Entertainer Thomas Hermanns, who will be celebrating his 60th birthday in a few months, will stop moderating the “Quatsch Comedy Club”. He wants to pass the microphone on after 30 years, but remains active behind the scenes.
The anniversary show, which will be recorded on Monday (December 12) in Berlin, will be broadcast by ProSieben two days before New Year’s Eve (December 29). In the dpa interview, Hermanns remembers the tops and flops of his “nonsense” time.
Question: You say that comedy is always a younger topic and that you don’t want to overdo it. Does that also apply to show business in general? Thomas Gottschalk is still sitting on the “Wetten, dass…?” couch…
Answer: Yes, that’s right. But I don’t think that applies to show business in general. I’ll start moderating the “Wheel of Fortune” in January. So I’ll stay in show business. But specifically with stand-up comedy, I’ll put a tick on it. The idea of presenting the find of the week at the age of 70 or announcing Chris Tall is not an option for me.
Question: From your point of view, do older comedians still reach the humor of the younger ones?
Answer: I think there is no age limit in stand-up and we see, especially in America, that you can still do it into old age. We at the “Quatsch Comedy Club” believe in the three-generation principle when it comes to the performers and the exchange works quite well. As a moderator, however, you should stop when it’s most beautiful.
Question: There are older comedians who like to criticize the younger generation in their shows and also get applause for it. Do you think this is funny?
Answer: So I never find mockery per se funny. However, stand-up is something very personal. And if that’s on their hearts and they make gags about it in some way, then I think that’s totally fine. But one should not put too much emphasis on this so-called generation gap.
Question: Who was the biggest surprise for you in the 30 years?
Answer: Cindy (from Marzahn) certainly had the fastest ascent, which reminded me of a Hollywood film. She made it from our talent night to a full stadium in two years. We’ve had fast careers before, but the pace didn’t exist before.
Question: Were there any disappointments?
Answer: When comedy became an industry at some point, there were already some who thought that they would do stand-up and become millionaires straight away. An absurd notion. That “pop star period” in the 2000s didn’t benefit every performer, but I won’t say names, of course. The new generation is busy again, really likes stand-up comedy and doesn’t want to become a millionaire and TV star in half a year.
Question: What are your feelings going into the last show? Are you an emotional type?
Answer: You don’t always know that beforehand. I’m already built close to the water. When it comes to films, the music is always important. If the music has the right strings, I’ll sit on the sofa sobbing. So, as a producer, I have to choose a soundtrack that allows for emotions. I also think you should allow real feelings, that happens far too seldom on television. I think a tear will flow, and that’s great.
Question: Did you think about what your last words on stage will be?
Answer: Yes, absolutely. I am a perfectionist and I want to do everything exactly. I’ve already come up with ten different closing words and will then decide in the evening what really suits my feelings. Because if the feeling cannot be planned beforehand, I can hardly prescribe a sentence for myself. I’m hoping on my gut that I’ll find the right closing word from the ten that I’ve written.
Question: You will soon be 60 years old. Is the farewell to the nonsense stage also due to this or is it a coincidence?
Answer: Less the 60, much more the 30 from the club. It’s really crazy what has become of this little idea from 1992. This is a good moment to hand over the controls to someone else.
Question: And to whom?
Answer: Of course I won’t say that just yet. There will also be no relay handover that evening. Unless it overwhelms me so much that I just scream a name out into the world. Take a look.
Question: Can you rule out a comeback on the club stage?
Answer: Well, I still do a lot of TV shows and musicals. The good thing is that I could stand in the club every night and polish glasses or take selfies with the audience without being asked. So when I have a longing, I put myself in the live theater. Which TV presenter has the luxury of being able to get back to the heart of the emotion with a subway ride?
