran
ian government responded by expelling two German diplomats and closing the Goethe Institute in Tehran.
Technological advances also meant that cameras were used away from the studios more and more; the Candid Camera
-style show Verstehen Sie Spaß appeared, which is still running, in the original format, today. Unlike other countries' versions of Candid Camera, it remains very popular, with seven million viewers on a Saturday evening; almost 25% of the market. It has been going strong since 1980.
in the '70s or Iris Berben
in the '80s usually played a main character's wife or girlfriend, now women such as Esther Schweins
, Tanja Schumann, Anke Engelke
and Hella von Sinnen
made a name for themselves in more independent roles, although still mostly as part of larger casts.
With television becoming more and more international, there was a lot of influence from abroad in many shows of the '90s: RTL Samstag Nacht was based on Saturday Night Live
(USA), the Harald Schmidt Show was similar to the Late Show with David Letterman
(USA), 7 Tage, 7 Köpfe was superficially based on Have I Got News For You? (GB).
and Elton.tv
naturally involved more off-the-cuff humour, and soon these were joined by improvised shows such as Genial daneben and the original Schillerstraße
. The main role in the latter is played by an actress, Cordula Stratmann; by now there were several shows whose main stars were female comedians, such as Ladykracher
with Anke Engelke. Slapstick now played a less important role: instead, realism was in, with shows removing the laugh track
, such as Stromberg (similar to The Office
) or the sitcom Pastewka.
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
has a long tradition of television comedy
Television comedy
Television comedy had a presence from the earliest days of broadcasting. Among the earliest BBC television programmes in the 1930s was Starlight, which offered a series of guests from the music hall era — singers and comedians amongst them...
stretching as far back as the 1950s, and with its origins in cabaret
Cabaret
Cabaret is a form, or place, of entertainment featuring comedy, song, dance, and theatre, distinguished mainly by the performance venue: a restaurant or nightclub with a stage for performances and the audience sitting at tables watching the performance, as introduced by a master of ceremonies or...
and radio
Radio programming
Radio programming is the Broadcast programming of a Radio format or content that is organized for Commercial broadcasting and Public broadcasting radio stations....
.
1960s
- 1963: Der 90. Geburtstag (Dinner for One) is a comedy sketch recorded on July 8, 1963 at Theater am Besenbinderhof in front of a real audience by Norddeutscher RundfunkNorddeutscher RundfunkNorddeutscher Rundfunk is a public radio and television broadcaster, based in Hamburg. In addition to the city-state of Hamburg, NDR transmits for the German states of Lower Saxony, Mecklenburg-Vorpommern and Schleswig-Holstein...
(NDR). Although it is actually performed in English, it is considered a cult television classic in Germany and it is still an integral component of the New Year's EveNew Year's EveNew Year's Eve is observed annually on December 31, the final day of any given year in the Gregorian calendar. In modern societies, New Year's Eve is often celebrated at social gatherings, during which participants dance, eat, consume alcoholic beverages, and watch or light fireworks to mark the...
schedule at several German television stations.
1970s
Otto Waalkes
Otto Gerhard Waalkes is a Frisian comedian and actor. He became famous in the 1970s and 1980s in Germany with his shows, books and movies. His perhaps most famous trademark are the 'Ottifanten' , elephant-like comic characters of his own design...
's first show came out in 1973, it differed in many ways from those of traditional comedians also around at the time, such as Rudi Carrell
Rudi Carrell
Rudi Carrell , born Rudolf Wijbrand Kesselaar, was a Dutch entertainer. Along with famous entertainers such as Johannes Heesters, Linda de Mol and Sylvie van der Vaart, Carrell was one of the most successful Dutch personalities active in Germany.He worked as a television entertainer and hosted his...
(then aged 39) and Loriot
Vicco von Bülow
Bernhard Victor Christoph Carl von Bülow , more commonly known under the pseudonym Loriot, was a German comedian, humorist, cartoonist, film director, actor and writer.He is most well known for his cartoons, the sketches from his 1976 television series...
(then 50). Rudi Carrell and Loriot dressed rather more formally in a suit and tie, and stood on a large stage with the audience seated in rows, whereas Otto, then only 25, with his long blond hair falling in his face, wore t-shirts and jeans, and sat on a smaller cabaret-style stage, closer to the audience. This generation gap was reflected in Ein Herz und eine Seele
Ein Herz und eine Seele
Ein Herz und eine Seele is a German sitcom aired in 1973/74 and 1976. It was essentially a remake of the British sitcom Till Death Us Do Part by Johnny Speight, and was written by Wolfgang Menge....
