Recommendations of the Editorial team
“Are you doing ‘Bet that…?’ for longer. or I this show?” Harald Schmidt asked his colleague Thomas Gottschalk in his “Harald Schmidt Show”. Gottschalk was sure who would win, but so was Schmidt. At the end of 2025 things will look different than the two entertainers thought at the time.
It’s the year 2000. The ZDF Saturday evening tanker reached an average of almost 13 million viewers. Gottschalk had just made his way to America after years of constant moderation in a wide variety of formats. Now he was a guest on Harald Schmidt’s Late Night on Sat 1 on May 19th – one day after his 50th birthday. If you look at the video of the performance, you don’t want to give him 40.
As expected, they both teased each other. Schmidt showed gifts that Gottschalk received for his birthday (a pennant with autographs from his youth club) – the relaxed studio guest then replied: “When you’re as old as you look, I’ll be curious to see whether you’ll get something like that.”
Thomas Gottschalk and his shower encounter with Paul McCartney
During the course of the interview, both talked about the advantages of Gottschalk’s new home in the USA (he lived in Malibu for 20 days and in Germany for 10 days); it was about women curling their hair in a restaurant for Mel Gibson, an angry Tom Hanks after a fan request and an encounter with Paul McCartney after a shower. Gottschalk also revealed his favorite bands (Queen, ELO…).
A now out-of-fashion late-night conversation with popcorn factor and punchlines pulled out of your pocket, which ended with the question of how long “Bet, that…?” Gottschalk would probably still have fun.
At that point, the end of the show giant was far from being in sight and Gottschalk certainly couldn’t have imagined that a candidate would be harmed on his show (keyword: Samuel Koch) or that his moderation style would be discussed.
“Maybe I’ll do it as long as you,” said the now 75-year-old. “Or even longer.” Schmidt then intervened and offered a bet as to which of the two shows would run longer. The late-night talker was sure that his counterpart’s excellent health and general popularity definitely meant “Wetten, dass..?” should speak.
Harald Schmidt had his show (regularly) longer
And who won the bet? The answer is a little more complicated than it first seems. While Harald Schmidt continued his show with interruptions and on various channels (most recently on pay TV on Sky) until 2014 and then finally said goodbye to television, Gottschalk moderated his “TV Baby”, which was once taken over by inventor Frank Elstner, until 2011. After a transition phase with Markus Lanz, there was a comeback in 2021, 2022 and 2023, each with one moderated by Gottschalk show. If you count these special editions, if Gottschalk won, if you don’t, then Schmidt would be the winner.
As far as his presence on the screen is concerned, the matter is very clear: Thomas Gottschalk was active on television for around five decades; Harald Schmidt “only” about 2.5 decades. Gottschalk has left his mark on television longer and more intensively.
The curtain will fall on the former entertainment king on December 6th, when Gottschalk will appear with the final edition of “Because they don’t know what’s happening!” will be seen for the last time as part of an evening show. After all sorts of old-fashioned teasing and the unsuccessful Bambi appearance, we wish him one last hour of glory.