It was the TV comeback of the year 2021: Thomas Gottschalk lured with “Wetten dass…?” almost 14 million people in front of the television sets. And because the show was so successful, he’s doing it again.
After the big “Wetten dass..?” revival a year ago, the show is entering the next round. International stars like John Malkovich and Robbie Williams are there as well as contestants with crazy talents. Right in the middle: TV legend Thomas Gottschalk. He is ready for the big ZDF stage on Saturday at 8:15 p.m. in Friedrichshafen, as he told the German Press Agency.
Question: At the “Wetten dass…?” show a year ago, you had almost 14 million viewers, you could say: followers. Are you an entertainment influencer?
Answer: As you know, I avoid riding the “social media” rollercoaster as much as possible. “Influencer” sounds a bit too much like self-promotion and I’m not on the hunt for as many “followers” as possible. I want to entertain people and want as many viewers as possible.
Question: Does the enormous rating of the last show make you even more relaxed or does it make you feel pressured to keep the number up or to have to increase it?
Answer: Of course I’m aware that the expectations are high, but I won’t let that drive me crazy. It’s about entertainment. As long as everyone watching me is having fun, the class goal is achieved. The more the better.
Question: From your point of view, what has changed in the new “Wetten dass…?” changed compared to the previous shows?
Answer: There are no longer world stars that all age groups can agree on. Whenever Paul McCartney sits on my couch, my heart breaks. A fifteen year old asks, “Who is the old man?” He’s never heard of the Beatles. I, on the other hand, can’t do much with the current mayflies, whose fame is based on the fact that they have millions of clicks or have won a casting. These are today’s celebrities. With Sophia Loren or Cher, I no longer lure anyone behind the stove.
Question: You like to say that you make entertainment that shouldn’t be taken seriously. Is that even more important in times of crisis?
Answer: I stand by that. There were always reasons to despair of the world. I have lived through private, political and social crises and have remained a happy person. I’ve only ever produced dazzling soap bubbles that eventually burst. One should enjoy the childlike pleasure one feels in doing so. I do this with great enthusiasm, but it’s no reason to take myself or what I do particularly seriously.
Question: You have a national soccer player sitting on the couch. Are you watching the men’s soccer world cup in Qatar?
Answer: I was never a football freak, but once I could rattle off the national team by heart. Today I only know Manuel Neuer and Thomas Müller. From the semifinals I’ll be there at the latest.
Question: Doesn’t anyone have to freeze on the ZDF “Wetten dass…?” sofa?
Answer: You have “Wetten dass..?” often referred to as the “hearth of the nation”. I’m happy about this description and will do everything to make it crackle again this time.
ABOUT PERSON: Thomas Gottschalk, born in Bamberg in 1950, is considered to be one of the last show hosts of the old school. With “bet that…?” (under his moderation 1987-1992, 1994-2011 and 2021) he reached a huge audience. Since then, Gottschalk has been and can be seen in various formats – including “Das Supertalent”, “50 Jahre ZDF-Hitparade”, “Because you don’t know what’s happening”, on the radio and in his own literary program. With “Herbstblond” and “Herbstbunt” he wrote two autobiographies.
Source: Stern
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