, a sitcom similar to Till Death Us Do Part, where the old-fashioned character Alfred Tetzlaff clashes comically with his daughter Rita and his son-in-law Michael, who stands for the German student movement
German student movement
The German student movement was a protest movement that took place during the late 1960s in West Germany. It was largely a reaction against the perceived authoritarianism and hypocrisy of the German government and other Western governments, and the poor living conditions of students...
of 1968. The more traditional shows remained extremely popular, however, and repeats are still regularly shown today. The older comedians also adapted; Rudi Carrell continued to appear in comedy shows until shortly before his death in 2006.
- 1965 - 1973: Rudi Carrell Show slapstick series starring Rudi CarrellRudi CarrellRudi Carrell , born Rudolf Wijbrand Kesselaar, was a Dutch entertainer. Along with famous entertainers such as Johannes Heesters, Linda de Mol and Sylvie van der Vaart, Carrell was one of the most successful Dutch personalities active in Germany.He worked as a television entertainer and hosted his...
, on ARDARD (broadcaster)ARD is a joint organization of Germany's regional public-service broadcasters... - 1967 - 1972: Cartoon sketch show starring LoriotVicco von BülowBernhard Victor Christoph Carl von Bülow , more commonly known under the pseudonym Loriot, was a German comedian, humorist, cartoonist, film director, actor and writer.He is most well known for his cartoons, the sketches from his 1976 television series...
, on ARDARD (broadcaster)ARD is a joint organization of Germany's regional public-service broadcasters... - 1970: TelematchTelematchTelematch was the name of a German television show broadcast during the 1970s till 1979 and based on its French counterpart Intervilles. It first consisted of a match between teams from two German towns . The match was composed of several games. For each game the participants would typically dress...
outdoor game showGame showA game show is a type of radio or television program in which members of the public, television personalities or celebrities, sometimes as part of a team, play a game which involves answering questions or solving puzzles usually for money and/or prizes...
between two German towns where the competitors would be in fancy dress and engage in funny competitive games: similar to It's a KnockoutIt's a KnockoutIt's a Knockout was adapted from the French show Intervilles. It ran between from 7 August 1966 to 25 December 1988 on BBC1, 28 May 1990 on ITV, 3 August 1991 to 24 December 1994 on S4C and from 3 September 1999 to 6 January 2001 on Channel 5, produced by Richard Hearsey and Ronin Entertainment...
or Jeux Sans FrontièresJeux Sans FrontieresJeux Sans Frontières was a Europe-wide television game show.In its original conception, it was broadcast from 1965 to 1999 under the auspices of the European Broadcasting Union and featured teams from different European countries in outlandish costumes competing to complete bizarre tasks in funny...
. - 1971 - 1972: Monty Python's Fliegender ZirkusMonty Python's Fliegender ZirkusMonty Python's Fliegender Zirkus consisted of two 45-minute Monty Python German television comedy specials produced by WDR for West German television...
- a special recording, in German, of Monty Python's Flying CircusMonty Python's Flying CircusMonty Python’s Flying Circus is a BBC TV sketch comedy series. The shows were composed of surreality, risqué or innuendo-laden humour, sight gags and observational sketches without punchlines... - 1973 - 1976: Ein Herz und eine SeeleEin Herz und eine SeeleEin Herz und eine Seele is a German sitcom aired in 1973/74 and 1976. It was essentially a remake of the British sitcom Till Death Us Do Part by Johnny Speight, and was written by Wolfgang Menge....
, sitcom starring Heinz SchubertHeinz Schubert (actor)Heinz Schubert was a German actor, drama teacher and photographer, best known for playing the role of Alfred Tetzlaff in the German television comedy sitcom Ein Herz und eine Seele.- Life :...
, Diether KrebsDiether KrebsDiether Krebs was a German actor, cabaret artist and comedian.-Youth and initial success:...
etc - 1973 - 1979: Klimbim (in German), sketch comedy program starring Ingrid Steeger, Elisabeth VolkmannElisabeth VolkmannElisabeth Volkmann was a German actress and voice actor, best known for her part in the German absurd comedy series Klimbim , which was watched by millions of viewers in Germany and, later on, as the voice of Marge Simpson in the German dub of The Simpsons...
etc - 1973 - 1979: Die Otto-Show, slightly surrealist live stand-up/music/sketch show starring OttoOtto WaalkesOtto Gerhard Waalkes is a Frisian comedian and actor. He became famous in the 1970s and 1980s in Germany with his shows, books and movies. His perhaps most famous trademark are the 'Ottifanten' , elephant-like comic characters of his own design...
, on ARDARD (broadcaster)ARD is a joint organization of Germany's regional public-service broadcasters...
- 1975 - 1980: Nonstop Nonsens, comedy series starring Dieter HallervordenDieter HallervordenDieter "Didi" Hallervorden is a German comedian, comic actor, singer and cabaret artist.-Biography:...
on ARDARD (broadcaster)ARD is a joint organization of Germany's regional public-service broadcasters... - 1976 - 1979: Loriot, sketch show starring LoriotVicco von BülowBernhard Victor Christoph Carl von Bülow , more commonly known under the pseudonym Loriot, was a German comedian, humorist, cartoonist, film director, actor and writer.He is most well known for his cartoons, the sketches from his 1976 television series...
