TV tip
“DSDS” says goodbye – and comes back
The juror Dieter Bohlen wants to continue – RTL too. photo
© Henning Kaiser/dpa
It wasn’t Easter yet when RTL had to announce a resurrection. The “DSDS” show will survive the final this weekend after all. The hope of the makers rests on Ü-30.
Many television critics had planned an obituary for this weekend. On “Deutschland sucht den Superstar” (“DSDS”), on the casting show system, maybe even on Dieter Bohlen.
But contrary to earlier announcements and assurances, RTL is not letting the classic show die with the finale on Saturday at 8:15 p.m. Bohlen, often glorified as “Pop Titan”, announced a resurrection a week before Easter: “DSDS” will continue in 2024. The 69-year-old spoke of an “incredible spread” of “DSDS”, not only on linear television and via streaming, but also on Instagram and Tiktok. That’s why we want to continue now.
That’s a bit true. Compared to 2022, which was characterized by Bohlen’s temporary expulsion and the juror Florian Silbereisen, who was not loved by everyone, the show has more audiences again, this season was roughly between 2.0 and 2.3 million people. And of course all the streaming viewers count extra. But still: The first season in 2002/2003 was followed by up to 15 million people.
From rags to riches
At the start of the current season, the Berlin media scientist Prof. Marcus S. Kleiner summed up the success of the early days in a dpa interview: “The attempt to make great entertainment, to tell a great story – that was new in Germany. That was different. It brought international flair to the somewhat provincial German television entertainment of the time.”
A second factor why the show used to do so well: “DSDS” then sold the classic dishwasher-to-millionaire legend. A moment ago he was a temp in the video store, tomorrow he’ll be Robbie Williams. Anyone can do it if they have talent and work hard on themselves. That fitted well into the zeitgeist of the noughties. Germany was struggling with high unemployment and it was the time of the strict Hartz reforms.
In 2023, on the other hand, the tabloid press focused less on the casting stars and more on the angry flashes that erupted in front of the audience through the studio a week before the final between Bohlen and Katja Krasavice (26, “Sex Tape”) – and flew here.
For weeks, both tips and malice against each other. The trigger for the differences is a scene from the current season. You could see how Bohlen said to a candidate: “Did you do anything normal? Or did you just graduate and let yourself be noodled?”
It should be more harmonious at the award ceremony this Saturday. The winner of “DSDS” will receive 100,000 euros and a record deal. That’s why Monika Gajek, Lorent Berisha, Sem Eisinger and Kiyan Yousefbeik fight one last time live in front of the jury and the audience. In the planned 21st season, according to the announcement, there will no longer be an age limit: anyone over the age of 16 can apply. So far, only singers up to the age of 30 have been able to participate.