Hape Kerkeling’s clever humorous actions in the show “Total normal” for Radio Bremen in the 90s are still considered legendary today. This included his impersonation of Queen Beatrix. The comedian once mingled with numerous journalists at the federal press conference for the station. That was in 1990 and he was extremely resented there. Apparently Kerkeling was then banned from the house.
The federal press conference has now lifted this presumably decades-long house ban. The occasion is the entertainer’s upcoming 60th birthday. The chairman of the federal press conference, ZDF journalist Mathis Feldhoff, announced the good news in the podcast “Hape Birthday – a ‘3nach9’ special for Hape Kerkeling’s 60th birthday”.
Why are there no pastries?
Kerkeling was resented for turning the federal press conference into a slapstick event. Among other things, he asked at the time whether people had to tighten their belts at Christmas and why no pastries were actually served. Harmless, as one might think from today’s perspective. Journalists and politicians turned up their noses at the time.
But there were not only angry reactions. The CSU politician Hans Klein, at the time head of the Federal Government’s Press and Information Office, replied relaxedly: “I’ve often asked myself about the pastries, I’d be happy with just a coffee.”
Hape Kerkeling himself later described this moment as one of his most beautiful and courageous actions. His cheekiness may have diminished somewhat in the following years, but like no other German entertainer, Kerkeling managed to be successful and entertaining in a wide variety of media roles. However, it is not known what he thinks about his federal press conference pardon.