, often with Evelyn HamannEvelyn HamannEvelyn Hamann was a German actress.- Life :Evelyn Hamann was born into a family of musicians in Hamburg, Germany: her father Bernhard Hamann was a violinist, the concertmaster of the NDR television company's symphony orchestra and founded the Hamann Quartet; her mother was a singer and music...
, on ARDARD (broadcaster)ARD is a joint organization of Germany's regional public-service broadcasters...
1980s
In the 1980s, as elsewhere, the pre-recorded sketch showSketch comedy
A sketch comedy consists of a series of short comedy scenes or vignettes, called "sketches," commonly between one and ten minutes long. Such sketches are performed by a group of comic actors or comedians, either on stage or through an audio and/or visual medium such as broadcasting...
came into its own in Germany: Sketchup, So Isses, Harald und Eddi. Like Britain's Not the Nine O'Clock News (1979-82), one such show, Rudis Tagesshow, although not exactly alternative comedy
Alternative comedy
Alternative comedy is a term that originated in the 1980s for a style of comedy that makes a conscious break with the mainstream comedic style of an era, and typically avoids relying on a standardised structure of a sequence of jokes with punch lines. Patton Oswalt defines it as "comedy where the...
, also poked fun at the main news programme (Tagesschau) and involved political satire
Satire
Satire is primarily a literary genre or form, although in practice it can also be found in the graphic and performing arts. In satire, vices, follies, abuses, and shortcomings are held up to ridicule, ideally with the intent of shaming individuals, and society itself, into improvement...
. This caused trouble in 1987 when Carrell cut together footage of Ayatollah Khomeni with shots of veiled women throwing their knickers. The outraged Iran
Iran
Iran , officially the Islamic Republic of Iran , is a country in Southern and Western Asia. The name "Iran" has been in use natively since the Sassanian era and came into use internationally in 1935, before which the country was known to the Western world as Persia...
ian government responded by expelling two German diplomats and closing the Goethe Institute in Tehran.
Technological advances also meant that cameras were used away from the studios more and more; the Candid Camera
Candid Camera
Candid Camera is a hidden camera/practical joke reality television series created and produced by Allen Funt, which initially began on radio as Candid Microphone June 28, 1947...
-style show Verstehen Sie Spaß appeared, which is still running, in the original format, today. Unlike other countries' versions of Candid Camera, it remains very popular, with seven million viewers on a Saturday evening; almost 25% of the market. It has been going strong since 1980.
- since 1980: Verstehen Sie Spaß, the German equivalent of Candid CameraCandid CameraCandid Camera is a hidden camera/practical joke reality television series created and produced by Allen Funt, which initially began on radio as Candid Microphone June 28, 1947...
, most recently presented by Frank ElstnerFrank ElstnerFrank Elstner, full name Timm Maria Franz Elstner is a German television presenter.Elstner went to school in Rastatt in Germany and gained his first experience in broadcasting as a child when he acted in radio plays for the station then known as Südwestfunk, now as Südwestrundfunk, which served...
, runs on ARDARD (broadcaster)ARD is a joint organization of Germany's regional public-service broadcasters...
- 1980 - 1990: WWF Club, show with sketches, interviews, off-the-cuff humour, presented by Jürgen von der LippeJürgen von der LippeHans-Jürgen Dohrenkamp , better known by his stage name Jürgen von der Lippe, is a German television presenter, entertainer, actor and comedian...
on ARDARD (broadcaster)ARD is a joint organization of Germany's regional public-service broadcasters... - 1981: So ein Otto and Ein neues Programm mit Otto Waalkes, starring OttoOtto WaalkesOtto Gerhard Waalkes is a Frisian comedian and actor. He became famous in the 1970s and 1980s in Germany with his shows, books and movies. His perhaps most famous trademark are the 'Ottifanten' , elephant-like comic characters of his own design...
, on WDRWestdeutscher RundfunkWestdeutscher Rundfunk is a German public-broadcasting institution based in the Federal State of North Rhine-Westphalia with its main office in Cologne. WDR is a constituent member of the consortium of German public-broadcasting institutions, ARD...
; much repeated. - 1981 - 1987: Rudis Tagesshow starring Rudi CarrellRudi CarrellRudi Carrell , born Rudolf Wijbrand Kesselaar, was a Dutch entertainer. Along with famous entertainers such as Johannes Heesters, Linda de Mol and Sylvie van der Vaart, Carrell was one of the most successful Dutch personalities active in Germany.He worked as a television entertainer and hosted his...
, Diether KrebsDiether KrebsDiether Krebs was a German actor, cabaret artist and comedian.-Youth and initial success:...
and Klaus HavensteinKlaus HavensteinKlaus Havenstein , was a German actor, cabaret artist, dubbing artist and television presenter.Klaus Havenstein grew up in Hamburg, where he started an apprenticeship as a retail salesman in 1937...
