Maarten van Rossem and Philip Freriks will feel quite discarded: while the viewing figures of De Slimste Mens are declining rapidly, RTL Boulevard is calling for their exit.
It appears to be a gigantic PR blunder: announcing the departure of Maarten van Rossem and Philip Freriks as the presentation duo of De Slimste Mens very early. They will not be replaced next year, but the following year by Herman van der Zandt and an as yet unknown jury member. According to Tina Nijkamp, the urgency has now disappeared.
‘They’ve fallen asleep!’
While the viewing figures of De Slimste Mens are in a kind of nosedive, RTL Boulevard is now launching a hard attack on Maarten and Philip. “I also looked and it is really impossible to get through. There used to be a sparkle in Maarten’s eyes. There was grumpiness there, but also humor and that is now completely missing,” sneers Aran Bade.
The show expert also points out the viewer question that was in De Slimste Mens this week. “That person sent: ‘Do you have a tip for my 60-year-old mother, who always falls asleep during De Slimste?’ That happened to be a viewer question for Maarten, but then I thought: this is exactly what the whole problem is. That they dozed off a bit there.”
‘The humor is missing’
Aran has finished the quiz. “The humor is missing, but they have also announced that Philip and Maarten are going to stop. Then it sinks a bit. I don’t think Maarten is happy about it at all, but because Philip is quitting, he has to too. But that won’t be until the summer of 2025 that Herman van der Zandt will start. That’s just way too long.”
Colleague Bridget Maasland: “Is everything in order? They announced it too early, so, you say? But they may also be a bit too fast with the new season.”
Oat milk
Aran: “Yes, that too, but if you have a good cast with good candidates, it’s not a problem. But the candidates of these episodes were really those oat drink types, who I don’t think watch TV themselves. Yes, oat milk drink types, who only watch Netflix and don’t watch TV at all. That is a problem.”
Bridget: “A bit of hipsters who don’t really watch television anymore.”
Aran: “Yes, you feel that and the viewer at home cannot recognize that. There used to be very big names in it, but that is now declining a bit.”
‘Philip and Maarten out!’
It is time for rigorous measures, Aran said. “I think the solution is that Herman van der Zandt may have to be brought forward. That we should introduce Herman as the man from the program De Slimste Mens, with, for example, a Peter Pannekoek next to him who will replace Maarten.”
He continues: “I think that is better for both gentlemen. You have to stop at your peak and now they are really in a valley that is very difficult to get out of.”
Dead horse
Bridget agrees. “Yes, it’s a bit like beating a dead horse, at a certain point? Emotionally for them.”
Aran: “Maybe it’s too much for them. The finish line will take some time. I also think Henry van Loon is a name. A bit of humor and fresh energy.”
Bridget: “A breath of fresh air and also in terms of candidates, maybe look a little more to ensure that they also have general knowledge, including watching television, also drinking oat milk. Also.”