Today Inside must seriously ensure that the traditional supporters of the program do not drop out. The program is slowly being adopted by the established order, says Victor Vlam.
TV critic Victor Vlam, the most important expert in our country on the Today Inside ecosystem, issues a serious warning to Johan Derksen, René van der Gijp and Wilfred Genee. He has the feeling that VI is slowly losing its bond with its traditional supporters, because the show is increasingly rubbing up against the established order.
“Ron Keller, really?!”
Victor is worried about the show, he says in the podcast Victor Indicates TV. He realized that VI was in dire straits when former diplomat Ron Keller was sitting at the bar. “I thought to myself: really?! Ron Keller? He’s in every talk show. He’s in every talk show! He’s everywhere. Was VI founded to give those kinds of people a platform?”
Ron’s tone was different, he notes. “I thought that, in all honesty, it was sometimes condescending towards the VI audience. I don’t doubt his expertise, but I did have the feeling that he had decided: well, I’m going to explain it in very simple terms because those people probably won’t understand it all.”
Pirate ship
VI is increasingly rubbing against it establishment to, or the established order, Victor believes. He also points to Arend Jan Boekestijn and Renske Leijten. “They are both also regular guests at Pauw & De Wit. Then I think: then the distinction between those talk shows really starts to blur. The rebellious element must be there, the anti-establishment.”
“It has to be a bit like the pirate ship, it has to be much more populist. Sometimes I have no idea whether I am watching Nieuwsuur with Jeroen Wollaars or Wilfred Genee and Today Inside. The distinction is less clear than it should be. They have to think about that during the winter break. They have to think about that.”
To kick
Wilfred may be under pressure to color more within the lines, for example from his wife Lili Genee, who recently complained in the media about the reactions she receives to VI. “Then at a certain point you end up sitting there one day with Arend Jan, the next day with Ron Keller and then Mart de Kruijff is there again.”
He sighs: “Only establishment guests! To be honest, I would like more of those guests who kick people’s shins a little bit, because that is what the Today Inside viewer is waiting for. It represents the part of the Netherlands that does not feel heard in all kinds of other places such as the NPO.”
Hot bath
The VI supporters are now insufficiently represented on TV, Victor believes. “Arend Jan gets a warm bath, who is welcomed with all the respect, while Wierd Duk cannot even appear at the table without getting a whole tirade about what he just put on Twitter. I find it all remarkable.”
He concludes: “The establishment character is starting to become a bit too big. It has to be more rebellious.”