“With the death of Joost Prinsen, the Netherlands loses another TV icon,” says Jan Slagter about Prinsen, who died on Monday at the age of 83 from cancer and a cerebral infarction.
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Joost Prinsen was With the knife on the table
Prinsen was the spiritual father of the quiz With the knife on the table, the knowledge and bluff quiz that he presented for the broadcaster until 2015. Slagter praises his involvement: “Joost has always remained extremely involved The knife. He devised the quiz, together with Jan Kok, and always wanted to stay informed about the plans surrounding ‘his child’. He was extremely sharp and knew exactly what would and would not work.”
Joost Prinsen was succeeded in 2015 by Herman van der Zandt. He put his own spin on the presentation, but kept some of Prinsen’s characteristics alive. He also presented in a tuxedo, he kept his cards for the all-important event shootoutrounds just like Prinsen in his jacket and he even ventured to some sweet music from time to time.
Prinsen, a celebrated cabaret artist and singing teacher, was happy to personally introduce the music rounds in the quiz. With appropriate, unflappable irony and accompanied by bartender Mylou Frencken, he ventured into a wide repertoire: from the Neil Diamond evergreen Sweet Caroline Unpleasant Poker face by Lady Gaga or Whatskeïn of Today’s Youth. Even the bombastic choir number Oh Fortune from the Carmina Burana, two-part music with the late Martin van Dijk at the piano proved to be a feasible option.
Herman van der Zandt about Joost Prinsen
Herman van der Zandt responds in the NOS Radio 1 News on the death of Prinsen. He mentioned his predecessor Knife on the table including “a very special man.” “In my case, he was also a kind of mentor at the Mes,” said Van der Zandt. He also described his colleague as a great person and “it was always a pleasure to be around him.”
According to Van der Zandt, something special always came out of it. “He was a treasure trove of information, anecdotes and wonderful stories and I am very sad that he is gone.”
Klokhuis about the death of Joost Prinsen
In addition to being a presenter, Joost Prinsen was also an actor and creator of youth television series. Writer, director and actor Niek Barendsen worked with him for years, among others The core and the Welcomeseries from broadcaster NTR.
“What he created together with Aart Staartjes and Wieteke van Dort JJ the Bomb and the Stratemakeropzeeshow in the 70s was revolutionary. They were loving and anarchic youth programs, unique in the world,” says Barendsen, who met Prinsen at the Kleinkunstacademie, where Prinsen became his mentor. “I learned a lot from him. If he saw something in you, he went for you.”
It was Prinsen who took Barendsen with him as a writer The corewhere Prinsen was ultimately responsible for the sketches and songs at that time. Ultimately, Barendsen succeeded Prinsen as ultimately responsible for the youth program.
Joost had the talent to be able to play anything, says Barendsen, who adds that he took youth television as seriously as Shakespeare. “The way of playing that Joost, Wieteke and Aart once created can still be felt at Het Klokhuis, just like in the Welcome series, which emerged from Het Klokhuis.”
Barendsen remembers Prinsen as an engaging person. “Joost had something in his voice and appearance that made you have to look at him,” says the actor. “Joost was very funny. He always came in singing. Not so long ago, when he was already ill, I had dinner with him and some other actors and he also came in singing. The whole restaurant looked up!”
Sharp to the last
In July, Prinsen was a guest in the podcast of Jan Slagter and Cisca Dresselhuys. “He was quick-witted, funny and cheerful at the time. It is really a loss that he is no longer there,” said Slagter. “We wish his children, girlfriend Noraly Beyer, family and friends a lot of strength in this difficult time.”
Joost Prinsen will be honored on Tuesday evening with a special broadcast on NPO 2 “for everything he has meant for the NPS/NTR”. Broadcaster NTR reported this on Monday. The broadcast will be on Monday evening Plastic on NPO Radio 1 in the theme of Prinsen. His voice sounded on the radio program for years.