Khalid Kasem was fishing for negative reactions to Today Inside in his talk show Khalid & Sophie last night. And while he was still sitting there at the table last week. Backstabber?
Actually, Khalid & Sophie is a bit of the progressive counterpart of Today Inside. It was therefore quite a surprise that Khalid Kasem appeared at the table with the men of VI last week. He was having fun with that, but yesterday he suddenly tried to put the gentlemen back at home again.
Khalid shows VI
Khalid showed the VI fragment with Mark Rutte during an item about the loss of political norms and values. “Then look at the way politicians present themselves on TV. I think there has also been a development in that. I think it is also on your father’s channel,” the presenter said to his host Johnny de Mol.
He continues: “Let’s watch a fragment of Rutte with the gentlemen of Today Inside.”
‘What can you expect’
It is clear that Khalid is looking for negative reactions, but they are not really coming in. Johnny: “Yes, you can expect that of course if you sit there with those gentlemen.”
Khalid tries: “But a Prime Minister in such a program… That didn’t happen before, I guess?”
NRC boss René Moerland: “I think it has a long history. Many politicians know that somewhere in between entertainment you approach other people more often.”
‘With a helmet like that’
Khalid himself seems to find it a problem that a prime minister joins VI, which has many more viewers than Khalid & Sophie. He keeps trying: “But a Prime Minister with a helmet like that next to it? Such an image? That is a photo that will follow you for the rest of your life.”
René gives an answer that is not very satisfactory for Khalid: “I think that is also a real dilemma. Interviews at NRC generally don’t go this way. That is absolutely true. It is not the case that this has immediately become the standard everywhere, but politicians are struggling with: when do I participate in entertainment and show a different side of myself?”
“I think that has always been the case, to be honest.”
Soundmix show
Telegraaf boss Kamran Ullah also does not think VI is an example of the decline. “I think this started a bit in the first decade of the noughties. In 2002 you had Henny Huisman’s Soundmix show. During the break you suddenly had a party leader debate. Then came Melkert and Dijkstal. I think that’s when it kind of started.”
Finally, AD boss Rennie Rijpma: “If you want to appeal to a large audience, you shouldn’t just sit in Buitenhof.”
Unfortunately for Khalid: mission failed.