, on ARDARD (broadcaster)ARD is a joint organization of Germany's regional public-service broadcasters... - 1984 - 1989: So Isses, series with Jürgen von der LippeJürgen von der LippeHans-Jürgen Dohrenkamp , better known by his stage name Jürgen von der Lippe, is a German television presenter, entertainer, actor and comedian...
on ARDARD (broadcaster)ARD is a joint organization of Germany's regional public-service broadcasters... - 1983 - 1986: Sketchup comedy sketch series with Diether KrebsDiether KrebsDiether Krebs was a German actor, cabaret artist and comedian.-Youth and initial success:...
, Beatrice Richter/Iris BerbenIris BerbenIris Berben is a German actress. She grew up in Hamburg, where her parents ran a restaurant....
, on ARDARD (broadcaster)ARD is a joint organization of Germany's regional public-service broadcasters... - 1987 - 1990: Harald und Eddi, comedy series starring Harald JuhnkeHarald JuhnkeHarald Juhnke , actually Harry Heinz Herbert Juhnke, was a well-known German actor, comedian and entertainer.-Life:...
and Eddi ArentEddi ArentEddi Arent is a German actor, cabaret artist and comedian. He has appeared in nearly 100 films since 1956.He was born in Danzig, Free City of Danzig, today Poland.-Selected filmography:...
, on ARDARD (broadcaster)ARD is a joint organization of Germany's regional public-service broadcasters... - 1988 - 1992: Alles nichts oder?!, slapstickSlapstickSlapstick is a type of comedy involving exaggerated violence and activities which may exceed the boundaries of common sense.- Origins :The phrase comes from the batacchio or bataccio — called the 'slap stick' in English — a club-like object composed of two wooden slats used in Commedia dell'arte...
game show hosted by Hella von SinnenHella von SinnenHella Kemper known by her stage name Hella von Sinnen is a German entertainer. She had several TV shows on German private channels...
and Hugo Egon BalderHugo Egon BalderHugo Egon Balder is a German actor and comedian. He was born 22 March 1950 in Berlin to Egon Friedrich Balder and Gerda Balder, née Schure . Gerda Balder was a Jew who, together with her mother and her son from her first marriage, survived the Theresienstadt concentration camp.Balder was a...
, on RTLRTL TelevisionRtl.de' redirects here. For other uses, see RTL.RTL Television , or simply RTL, is a German commercial television station distributed via cable and satellite along with DVB-T , in larger population centres...
1990s
The 1990s saw female comedians appearing in more prominent roles; whereas actresses such as Evelyn HamannEvelyn Hamann
Evelyn Hamann was a German actress.- Life :Evelyn Hamann was born into a family of musicians in Hamburg, Germany: her father Bernhard Hamann was a violinist, the concertmaster of the NDR television company's symphony orchestra and founded the Hamann Quartet; her mother was a singer and music...
in the '70s or Iris Berben
Iris Berben
Iris Berben is a German actress. She grew up in Hamburg, where her parents ran a restaurant....
in the '80s usually played a main character's wife or girlfriend, now women such as Esther Schweins
Esther Schweins
Esther Schweins is a German actress and comedienne who became famous through her appearances on the RTL Samstag Nacht show for which she won the Bayerischer Fernsehpreis in 1994....
, Tanja Schumann, Anke Engelke
Anke Engelke
Anke Christina Fischer is a German comedian, actress and voice-over actress born in Montréal, Quebec, Canada.Engelke moved to Cologne in 1971 with her parents...
and Hella von Sinnen
Hella von Sinnen
Hella Kemper known by her stage name Hella von Sinnen is a German entertainer. She had several TV shows on German private channels...
made a name for themselves in more independent roles, although still mostly as part of larger casts.
With television becoming more and more international, there was a lot of influence from abroad in many shows of the '90s: RTL Samstag Nacht was based on Saturday Night Live
Saturday Night Live
Saturday Night Live is a live American late-night television sketch comedy and variety show developed by Lorne Michaels and Dick Ebersol. The show premiered on NBC on October 11, 1975, under the original title of NBC's Saturday Night.The show's sketches often parody contemporary American culture...
(USA), the Harald Schmidt Show was similar to the Late Show with David Letterman
Late Show with David Letterman
Late Show with David Letterman is a U.S. late-night talk show hosted by David Letterman on CBS. The show debuted on August 30, 1993, and is produced by Letterman's production company, Worldwide Pants Incorporated. The show's music director and band-leader of the house band, the CBS Orchestra, is...
(USA), 7 Tage, 7 Köpfe was superficially based on Have I Got News For You? (GB).
