Arjen Lubach causes a lot of surprise with his behavior behind the scenes of De Avondshow. “I actually see this vlog as a big middle finger to Matthijs van Nieuwkerk.”
While the late talk show Op1 is increasingly failing, Arjen Lubach is able to reach an audience of one million viewers on the late evening of NPO 1. There is a lot of pressure on his shoulders, because without him the channel would still perform much less. Are Matthijs van Nieuwkerk-like scenes lurking? No.
Parquet or laminate
Martine de Jong, Arjen’s girlfriend, brings a video every week on YouTube backstage vlog in which we get to see what goes on behind the scenes of De Avondshow. And that turns out to be quite fun. “It is a fantastic look behind the scenes at the program,” says opinion maker Victor Vlam The Communicados.
You learn a lot, says Victor. “The floor of the Evening Show, for example. You think: that is parquet or laminate. Well, in that vlog you find out that that studio floor is just gray. And at the beginning of the season it is painted brown with a wood pattern in it. And on camera it looks like just wood, but it’s just painted.”
Pleasant ambience
What is more striking, according to Victor, is the good atmosphere behind the scenes. “It’s nice, because there is a really good atmosphere between all those people who make the program. There’s a ping pong table in the office, there’s a dog running around. All sorts of jokes are played. They are all funny and fun with each other.”
He was shocked, however, by a fragment in which Arjen knocks sweets out of a colleague’s hand (see below). “And that is also a young female production assistant. I think: we have a scandal. And then Arjen Lubach did the following. He apologized, said it was an accident and went to get her a new candy.”
Middle finger
It says a lot, says Victor. “It shows that there is a really nice, fun atmosphere. Those people treat Arjen in a very nice way. He is also one who is himself involved in all things. At one point some tables had to be moved and he is just lugging tables along.”
He continues: “It’s funny to see, because you wouldn’t expect that. Certainly not every presenter does that, but that is the sign. And I actually see this vlog as a big middle finger to Matthijs van Nieuwkerk.”
Overwhelm
Why? “Arjen is also under pressure. Matthijs van Nieuwkerk’s argument was: I make Champions League and that’s why I can torture everyone, because there is just a lot of pressure on me to deliver a fantastic program every day. The same is of course the case for Arjen Lubach.”
Arjen also broadcasts daily. “It is very difficult to get that done. And yet apparently that can be done in a very good, friendly, fun atmosphere. They adore him and there really seems to be a fantastic atmosphere among them. So I think these vlogs really paint a very good, positive picture about the evening show.”
Co-host Lars Duursma: “Yes, that’s possible, Matthijs.”
Victor: “That is indeed possible, yes.”
Fragment
The fragment in which Arjen knocks sweets out of a hand (from minute 12:15):
