Raymond Mens has been working on it for a long time, but it is still cancelled: a TV trip with Johan Derksen to America, in the run-up to the elections there. “SBS 6 doesn’t want it.”
Six months ago, Raymond Mens revealed that he was busy behind the scenes with a docuseries about the United States, together with Johan Derksen. The two would leave for the country next summer to report on the mood in the run-up to the elections there. “But that still depends on Talpa,” he said then.
Talpa doesn’t want to
Talpa has spoken and is blocking the idea, Johan says in an email Orangewinter-item. “Talpa thought that program was not suitable for the channel and they started talking to the public broadcaster. They thought it was a very good idea, but they said: ‘We are not going to finance a very expensive program for the leading actor with a Talpa head.’”
And then? “Then Raymond very timidly wanted to tell me that, because he thought I would be angry, but for me it was a relief, because I didn’t see any possibility of taking a three-week break. Then the public broadcaster proposed to send Rutger Castricum in my place and I also wished him the best of luck.”
‘Yes that’s right’
It is extremely suitable for this, says Johan. “I think Rutger is now going to do it with Raymond.”
Raymond is sitting at the table at De Oranjewinter and confirms this lecture. “The story that Johan tells is correct, yes. We were in discussions about making that program and SBS did indeed say: ‘We think that is too political.’ I don’t agree with that, because I think the best-scoring program on SBS is very political, but they are allowed to think so.”
Different channel
Raymond has agreed that he can peddle his TV idea elsewhere. “Then I said: ‘Then I think I can take it to another channel and they agreed with that.’”
Rutger Castricum, presenter at PowNed, then said: “Johan is now throwing it on the channel, but it is now at the stage where it is submitted to the public broadcaster.”
In one bed
One thing is certain: Rutger does not want to share a hotel room with homosexual Raymond. “There are now major cutbacks hanging over the head of the NPO, with the PVV soon to be in the coalition, so it has actually been said: ‘Because of those cutbacks, we can actually only arrange one hotel room for two presenters.’”
He concludes with a laugh: “I had some reservations about that for a while, so this program is still up!”