Otto Waalkes: WDR shows warnings before old broadcast

Otto Waalkes
“Passages that are considered discriminatory today”: WDR broadcasts old “Otto Shows” with a warning

On the occasion of Otto Waalkes’ 75th birthday, the WDR showed two old shows from the 70s – and provided them with a warning to the viewers. The comedian has now commented on this.

“Holladihiti!”: With this one from Otto Waalke’s exclamation, WDR recently announced that it intends to celebrate the comedian’s 75th birthday by broadcasting two old shows, “unabridged and Frisian rough,” as the press release says.

Apparently, however, the WDR believes that some of the content recorded in 1973 and 1974 is too “frisian-rough” for today’s ears. And so the broadcaster put a brief warning before the broadcast of the two shows: “The following program, as part of television history, is shown in its original form. It contains passages that are now considered discriminatory.”

Otto Waalkes: The WDR helped him to fame

From 1973 to 1979, WDR recorded a total of seven live shows by the comedian and broadcast them in 45-minute programs. They contributed significantly to making Waalkes known to the general public. The artist, who was born in Emden in 1948, only performed with his guitar and entertained the audience mainly with funny songs.

It is not immediately clear which content could be problematic from today’s perspective. When asked by the “Bild” newspaper, a spokesman for WDR said, repeating the wording in the warning: “The programs (…) contain passages that are currently considered discriminatory. With the display at the beginning, we make that clear and sort it out format accordingly.”

Otto himself cannot fully understand the public warning. That was half a century ago, he told the “Bild” newspaper. “Moral concepts have changed since 1970, every era has its own taboos.” He was a student at the time and made jokes that would have offended authorities in particular. “There can’t be enough warning about comedy. The ‘Otto-Show’ in particular can lead to uncontrollable outbursts of amusement and aching muscles in consumers,” says the 75-year-old.

He recently proved that Otto is still popular with today’s audience: His 30-year-old song “Friesenjung” made it to number 1 in the German charts in the newly recorded version by rapper Ski Aggu and Dutch musician Joost Klein. Without any warning.

Sources: WDR Press, “The Otto Show” in the ARD media library, “Bild” newspaper (WDR Statement), “Bild” newspaper (Otto statement)