The Hilversum stable of stars is aging rapidly: what’s going on? Where is the new growth? Albert Verlinde points out the danger of social media. “I worry.”
Linda de Mol, Paul de Leeuw, Caroline Tensen, André van Duin, Jeroen Pauw: our country’s TV stars are getting older and older, but where is the new talent? The A-stars are almost all over fifty. “Is it a lack of talent or is there little supply?”, ratings authority Tina Nijkamp recently wondered in her Telegraph column.
Private stuff
Young talents may prefer to be independent on YouTube, says Tina. “In addition, many younger presenters who do appear on TV are unlucky with a format, are poorly advised or do not stand out. Geraldine Kemper seems almost invisible and Marieke Elsinga had a very bad debut show.”
PR-wise, the new talent is not doing well either, she says. “Rob Kemps turned his private life into a fuss a little too quickly, causing his popularity to collapse.”
Through the wringer
Rob has been put through the wringer on social media and that, according to Albert Verlinde, is the real problem. “Social media has changed everything. I worry about that. Creative talents are nipped in the bud. People hold back because their heads could be cut off with the first mistake,” he says on the On1 site.
It ensures that new talent has no interest in it at all, according to the founder of RTL Boulevard. “I’m afraid that we are creating something very wrong with each other. If you are no longer allowed to stick your head above the parapet, mediocrity lurks.”
Immediate escalation
Albert experienced his greatest TV fame when there were no social media yet. “After a riot, I usually let it sit for a week or two and then suggested a cup of coffee. Looking each other in the eye and explaining why you said what you said solves almost everything.”
Now that has become much more difficult, says Albert. “Nowadays you can’t wait that long anymore. It immediately escalates through social media.”