- 1990 - 1994: Schmidteinander, a satirical comedy show, presented by Harald SchmidtHarald SchmidtHarald Franz Schmidt is a German actor, writer, comedian and television entertainer best known as host of two popular German late-night shows.- Early life :...
and Herbert FeuersteinHerbert FeuersteinHerbert Feuerstein is a German comedian and entertainer.Feuerstein studied music at the Salzburg Mozarteum from 1956 to 1958, majoring in piano, cembalo and composition. However, he never graduated and in 1960, he followed his first wife to New York...
on WDRWestdeutscher RundfunkWestdeutscher Rundfunk is a German public-broadcasting institution based in the Federal State of North Rhine-Westphalia with its main office in Cologne. WDR is a constituent member of the consortium of German public-broadcasting institutions, ARD...
and ARDARD (broadcaster)ARD is a joint organization of Germany's regional public-service broadcasters... - since 1992: Quatsch Comedy Club presented by Thomas HermannsThomas HermannsThomas Hermanns is a German TV-presenter, director, TV-author and comedian. He is known for his comedy-show Quatsch Comedy Club....
on Pro Sieben - 1992 - 1994: Lippes Lachmix show starring Jürgen von der LippeJürgen von der LippeHans-Jürgen Dohrenkamp , better known by his stage name Jürgen von der Lippe, is a German television presenter, entertainer, actor and comedian...
on WDRWestdeutscher RundfunkWestdeutscher Rundfunk is a German public-broadcasting institution based in the Federal State of North Rhine-Westphalia with its main office in Cologne. WDR is a constituent member of the consortium of German public-broadcasting institutions, ARD... - 1993 - 1998: RTL Samstag Nacht, live comedy show based on Saturday Night LiveSaturday Night LiveSaturday Night Live is a live American late-night television sketch comedy and variety show developed by Lorne Michaels and Dick Ebersol. The show premiered on NBC on October 11, 1975, under the original title of NBC's Saturday Night.The show's sketches often parody contemporary American culture...
, starring Wigald BoningWigald BoningWigald Boning is a German actor, singer, writer and television presenter.- Life :Boning works as actor in different TV and filmproductions. He became in Germany famous as actor in television comedy programme RTL Samstag Nacht. Together with Olli Dittrich Boning sang in Die Doofen. Boning wrote...
, Olli DittrichOlli DittrichOlli Dittrich is a German actor, comedian, television personality and musician.- Life :Dittrich became in Germany famous for his work as actor and comedian in German television comedy-programme RTL Samstag Nacht. He sang in band Die Doofen. As musician he also plays in band Texas Lightning...
, Esther Schweins, Stefan Jürgens, Tanja Schumann and Mirco Nontschew, on RTLRTL TelevisionRtl.de' redirects here. For other uses, see RTL.RTL Television , or simply RTL, is a German commercial television station distributed via cable and satellite along with DVB-T , in larger population centres... - 1995 - 2003: Harald Schmidt Show, a late night televisionLate night televisionLate night television in the United States is the block of television programming airing after 11:00 pm and usually through 2:00 am. Traditionally, this type of programming airs after the late local news and is most notable for being the daypart used for a particular genre of programming that falls...
show, originally similar to the Late Show with David LettermanLate Show with David LettermanLate Show with David Letterman is a U.S. late-night talk show hosted by David Letterman on CBS. The show debuted on August 30, 1993, and is produced by Letterman's production company, Worldwide Pants Incorporated. The show's music director and band-leader of the house band, the CBS Orchestra, is...
, presented by Harald SchmidtHarald SchmidtHarald Franz Schmidt is a German actor, writer, comedian and television entertainer best known as host of two popular German late-night shows.- Early life :...
on Sat. 1 - 1996 - 1997: Happiness, sketch show with Markus Maria ProfitlichMarkus Maria ProfitlichMarkus Maria Profitlich is a German comedian and actor who was a cast member of Die Wochenshow between 1999 and 2001. He now hosts and performs his own show, Mensch Markus....
on Sat.1Sat.1Sat.1 is a privately owned German television broadcasting station. Sat.1 was the first privately owned television broadcasting station in Germany, having started one day before RTL Television.... - 1996 - 2002: Die WochenshowDie WochenshowDie Wochenshow is a German weekly comedy sketch show that is aired on Sat.1 and is produced by Brainpool TV. It started on April 20, 1996 and was cancelled early in 2002...
, sketch show starring Anke EngelkeAnke EngelkeAnke Christina Fischer is a German comedian, actress and voice-over actress born in Montréal, Quebec, Canada.Engelke moved to Cologne in 1971 with her parents...
, Bastian PastewkaBastian PastewkaBastian Pastewka is a German actor and comedian.He first became known to a wider audience in Germany around 1996 as a regular cast member of the comedy show Die Wochenshow , essentially a mock news program...
and Ingolf LückIngolf LückIngolf Lück is a German actor, comedian and television host.He hosted several sketch comedy shows from which the most known is Die Wochenshow, aired on Sat.1 between 1996 and 2002.Lück had a little role in Das Boot....
