Wilfred Genee was also allowed to play debate leader during these elections. How did things go behind the scenes? Resentful, says Victor Vlam. “He is in conflict with Jeroen Pauw.”
Today Inside, the most popular talk show in the Netherlands, has a number of people on the blacklist. Jeroen Pauw and Fidan Ekiz are also never allowed to sit at the table. Why? Wilfred Genee hates those two. He sat at their table in Op1 in the summer of 2020, to talk about the racism row at VI, and felt screwed.
Jeroen vs Wilfred
Things really got out of hand at Op1: Wilfred started screaming hysterically at Fidan after the broadcast, causing even his wife to intervene. Why? Fidan was a bit critical, even though he was still her mentor at the time. And then Wilfred apparently expects a cat-friendly approach. Jeroen sat next to Fidan and participated just as hard, says Wilfred.
Now, more than three and a half years later, Wilfred was forced to work with Jeroen, whom he hated so much. He was appointed by John de Mol to produce The Debate of the Netherlands last week, where Wilfred was allowed to act as debate leader. “The preparations for that debate were anything but smooth,” says Victor Vlam.
‘Pretty intense’
Victor, who is increasingly influential as a media expert, speaks The Communicados of a tricky situation. “That was all quite intense and that has to do with the fact that the preparations were accompanied by a major argument. An argument between the presenter, Wilfred Genee, on the one hand, and the producer, Jeroen Pauw, on the other.”
He continues: “Those two people are at odds with each other. And they have been at odds with each other for quite a long time. So yes, Wilfred Genee was not very happy with the fact that Talpa, John de Mol, ultimately hired TVBV and Jeroen Pauw to produce that debate.”
Definitely with Peacock
Why was Jeroen needed for that? Producing a debate isn’t that difficult, is it? No, says Victor. “Jeroen Pauw is mainly hired because you also get Jeroen Pauw. You hire Jeroen Pauw because you know that this debate has a greater chance of being positively assessed by the discussion afterwards.”
Co-host Lars Duursma: “Yes, so by adding Jeroen Pauw and a few programs, you are actually just buying the solidarity of a well-known TV commentator and one of the most influential people at the Mediapark.”
Victor: “Yes, exactly.”
Financial interest
For example, Jeroen is a permanent analyst in Khalid & Sophie. There he was also allowed to defend the SBS debate. Victor: “So it is someone who can influence the perception of the debate that you broadcast. For SBS, this is the first debate they have had with party leaders in literally 20 years. It is very important that this goes well.”
Thanks to all his double hats, Jeroen can ‘subtly influence the opinion about how important the debate he produces is deemed to be’. He did that in an excellent way. “And of course he benefits greatly from this financially.”
Or, as Wilfred put it two months ago: Jeroen Pauw is just a pickpocket.