Jan Böhmermann spoke positively about Stefan Raab and Frank Elstner. The context of the comment is his reflections on the future of the media and entertainment industry in view of its rather bleak present.
For entertainment, Böhmermann envisions emancipating herself from individuals. But showmasters would have to withdraw from the business. “[Hat] didn’t Stefan Raab do it fantastically? At the age of 50, as announced, he retired, which is worth striving for.” About Elstner, the father of “Wetten, Dass..?”, the moderator of “ZDF Magazin Royale” said that he admired his ability to discover new developments in media and to welcome the fallow entertainment industry with open arms, so also to take on a commentary role.
criticism of talk shows
The comments come from an interview with the “Süddeutsche Zeitung” on February 2, 2023. In it, the satirist, when asked about his numerous role models who come from the USA, also sharply criticized German talk shows. Nobody would advertise their own projects on their show.
“It’s unsatisfactory to only have seven minutes of promotional talk, it bores me and everyone else. Anyone who wants to sell themselves or something goes to Lanz or sits down with Maischberger at the comedy table between Jan Fleischhauer and Alexander Kissler.”
This critique of political talk shows also emerges in another reflection that furthers his thoughts on the evolution of entertainment: “It may be my naïve optimism, but I suspect that the permanent reproduction of talking points just bored. This shrunken world, the dwarfed concept of freedom, shouting at each other with campaign slogans – that bores even those who run it. Instead, I can imagine other stories being raised that are more relevant again.”
The criticized deadlocked “talking points” created a structure of personal-fixed argument reproduction, which instead of an open discourse only positions trends against each other. However, the 41-year-old did not want to reveal what form these other stories of the possible future should have. Also not whether he has already considered an age for his own resignation.
In January 2023, Böhmermann was on an “Ehrenfeld Intergalactic” tour with the Rundfunk-Tanzorchester Ehrenfeld. The new season of his “ZDF Magazin Royale” starts on February 3, 2023. The trailer was already published on January 31.