, on Sat.1Sat.1Sat.1 is a privately owned German television broadcasting station. Sat.1 was the first privately owned television broadcasting station in Germany, having started one day before RTL Television....
- 1996 - 2005: 7 Tage, 7 Köpfe, comedy news show similar to Have I Got News For You? except that pre-planned gags were not only confined to the host Jochen BusseJochen BusseJochen Busse is a German television actor.He began work as a stage actor at the Kammerspiele in Munich in 1960 and made his TV debut the same year. He has made 80 appearances in television since 1960. In 1993 he appeared in the Austrian set comedy series Hochwürden erbt das Paradies...
; most famous team captains Mike KrügerMike KrügerMike Krüger is a German comedian and singer....
and Rudi CarrellRudi CarrellRudi Carrell , born Rudolf Wijbrand Kesselaar, was a Dutch entertainer. Along with famous entertainers such as Johannes Heesters, Linda de Mol and Sylvie van der Vaart, Carrell was one of the most successful Dutch personalities active in Germany.He worked as a television entertainer and hosted his...
, on RTLRTL TelevisionRtl.de' redirects here. For other uses, see RTL.RTL Television , or simply RTL, is a German commercial television station distributed via cable and satellite along with DVB-T , in larger population centres... - since 1996: WWW - Die witzigsten Werbespots der Welt, clip and comedy show presented first by Fritz Egner and since 2005 by Ingo OschmannIngo OschmannIngo Oschmann is a German comedian, entertainer and stage magician who also works as a television presenter and actor...
, on Sat.1Sat.1Sat.1 is a privately owned German television broadcasting station. Sat.1 was the first privately owned television broadcasting station in Germany, having started one day before RTL Television....
; Ingo won the 2003 final of Star SearchStar SearchStar Search is a television show that was produced from 1983-95, hosted by Ed McMahon, and created by Alfred Masini. A relaunch was produced in 2003-04. The show was originally filmed at the old Earl Carroll Theatre at 6230 Sunset Blvd...
in GermanyGermanyGermany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
as best comedy performer. - 1997-2000: SwitchSwitchIn electronics, a switch is an electrical component that can break an electrical circuit, interrupting the current or diverting it from one conductor to another....
, a TV parody with Michael Müller, Peter Nottmeier and others, on Pro Sieben - 1997 - 2002: BullyparadeBullyparadeBullyparade is the title of a German late night comedy sketch show which aired from 1997 to 2002 on German channel ProSieben. Michael Herbig, Rick Kavanian and Christian Tramitz were the main cast of the show....
, a mixture of live and pre-filmed comedy sketches, starring Michael Herbig as "Bully", on Pro Sieben - since 1999: TV totalTV totalTV total is a German late-night television comedy talk show that has run since 8 March 1999 on ProSieben, and is currently aired at around 23:15 from Monday to Thursday....
, late night television comedy talk show, created, produced and hosted by Stefan RaabStefan RaabStefan Konrad Raab is a German entertainer, television host, comedian and musician. Raab began his television career hosting the comedy show Vivasion in 1993 and has been hosting the late-night comedy show TV total since 1999. He became well-known in 1994 after composing a hit single spoofing...
, on Pro Sieben
since 2000
By the first decade of the new millennium, the trend began to move back away from the pre-recorded sketch shows of the '80s and '90s. Comedy talk shows such as TV TotalTV total
TV total is a German late-night television comedy talk show that has run since 8 March 1999 on ProSieben, and is currently aired at around 23:15 from Monday to Thursday....
and Elton.tv
Elton.tv
Elton.tv was a German comedic late-night talk show hosted by Elton. It was originally shown once a week on ProSieben between 6 December 2001 and 27 March 2003....
naturally involved more off-the-cuff humour, and soon these were joined by improvised shows such as Genial daneben and the original Schillerstraße
Schillerstraße
Schillerstraße is a German improvisational comedy show that airs weekly on Sat.1. It is recorded without a script and broadcast unedited to a large extent...
. The main role in the latter is played by an actress, Cordula Stratmann; by now there were several shows whose main stars were female comedians, such as Ladykracher
Ladykracher
Ladykracher is a German sketch comedy show starring Anke Engelke. The show ran on Sat.1 from 2002 to 2004 and was produced by Brainpool. In 2008 the show was reproduced.- Skits :All Ladykracher skits plays by Anke Engelke...
with Anke Engelke. Slapstick now played a less important role: instead, realism was in, with shows removing the laugh track
Laugh track
A laugh track is a separate soundtrack invented by Charles "Charley" Douglass, with the artificial sound of audience laughter, made to be inserted into television programming of comedy shows and sitcoms.The term "laugh track" does not apply to the genuine audience laughter on shows that shoot in...
