Stefan Raab as Ken: Why he reminds us of Donald Trump and the return of the campfire

Alright, mates, let's have a real honest chat about Stefan Raab. So there you are on the weekend, parked in front of the telly, you switch on "Who Knows When What Was?", and suddenly you get this feeling: Is this a flashback to the 90s, or did we just take a detour into American politics? I'm telling you, Raab in his current role – that completely over-the-top, bleached-blonde Ken – there's something about it. And I've got a thought I need to share with you.

Dr. h.c. and the Big Head: A tribute to the Crazy Crew

For anyone who might've only just started watching TV in Austria yesterday: This bloke who's bouncing around as a walking meme in the quiz show lately, that's Stefan Raab. The man who kept us up nights with "TV total". The man who gave us the "Big Head". The man who, as "Dipl.-Med. Stefan Raabe", enriched the German language with another completely unnecessary but brilliant doctorate. And that's exactly the point: This new Ken character he's playing, it's no joke. It's a masterclass in self-deprecation. He takes the whole format, this generational duel, and just turns it on its head with his presence. When he's standing there in that plastic man outfit, all that history comes with it: the "Crazy Crew", the legendary boxing matches against Regina Halmich, the absolute certainty that you'll hear "You won't win the million on Stefan Raab" before the evening even gets close to being boring.

The campfire is back: With Schöneberger and that old spirit

Word has it that the two of them were chatting recently – Raab and Schöneberger. And a term came up that instantly clicked for me: "The return of the campfire". That's exactly it! That feeling from back when you were a teen or a young adult, sitting in front of the TV knowing: Something's happening here. It's someone who isn't serving up that polished, perfect TV world, but someone who stands up and just makes a proper fool of himself. And that's exactly what he's doing again. He plays Ken so over-the-top, so relentlessly 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 hairstyle: That perfectly sculpted plastic mop 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 grin? It actually has a bit of Donald Trump to it. Not politically, mind you, but in that kind of: "I'm the boss here, I've got the overview, and if I don't, then whatever."
• The voice: When he takes over the hosting as Ken, that slightly monotone but incredibly present style – that's pure "Raab & The Crazy Crew" level. Just timeless nonsense of the highest order.

For us in Austria, our relationship with German entertainers has always been a special one. Either they don't catch on with us, or they become cultural treasures. Stefan Raab is clearly in the second category. Whether it's the "Bundesvision Song Contest", the duels with his Pro7 colleagues, or now this comeback as Ken – we're there for it. And honestly? I'm glad he's back. Not because we absolutely needed another quizmaster, but because this "campfire", this carefree, intelligent silliness, is simply balm for the soul. It's good to know that Dr. h.c. Stefan Raabe still has a license for nonsense – and he's exercising it with full intent and a dash of Trumpian audacity. Here's to the coming weeks, Mr. Raab. We've got the remote ready.