Stefan Raab: Anyone who makes themselves scarce for ten years deserves to be celebrated

With what is probably the biggest show staircase ever on German television, Stefan Raab is actually back in the TV circus. It took a good two hours until that moment came and Raab ran down the stairs in Düsseldorf, setting off fireworks every few meters and being celebrated as if he were the longed-for Messiah. During that time, Laura Wontorra, Elton and Frank Buschmann created a monument to the presenter who had disappeared from the public eye for almost ten years. They reminded everyone of everything he had achieved in his long career.

Stefan Raab and colour television for young people

According to Buschmann, Raab is a person who entertains everyone. “How do young people react, this important target group for color television?” Buschmann asked the crowd enthusiastically and began a speech about how more fun and courage is needed on television.

Apart from the fact that the term colour television is almost certainly only used by people over 50 and therefore does not go down well with the young target group, the question arises: do young people really want to watch older people trying to make mass-compatible television? Is TV even still a relevant medium for the target group?

There is no doubt that Stefan Raab can entertain, certainly across all age groups. It has always been clear: the presenter and singer takes aim at everyone, and everyone gets their fair share. Aggressive behavior, as other presenters have repeatedly shown, has never been an issue with Raab, which gives us hope. But the question remains: can Raab continue to hold his own in a world that is evolving and in which diversity plays a greater role? Will he manage to take the younger target group seriously and entertain them? The decision to stream his 90-minute show “Du gewinnst hier nicht die Million bei Stefan Raab” on RTL+ starting next Wednesday instead of broadcasting it linearly is definitely a first step in this direction.

Stefan Raab: “I’ve decided to do shows again”

Before Raab could announce this (expected) news with the words “I’ve decided I’m going to do shows again,” he had to endure six boxing rounds of two minutes each. And “endure” is indeed the right expression, because Regina Halmich clearly won. Raab stumbled several times. “Boxing-wise, this is not his evening,” commented Frank Buschmann, “he’s already pumping, he’s already panting and it hasn’t even been a minute.” Not surprising, not only because boxing has never been Raab’s sport, but because at 57, he is no longer the perfect age for boxing.

Stefan Raab, the “Killerplautze”, has trained hard

But what was surprising was that the presenter was in better shape than ever before. The “killer belly,” as he was repeatedly described in the media, had obviously trained hard, and a six-pack was visible. The fat suit that he wore in his video before the fight and on the show steps was just camouflage. Underneath it was a fit Raab who, when he tensed his muscles, was reminiscent of the logo of a bathroom cleaner. On second glance, there was still room for improvement. But at the end of the fight, everyone had to admit: the entertainer had done well.

Raab was counted out by referee Karoline Pütz, staggered, but found his way back into the fight, at the beginning of which few people thought Raab would survive the full six rounds. Even Regina Halmich, who received a black eye, seemed surprised that her opponent did not go down.

And then there was a “slap on the face”

For Halmich, both the days before the fight and the time in the ring until Raab arrived were a nerve-wracking ordeal. The entertainer had avoided all contact beforehand, and during the live show the presenters were wondering out loud whether he would even show up. When Halmich then got into the ring to Doro Pesch’s “Time for Justice”, it was not foreseeable that she would have to wait almost 30 minutes until the fight finally began. Because after Raab had descended his show stairs, Pamela Reif flew through the hall dressed as an angel. The entertainer then performed his new hit “Pa aufs Maul”. He was supported by Sido and Ski Aggu. Pamela Reif then handed out her fitness bars to invited celebrities – more covert advertising is not possible. And there was probably no more fuss than when Raab arrived. But hey, if you’ve been scarce for almost ten years, you deserve to celebrate.

“Touch Gloves and Good Luck”

After Verna Mae Bentley-Krause also performed the Raab classic “I love Germany”, the final song was “Touch Gloves and Good Luck”. Raab was lucky in that he did not get knocked out, did not let Halmich break his nose like he did in 2001, and survived the six rounds. The winner in the end, even before the referees gave their verdict, was quite clear: Regina Halmich. Raab also recognized this and raised her hand directly after the fight to show: We did it, but of course you won.

It would have been “nice,” said the boxing world champion in her first words after the victory, if the fight had continued for a few more rounds, “I was warm now.” Raab first thanked his fans: “Thank you for coming, I was really pleased after such a long time,” he shouted to the crowd, before joking that if you counted the visible bruises, he would have won. Halmich actually looked more worn out than the entertainer.

In the subsequent live press conference, Raab was then told that his rib pain was probably due to the fact that he had broken it. “I think I’ve suffered a little damage to my rib,” he said to his doctor, who confirmed this after a brief examination and suggested an X-ray. He said he would announce the results of the X-ray on Wednesday in his new show on RTL+. There’s no business like show business, even when you’re asked whether you have a broken rib and then stammer in disbelief “what, it’s broken?” and let the evening go on.

Halmich to Raab: “That was our last fight”

So the Raab comeback has come true. Not only in the form of a third boxing match, probably the best of the three, but also in the form of a five-year contract that the entertainer has signed with RTL. While Raab is back, Halmich said goodbye to this part of television history. “I want to say this here in front of everyone: That was our last fight,” she called out to the presenter. Raab has other things on his mind now anyway. He is back to entertain himself. The boxing match was definitely a good start to this new career.

Transparency note: The star belongs to RTL Germany.