, such as Stromberg (similar to The Office
The Office
The Office is a popular mockumentary/situation comedy TV show that was first made in the UK and has now been re-made in many other countries, with overall viewership in the hundreds of millions worldwide. The original version of The Office was created by Ricky Gervais and Stephen Merchant. It...
) or the sitcom Pastewka.
- since 2000: Night Wash: live stand-up comedyStand-up comedyStand-up comedy is a comedic art form. Usually, a comedian performs in front of a live audience, speaking directly to them. Their performances are sometimes filmed for later release via DVD, the internet, and television...
show for upcoming new comedians, filmed in a real laundrette, ran on WDR and ARDARD (broadcaster)ARD is a joint organization of Germany's regional public-service broadcasters...
until 2007; since then on Comedy Central GermanyComedy Central GermanyComedy Central Germany is a German speaking equivalent to Comedy Central. The channel is available free-to-air and on local digital/cable operators in Germany, Austria, and Switzerland. It broadcasts many American and British imports as well as original programming. It launched on January 15, 2007...
(which started broadcasting in 2007). - 2000 - 2006: Alles Atze, comedy sitcom starring Atze SchröderAtze SchröderAtze Schröder is a German comedy character played by Hubertus Albers. He is best known as the main character in the RTL comedy show Alles Atze and for his appearances in the ProSieben stand-up comedy show Quatsch Comedy Club....
, on RTLRTL TelevisionRtl.de' redirects here. For other uses, see RTL.RTL Television , or simply RTL, is a German commercial television station distributed via cable and satellite along with DVB-T , in larger population centres... - 2001 - 2003: Elton.tvElton.tvElton.tv was a German comedic late-night talk show hosted by Elton. It was originally shown once a week on ProSieben between 6 December 2001 and 27 March 2003....
, late night television comedy talk show hosted by EltonElton (comedian)Alexander Duszat, better known under the nickname Elton, is a German television host and comedian.He was born on 2 April 1971 in West Berlin, but grew up and went to the school in Hamburg. He finished his traineeship as a television and radio technician...
, on Pro Sieben - 2001 - 2005: Was guckst du?!, sketch show starring Kaya YanarKaya YanarKaya Yanar is a German comedian best known for his comedy show Was guckst du?! ....
, on Sat.1Sat.1Sat.1 is a privately owned German television broadcasting station. Sat.1 was the first privately owned television broadcasting station in Germany, having started one day before RTL Television.... - since 2002: Die Dreisten Drei, short sketches with Mirja Boes and others, runs on Sat.1Sat.1Sat.1 is a privately owned German television broadcasting station. Sat.1 was the first privately owned television broadcasting station in Germany, having started one day before RTL Television....
- 2002 - 2004, again since 2008: LadykracherLadykracherLadykracher is a German sketch comedy show starring Anke Engelke. The show ran on Sat.1 from 2002 to 2004 and was produced by Brainpool. In 2008 the show was reproduced.- Skits :All Ladykracher skits plays by Anke Engelke...
, comedy sketch series starring Anke EngelkeAnke EngelkeAnke Christina Fischer is a German comedian, actress and voice-over actress born in Montréal, Quebec, Canada.Engelke moved to Cologne in 1971 with her parents...
, on Sat. 1; Anke won a Rose d'OrRose d'OrThe Rose d’Or is one of the most important international festivals in entertainment television. It was founded in Montreux in 1961 and has taken place in Lucerne since 2004. Producers, executives from independent and public service broadcasters and heads of production companies from over 40...
as best comedy performer in the series
- since 2002: Comedystreet, based on Trigger Happy TVTrigger Happy TVTrigger Happy TV was a hidden camera/practical joke reality television program. The original British edition of the show, produced by Absolutely Productions, starred Dom Joly and ran for two series on the British television channel Channel 4 from 2000 until 2002...
and starring Simon GosejohannSimon GosejohannSimon Gosejohann is a German comedian, TV presenter and actor.In 2008, Gosejohann won the Deutscher Comedypreis in the category "Best Comedy Show" for his role in Elton vs. Simon. A year later, he picked up the Best Hidden Camera Award for his show Comedystreet.- External links :*...
, on Pro Sieben - since 2002: Sechserpack, comedy sketch show with six actors including the British-German Emily Wood, on Sat.1Sat.1Sat.1 is a privately owned German television broadcasting station. Sat.1 was the first privately owned television broadcasting station in Germany, having started one day before RTL Television....
- since 2003: Genial daneben presented by Hugo Egon BalderHugo Egon BalderHugo Egon Balder is a German actor and comedian. He was born 22 March 1950 in Berlin to Egon Friedrich Balder and Gerda Balder, née Schure . Gerda Balder was a Jew who, together with her mother and her son from her first marriage, survived the Theresienstadt concentration camp.Balder was a...
on Sat. 1 (one of first improvised shows, set off a series of other improvisation-based shows) - 2003 - 2006: Rent a PocherRent a PocherRent a Pocher was a German television show hosted by comedian Oliver Pocher. The weekly late-night show ran on Thursdays on the commercial television channel ProSieben and was produced by Brainpool. On the show, in addition to comedy bits and celebrity guests, Pocher offered to "rent" himself out...
