Contrary to earlier announcements, the RTL casting show “Deutschland sucht den Superstar” (DSDS) will not be discontinued with the current 20th season. There will be another round next year, said juror Dieter Bohlen in the first live show in 2023 in Cologne on Saturday evening. RTL had actually announced that it would discontinue the format. The broadcaster emphasized online that Bohlen’s announcement was not an April Fool’s joke.
Bohlen spoke of an “incredible spread” of “DSDS” not only on linear television and via streaming, but also on Instagram and Tiktok – that’s why you want to continue. And that with new rules: In the planned 21st season, according to him, there should no longer be an age limit: anyone over the age of 16 can apply. So far, only singers up to the age of 30 have been able to participate.
Contrary to expectations, there was no verbal exchange of blows between Bohlen and Katja Krasavice. Krasavice had called her co-juror a narcissist and a liar for his dealings with women on the show in a Tiktok video released two months ago.
The former Modern Talking singer countered in an interview with radio station 104.6 RTL: “There are people and certain things that don’t interest me.” The trigger for the conflict is a scene from the fourth episode of the current “DSDS” season, in which Bohlen said to a candidate: “Did you do anything normal? Or did you just graduate and let yourself be noodled through?”
The appearance of the former “DSDS” judge Bruce Darnell seemed a bit bizarre, but funny. The 65-year-old walked across the show stage like a catwalk and fell into Bohlen’s arms. The subsequent dialogue between the two (Bohlen: “You smell good. Where were you?” – Darnell: “Dieter, you great person!”) made up for numerous musically questionable performances by the top ten candidates.
All ten performed winning titles from previous seasons. But neither Rose Ndumba nor Aileen Sager and Peris Achilleas Grigoriadis could convince Bohlen and his jury colleagues Krasavice, Pietro Lombardi and pop singer Leony vocally.
According to the jury, the best performances of the evening came from Lawa Baban, Lorent Berisha, Sem Eisinger and Monika Gajek. Gajek is “the best female voice in the competition,” enthused Bohlen. Krasavice even wished the 21-year-old victory: “I think after all the suffering that women have had to go through, it’s time for a woman to win.” What suffering she meant – possibly that of the women on the show – she left open.
However, it is not the verdict of the jury, but the number of calls that decides on the progress of the singers in the live shows. And the audience sent Natalie Nock and Rose Ndumba home.
The winner of “DSDS” receives 100,000 euros and a record deal and can also go on tour with Bohlen. RTL broadcasts the second of three live shows next Saturday.
