Stefan Raab as Ken: Why He Reminds Us of Donald Trump and the Return of That Nostalgic Spark
Alright, let’s be real for a moment and talk about Stefan Raab. So there you are, parked in front of the telly over the weekend, you switch on “Who Knows When What Was?”, and suddenly you get this feeling: is this a throwback to the 90s, or did we just take a detour into American politics? I’m telling you, Raab in his current avatar – that completely over-the-top, bleached-blonde Ken – there’s something about it. And I’ve got a thought I just have to share with you.
Dipl.-Med. and the Big Head: A Tribute to the Madness
For those of you who’ve only just started watching TV in Austria: this guy who’s been bouncing around the new quiz show like a living meme is Stefan Raab. The man who gave us sleepless nights with “TV total”. The man who brought us the “Big Head”. The man who, as “Dipl.-Med. Stefan Raabe”, enriched the German language with another completely unnecessary yet utterly brilliant doctorate. And that’s exactly the point: this new Ken he’s playing isn’t some throwaway act. It’s a masterclass in self-mockery. He takes the whole format, this generational duel, and completely flips it just by being there. When he stands there in that plastic man outfit, it carries with it all the history: the “Bekloppten” (the “Crazies”), the legendary boxing matches against Regina Halmich, the absolute certainty that you’ll hear “You won't win the million here with Stefan Raab” before the evening even gets a chance to be boring.
The Campfire is Lit Again: With Schöneberger and the Old Spirit
As we hear through the grapevine, the two of them recently had a chat – Raab and Schöneberger. And a phrase came up that immediately clicked with me: “The return of the campfire”. That’s exactly it! That feeling you had as a teenager or young adult, sitting in front of the TV, knowing: something’s about to happen here. It’s someone who isn’t serving up the polished, perfect TV world, but instead stands there and just makes a complete fool of himself. And that’s precisely what he’s doing again. He plays Ken so exaggeratedly, so relentlessly well, that it’s almost uncomfortable – but in the best way possible. It’s that certain something that’s often missing from today’s TV landscape.
- The Hair: That perfectly sculpted plastic quiff is, of course, a direct nod to the “Big Head” from his earlier sketches. A tribute to his own career.
- The Attitude: That self-assured, almost arrogant smirk? It actually has a bit of Donald Trump in it. Not politically, mind you, but in that kind of vibe: “I’m the boss here, I’ve got the overview, and if not, well, that doesn’t matter either.”
- The Voice: When he takes over the hosting as Ken, that slightly monotonous yet incredibly commanding manner – that’s pure “Raab & Die Bekloppten” territory. Just timeless nonsense at a top-tier level.
For us in Austria, the relationship with German entertainers is always a bit special. Either they don’t catch on here, or they become cultural icons. Stefan Raab clearly falls into the second category. Whether it’s the “Bundesvision Song Contest”, the duels with his Pro7 colleagues, or now this comeback as Ken – we’re in. And honestly? I’m glad he’s back. Not because we desperately need another quizmaster, but because this “campfire” vibe, this carefree, intelligent silliness, is just balm for the soul. It’s reassuring to know that Dipl.-Med. Stefan Raabe still holds a license to be ridiculous – and is exercising it with full intent and a dash of Trump-like audacity. Here’s to the coming weeks, Mr. Raab. We’ve got the remote ready.