, show starring Oliver PocherOliver PocherOliver Pocher is a German actor, stand-up comedian and television host.- Early life and professional training :...
, on Pro Sieben - since 2004: SchillerstraßeSchillerstraßeSchillerstraße is a German improvisational comedy show that airs weekly on Sat.1. It is recorded without a script and broadcast unedited to a large extent...
improvised comedy soap operaSoap operaA soap opera, sometimes called "soap" for short, is an ongoing, episodic work of dramatic fiction presented in serial format on radio or as television programming. The name soap opera stems from the original dramatic serials broadcast on radio that had soap manufacturers, such as Procter & Gamble,...
; main actress is Cordula StratmannCordula StratmannCordula Stratmann is a German comedian. After taking the Abitur school-leaving examination, she studied social work at the Catholic University of Applied Sciences in North Rhine-Westphalia, in Cologne. During her work at the family counselling section of the Pulheim youth welfare office she also...
, runs on Sat.1Sat.1Sat.1 is a privately owned German television broadcasting station. Sat.1 was the first privately owned television broadcasting station in Germany, having started one day before RTL Television....
. German concept, taken up by Fox TV and sold in many other countries; won Rose d'OrRose d'OrThe Rose d’Or is one of the most important international festivals in entertainment television. It was founded in Montreux in 1961 and has taken place in Lucerne since 2004. Producers, executives from independent and public service broadcasters and heads of production companies from over 40...
Press Prize (most innovative programme). - since 2004: StrombergStromberg (TV series)Stromberg is a German television series which is produced by Brainpool and broadcast on the commercial television channel ProSieben. The series was proclaimed as a copy of the BBC series The Office, although initially the producers claimed it was based on a character from a past ProSieben comedy,...
, mockumentaryMockumentaryA mockumentary , is a type of film or television show in which fictitious events are presented in documentary format. These productions are often used to analyze or comment on current events and issues by using a fictitious setting, or to parody the documentary form itself...
comedy series partly based on The OfficeThe OfficeThe Office is a popular mockumentary/situation comedy TV show that was first made in the UK and has now been re-made in many other countries, with overall viewership in the hundreds of millions worldwide. The original version of The Office was created by Ricky Gervais and Stephen Merchant. It...
, starring Christoph Maria HerbstChristoph Maria HerbstChristoph Maria Herbst is a German actor and comedian.-Life and theatre career:After passing the Abitur, Herbst became a banker apprentice and was active at the free theatre scene in Wuppertal at the same time. In 1986, he was a founding member of the private Theater in Cronenberg and its acting...
on Pro Sieben - since 2005: Frei Schnauze (improvisational comedy show adapted from Whose Line Is It Anyway?Whose Line Is It Anyway?Whose Line Is It Anyway? is a short-form improvisational comedy TV show. Originally a British radio programme, it moved to television in 1988 as a series made for the UK's Channel 4, for a 10 series run...
), presented by Mike KrügerMike KrügerMike Krüger is a German comedian and singer....
then Dirk BachDirk BachDirk Bach is a German television comedy actor, best known as Pepe in the German version of Sesamstraße and as an actor in television series Lukas.-Life:...
on RTLRTL TelevisionRtl.de' redirects here. For other uses, see RTL.RTL Television , or simply RTL, is a German commercial television station distributed via cable and satellite along with DVB-T , in larger population centres... - since 2005: Pastewka, sitcom starring Bastian PastewkaBastian PastewkaBastian Pastewka is a German actor and comedian.He first became known to a wider audience in Germany around 1996 as a regular cast member of the comedy show Die Wochenshow , essentially a mock news program...
, partly based on Curb Your EnthusiasmCurb Your EnthusiasmCurb Your Enthusiasm is an American comedy television series produced and broadcast by HBO, which premiered on October 15, 2000. As of 2011, it has completed 80 episodes over eight seasons. The series was created by Seinfeld co-creator Larry David, who stars as a fictionalized version of himself...
, but scripted, on Sat.1Sat.1Sat.1 is a privately owned German television broadcasting station. Sat.1 was the first privately owned television broadcasting station in Germany, having started one day before RTL Television....
; Pastewka won a Rose d'OrRose d'OrThe Rose d’Or is one of the most important international festivals in entertainment television. It was founded in Montreux in 1961 and has taken place in Lucerne since 2004. Producers, executives from independent and public service broadcasters and heads of production companies from over 40...
for his performance in the sitcom. - since 2007: Switch reloaded, the sequel of Switch with partially same staff, on Pro Sieben.