Stefan Raab as Ken: Why He Reminds Us of Donald Trump and the Return of the Campfire

Right, folks, let's have an honest chat about Stefan Raab. There you are, sat in front of the telly at the weekend, you flick over to "Wer weiß wie wann was war?", and suddenly you get this feeling: is this a trip back to the 90s, or have we just wandered into American politics? I’m telling you, Raab in his current role – that over-the-top, bleached-blonde Ken – has got something about him. And I've got a thought I need to share with you.

Dipl.-Med. and the Big Head: A Tribute to the "Bekloppten"

For those of you who might only have started watching TV in Austria yesterday: this guy, who's currently bouncing around the quiz show like a walking meme, that's Stefan Raab. The man who kept us up at night with "TV total". The man who gave us the "Big Head". The man who, as "Dipl.-Med. Stefan Raabe", enriched the German language with yet another utterly pointless but brilliant doctorate. And that's precisely the point: this new Ken character he's playing isn't rubbish. It's a masterclass in self-deprecation. He takes the whole format, this generational duel, and just flips it on its head with his presence. When he's standing there in that plastic man outfit, his whole history comes with it: the "Bekloppten", the legendary boxing matches against Regina Halmich, the absolute certainty that you'll hear "You're not winning the million on Stefan Raab" before the evening even has a chance to get dull.

The Campfire is Burning Again: With Schöneberger and the Old Spirit

As you hear whispered, the two of them were recently chatting – Raab and Schöneberger. And a term came up that immediately resonated with me: "The return of the campfire". That's exactly it! That feeling you had back in the day as a teenager or a young adult, sitting in front of the telly and knowing: something's happening here. Here's someone who isn't serving up slick, perfect TV, but just stands there and acts the fool. And that's exactly what he's doing again. He plays Ken so exaggeratedly, so persistently well that it's almost uncomfortable – but in the best way. It's that certain something that's often missing in today's TV landscape.

• The Hair: That perfectly moulded plastic quiff is, of course, a direct nod to the "Big Head" from his early sketches. A tribute to his own career.
• The Attitude: That self-assured, almost arrogant grin? He's actually got a touch of Donald Trump about him. Not politically, mind you, but in that kind of: "I'm the boss here, I've got it all figured out, and if I don't, well, that doesn't matter either."
• The Voice: When he takes over the hosting duties as Ken, that slightly monotone but incredibly present manner – it's pure "Raab & Die Bekloppten" territory. Simply timeless nonsense done with top-notch skill.

For us in Austria, we've always had a special relationship with German entertainers. Either they don't catch on here, or they become cultural treasures. Stefan Raab clearly falls into the second category. Whether it's the "Bundesvision Song Contest", the showdowns with his Pro7 colleagues, or now this comeback as Ken – we're on board. And honestly? I'm glad he's back. Not because we desperately need another quizmaster, but because this "campfire", this carefree, intelligent silliness, is just balm for the soul. It's reassuring to know that Dipl.-Med. Stefan Raabe still has a licence to be ridiculous – and that he's exercising it with full intent and a dash of Trump-like chutzpah. Here's to the next few weeks, Mr Raab. We've got the remote at the ready.