Olcay Gulsen accuses John de Mol of plagiarism on his own media channel. Stealing formats is something that the media billionaire does often, she suggests in conversation with Wilfred Genee.
If it were up to Today Inside expert Victor Vlam, the program’s political reporter, Merel Ek, would get her own program. He sees one revival van Breekijzer, the legendary TV show by Pieter Storms. In this he went after all kinds of directors and other bobos like an elderly Tim Hofman.
Golddigger
Wilfred Genee suggests this idea to Merel in his column In The Walkways. Olcay Gulsen then immediately shouts: “Yes, from that annoying guy, that gold digger who then went with Nina Brink. Pieter Storms, yes. I thought that was a good program by the way.”
The presenter: “Wouldn’t that be something for Merel?”
Olcay to Merel: “Yes, you do have a strong sense of justice. You were furious because Omtzigt then excluded you.”
Crowbar
Merel is so young that she does not know Breekijzer. “I have to watch that program again, because I don’t know it.”
Wilfred: “We will arrange that, I will put you in touch with the man.”
Olcay: “Is he the owner of the rights?”
Wilfred: “I assume so, yes.”
Merel: “Does he have the rights?”
Wilfred: “I think so, yes.”
To copy
Olcay then starts accusing the big boss of VI broadcaster SBS 6 of plagiarism. “You can also ask John de Mol to copy and paste it a bit. He does that more often.”
Wilfred: “No, John doesn’t do that.”
Merel: “You’re just sitting here proposing live plagiarism of the program.”
Olcay: “That is not strange at all.”
Wilfred: “Is that how you do business? Is this who you are? Really and truly?”
‘Come on!’
Olcay is serious with her accusation against the media billionaire. “Come on. We are talking about John de Mol. Hasn’t he done that before? If Breaking Iron isn’t his, then he’ll make a new Breaking Iron, right?”
Wilfred: “Olcay, on camera now. John de Mol, a lot of plagiarism, you say?
Olcay: “No, I didn’t say that. Everything in the media world is similar. Never mind! I’m going home!”
To marry
A Breekijzer-like format would mean a significant promotion for Merel, which of course would include a salary increase. She could use that, because she wants to get married. “But I have now seen how expensive it is from a few people. It’s really expensive. It is really abnormally expensive.”
Given her current popularity, doesn’t she receive a well-above-average salary? “I wish it was true. I am a political journalist.”