It’s official: Today Inside, the most watched talk show in the Netherlands, returns on SBS 6. “They have gone a step too far in several respects”, says TV director Marco Louwerens.
Johan Derksen already revealed the return of Today Inside yesterday, but Talpa Network quickly released a statement that he spoke out of turn. John de Mol’s media company, of course, first had to make a credible turn in this media frenzy.
Talpa responds
Talpa-bobo Paul Römer stood at the front during the 48-hour candle riot to torch the VI men and the men of VI were very peeved about that. How can Talpa make a credible turn, Albert Verlinde wondered in Shownieuws last night. Well, simple: Paul shouted on the radio this morning that the media has twisted everything.
It is not Paul, but his fellow bobo Marco ‘director’ Louwerens who is now speaking in the press release about the VI comeback. He states that Johan has never been canceled by Talpa at all and that the company wants to monitor the plurality of the Dutch TV landscape.
Not cancelled
The statement by TV director Marco reads as follows: “As a result of the broadcast, many pulled their hands off Johan. Radio stations, theaters and, in his opinion, also Talpa.”
“We made it clear to him that we did not cancel him, but that we took a crystal clear position against the way in which he wanted to make his point clear and how the response and handling of the subject was subsequently.”
step too far
The men of VI have gone too far, Marco still thinks. “We know that the men occasionally walk on the edge and that is typical of the program, but this was obviously a step too far in several respects.”
However, Marco is satisfied with Johan’s explanation. “As far as we’re concerned, Johan has clearly distanced himself enough from what went wrong.”
Pluralism
Today Inside returns and according to Marco that is good for the pluralism of the media. “The choice to stop was his, but it has now become clear to him that even the biggest critics believe that a program such as Today Inside should have a place in the Dutch media landscape. We share that opinion.”
Will anything change? “Today Inside remains a program where, among other things, discussions and conversations about various (sensitive) topics are held in public.”
Today Inside can be seen again on SBS 6 from Monday evening at 9.30 pm.
