Michael Kessler: Actor has a disadvantage in “LOL”

From March 28th there will be a new season of “LOL: Last One Laughing” on Amazon Prime Video. In the fifth edition, Michael “Bully” Herbig (55) once again invites ten comedy professionals to take part in the “Don’t Laugh” competition. The celebrities are locked in a room together for several hours where they try to make each other laugh. Anyone who laughs twice or contorts their face into a grin is eliminated.

This time there are old friends from the last seasons, but also new faces. Actor and comedian Michael Kessler (56) will be seen in the format for the first time. In an interview with the news agency spot on news, he reveals what happened to him as a newcomer to the show.

This is your first time participating in LOL: Last One Laughing. Have you followed the other seasons yourself?

Michael Kessler: I believe that humor and entertainment have a lot to do with preparation. And that’s why I followed “LOL” very, very closely. Not only because it’s a great format, but also because I was curious about what my colleagues were doing.

Was the request a surprise or did you already want to be part of the show?

Kessler: There are definitely people in our industry who don’t want to take part because they don’t like improvising, are unsure or are perhaps afraid of the format. Some people would like to have everything under control. They would like to have a script and so on. I’m not like that. So I was happy when the call came.

How easy is it to make you laugh in private?

Kessler: Different. Of course I’ve seen a lot. A lot of comedy, a lot of entertainment. It can be dark humor, it can be intelligent humor, but it can also be slapstick. I appreciate humor that surprises me, that I’m not yet familiar with and where I don’t yet know exactly where the punchline is going.

Who in the cast were you particularly looking forward to seeing?

Kessler: I was particularly excited about Otto. It was the first time we met. I know him from my childhood and youth. I saw everything about him back then. I was really excited to see what he was like. I didn’t even know what to expect. If you don’t know your colleagues that well, you’re much more insecure and don’t know whether they’ll make you laugh or not.

Who was your biggest competition?

Kessler: Funnily enough, I thought that Otto and Hazel Brugger wouldn’t pose a threat to me. But that was different. That’s the great thing about the format: there is no security, there is no double bottom and no network. And everything you thought you knew beforehand or thought you knew is thrown out the window.

Some participants have been on the show several times. As a newcomer, were you afraid of a disadvantage?

Kessler: Yes, I did. Actually, everyone should always be there for the first time. Of course you have an advantage if you know how the show works. But we just have to live with that.

Did you already know some of the candidates personally?

Kessler: I know many. I actually know everyone except Hazel, Otto and Ina. The three of us didn’t know each other that well.

Who do you keep in touch with after the show? Have new friendships been formed?

Kessler: We are enemies in the show. No, I don’t think that friendships are created in such a format. We are busy with other things at the moment and have to concentrate on other things. But it’s nice to meet new people and colleagues. It works quite well in this format.

As an actor you are constantly in a role. That’s hard to maintain for over six hours. How private do you appear in “LOL”?

Kessler: Not so much, because you’re incredibly controlled. You try to control your every move and you make a poker face the whole time. Basically, what we’re doing is very unnatural. You don’t really become private because you’re always afraid that things will get out of hand. So it’s more of a role that you take on: namely the role of not laughing.

Did you prepare for the show for a long time or is there a lot of spontaneity behind your performance?

Kessler: You have to think of a few numbers, that takes some time. It’s basically like a theater stage and the options are limited. I have to try to make my colleagues laugh using simple means. And making colleagues laugh is the hardest thing of all. Spontaneity must also be maintained and alertness because you sometimes have to react.

How exhausting is it to hold back laughter for six hours? What did you do immediately after the show?

Kessler: Not everyone is in there for six hours. That’s what you have to say about it. But no matter whether you’re only there for half an hour or six hours, it’s really exhausting. It’s an incredible question of concentration and it’s like having a terrible hangover or being really exhausted.

Are you hoping to take part in the format again? Maybe even in the Halloween special?

Kessler: I would be lying if I said no. I would also like to have the advantage of already knowing this and then taking part.