“One Mic Stand”: For Fahri Yardim a kind of “learning to die”

In the new five-part Amazon show “One Mic Stand”, comedy star Tedros “Teddy” Teclebrhan (38) coaches actor Fahri Yardim (41) before his first stand-up appearance as a comedian. “He’s the most likeable but also the most confused teacher in the world,” Yardim said of his mentor in an interview with the news agency spot on news. From July 15, those interested can watch on Amazon Prime Video as Yardim runs “with his eyes to his doom”.

In addition to the 41-year-old, there are also other prominent personalities who have no experience with stand-up comedy: Harald Schmidt (64) made it his task to close the soccer stars Mats Hummels (33) and Christoph Kramer (31). train comedians. The unofficial favorite of the show, Prof. Dr. Karl Lauterbach (59) is in top form under the guidance of Hazel Bruggers (28).

How did your participation in “One Mic Stand” come about? Did you volunteer?

Fahri Yardim: No, but you can’t say no if Teddy asks you. He called me and said, ‘Do you want me to coach you? Then go on stage and perform a rehearsed program in the shortest possible time?’ He trusts me more than I give myself credit for. It should bring me to tears that he opens up opportunities like this, but of course this show also has the potential to push you to your limits. It’s very presumptuous to think that you can just stumble into this art form – stand-up comedy – and then somehow tear the hut down. Basically, he built a fall height with his confidence, and then let me mercilessly clap the boards. So, with my eyes wide open, I hopped into perdition.

Unlike your comrades-in-arms Karl Lauterbach and Mats Hummels, you have already made a difference with the series “jerks.” gain comedy experience. Was that an advantage for you?

Yardim: The show was a whole new world for me. In addition, we always say a little conceitedly, “jerks.” is actually a drama series. Even the best comedy lives from true failure. I thought I could tap into that. But in the end, in this stress, in which I almost froze, I could only think of Pillermann jokes. I wanted to be loved and get a standing ovation. Instead, there was benevolent laughter and a bit of sympathy clapping. I think this trembling on stage is exciting for the audience, this new territory, this wriggling fish outside the tank.

How did the coaching with Teddy go?

Yardim: He is next to Jacques Palminger – this eternal insider tip – a living legend in the comedy field. The problem is, while he’s incredibly talented, he’s also an incredibly understrung coach! He is the most personable but also the most confused teacher in the world. I’m probably also the worst student because I didn’t want to hear what he tried to teach me in my rigid state of fear. Our episode lives from this and the disaster takes its course.

Teddy, as your coach, wanted you to redefine stand-up comedy. How would you describe your humor yourself?

Yardim: I don’t want to anticipate the ending, but my humor is barely there. This is one of many bitter realizations. I was practically blind in my ears. I should have listened to him better and breathed more. I miss that self-awareness that Teddy has, that he can let go and exaggerate the absurd. His humor doesn’t live from punch lines, but from savoring the unnecessary. I, on the other hand, just panicked and clung desperately to a framework of bad punch lines. Just these confused looks from the audience. I forgot the energy of that live moment. You have to work hard to be able to tap into this source of energy. I was really virgin and screwed. A crazy clown.

What would you recommend for stand-up comedy newcomers to better deal with this unfamiliar stage situation?

Yardim: Start small and not immediately on this big stage. It was a pompous theater with at least 1,000 seats. In life it takes small challenges to grow. But that was a huge fist in the face. Everything seemed incredibly professional, this world class band for example – just not me.

In many ways, this show is essentially revealing. Basically, it fulfills this great fear of every artist of being exposed and in the end being blank and yet just an ordinary human being. Standing out behind all the desires to actually be nothing. “One Mic Stand” showed me and at the same time I’m grateful for this experience because it’s a kind of ‘learning to die’. And cheerfully breaks the legs of that modern narcissism.

After these dramatic experiences, was participating in the show literally a “one mic stand” or will it become something long-term? Could you imagine a future as a comedian or entertainer?

Yardim: Teddy calls me every two weeks and asks when I’m preparing my own show and touring around small clubs. The ones that make me “jerks.” know, know, there would be vulgar fireworks, but the eggs that I lost on One Mic would have to grow again first. And they grow slowly.

Many viewers are already very excited about Karl Lauterbach, who also took part in the show. How would you rate his sense of humor or his entertainment skills? Did you have contact with the other candidates?

Yardim: We didn’t have any contact, but I think the guy is pure entertainment. It’s really outstanding how he’s very serious on the one hand and caricaturing himself at the same time. I admire people who keep this distance from themselves in a field as humorless as politics. That makes him likeable. He appears and people grin.

That means people were already laughing before he said anything?

Yardim: I think he excels in timing and dryness, but Hazel has to [Brugger, sein Coach] judge. What I really love about him is his harmless masculinity. It’s inviting. I like to look there, because this ego barking doesn’t jump out at me.

Do you have a personal favorite among the participants?

Yardim: I look forward to each and every one. I assume everyone else did better because they are much more disciplined than me.

And I’ve just been a lot of dad in the last few years. What I like to be, despite the exhaustion. That’s why I liked failing on the show. I think failure is the best offer I could make.

That’s what I love about this format – that it allows vulnerability. It gives you the opportunity to be vulnerable in an appreciative framework. In this context, I felt good about also allowing my vulnerability.