In a double interview, for which the magazine “Bunte” brought the two TV legends Thomas Gottschalk (72) and Frank Elstner (81) to the table, Gottschalk in particular did not leave a good hair on the latest generation of television makers. In his opinion, the show candidates had much more to offer in the past than they do today.
“The demands used to be much higher,” Gottschalk said indignantly in the interview. “If Frank were to come around the corner from a program director with the idea for ‘Silent Stars’, he would have no chance with this format. Even with the public broadcasters, they would be amazed: ‘Nobel prize winners, does something like that still exist?'”
All in all, the level on German television has reached an all-time low, and everything is subordinated to cheap entertainment, Gottschalk continued. “RTL would ask them if they could dance too, and at ProSieben they would have to sing some hits disguised as squirrels.”
Colleague Frank Elstner showed a much more moderate view of things in the conversation. The development of the television landscape in recent years also has positive aspects for him: “The variety has become much greater. Nobody has to base their selection on any starting times or program offers anymore. The media libraries and streaming platforms deliver at any time of the day. and nighttime.”
In addition, in his opinion, there are still real talents today: “Like Joko and Klaas, for example. They have style, education and are really funny.”
In the meantime, clear criticism of the current TV landscape by Thomas Gottschalk has become a certain habit. In an interview with the media magazine “DWDL”, for example, he was loudly upset about the new generation of “so-called celebrities” with whom today’s moderators are dealing. “When I see what’s going on in the ‘Summer House of the Stars’, I say: They don’t belong on television, I have neither respect for them nor can I learn anything from them.”
As a moderator, it is of course his job to present what interests the audience. “But if I’m sitting next to a skinny influencer and have to bow to her because she has several million followers, then I’m no longer willing to do it,” he explained. And proudly added: “I’ve sat next to Barbra Streisand and the Dalai Lama…”
