Gerard Joling who, together with Beau van Erven Dorens, breathes new life into the former television hit Hole in the Wall? It’s a golden idea, says tube whisperer Tina Nijkamp.
SBS 6 surprised friend and foe in 2009 by grabbing no less than 1.9 million viewers with the premiere of Hole in the Wall, the program in which celebrities have to jump through a figure into a moving wall or else fall into the water. Gerard Joling and Beau van Erven Dorens’ show was one instantly good luck.
Back on TV?
The Portuguese have started this TV show again and it is a resounding success with a 25 percent market share. For that reason, the program has been named ‘The Daily Hit’ in The Daily Wit, a well-known newsletter for TV professionals. “Hey, how funny!” says Tina Nijkamp, the former channel boss of SBS 6, to her analysis channel.
Nowadays, both Beau and Gerard work for RTL 4, so that channel might do well to bite, says Tina. “Who knows something for Gerard and Beau soon on RTL 4? Because in the Netherlands, the first episode scored almost two million viewers on SBS 6.”
Grumpy
Later that dropped sharply, Tina agrees. But: “It was produced so cheaply that the recordings had to be stopped after every five minutes because the decor could only handle one puzzle piece. Too bad, that chagrin eventually saw the viewer again. One episode cost 85 thousand euros. Perhaps a better version with a little more budget?”
Hole in the Wall is still in 42nd place in the annual top hundred of 2009. “It’s really time to introduce it again in the Netherlands with Gerard and Beau. Certainly a huge viewing hit, provided better decor and slightly less profit goal for the producer. Maybe start with an New Year’s Eve special?”
Fragment
An excerpt from Hole in the Wall: