Gerti Drassl's Relationship Rollercoaster: New Comedy "This Isn't How We Raised You" Airs Tonight on TV
Alright, folks, let's be real—who hasn't wanted to spend a day in Gerti Drassl's shoes? Tonight, you might almost get jealous—but only almost. Because while the South Tyrol-born actress is going through a full-blown relationship crisis on screen, we get to kick back at home and enjoy the ride. The new TV comedy "This Isn't How We Raised You" premieres tonight at 8:15 PM, and it's about to turn two moms' lives completely upside down.
A Family, a Man, and Total Chaos
Director Michael Kreihsl and screenwriter Uli Brée—the master of Austrian humor—have cooked up something truly special here: Gerti Drassl plays Inka, who, together with her partner Balbina (the fantastic Brigitte Hobmeier), has been living a picture-perfect family life for over 20 years. These two feminists, back in the day armed with a sperm donor and plenty of idealism, raised their daughter Hedwig (Alina Schaller) to be a politically correct model child. And everything's going swimmingly—until one fine day Hedwig comes home and announces that not only has she met a guy, but she's going to marry this Andreas (Julian Pichler).
Yep, that's right: A guy! For a daughter who never needed a father figure! That's a bit much for Inka and Balbina to swallow. And if you think that's the end of it, you haven't counted on their best friend Edgar (Thomas Mraz), the future in-laws from Tyrol, or the grumpy pub owner Toni (Wolfgang Böck). They all have to weigh in too, and the chaos snowballs from there.
"It's Not About Gender, It's About Power Structures"
What sounds like a classic mistaken-identity comedy actually has some real depth. Gerti Drassl recently shared what the role really means to her: "We jump into a relationship that's already 25 years old, and suddenly all these different needs collide over a single afternoon. As Inka, I never saw a contradiction between being a feminist and a homemaker—I really felt fulfilled as a mother."
And then she dropped this brilliant line worth remembering: "It's not about gender, it's about power structures. Over time, you can lose respect for each other—whether you're in a same-sex relationship or not." Brigitte Hobmeier dryly adds, "The idea that homogeneous relationships are more harmonious is just an assumption. We all deal with jealousy, hurt, and fear of abandonment."
A South Tyrolean in Vienna
If you've followed Gerti Drassl for a while, you know: The actress, born in 1978 in Eppan, has long since won over the hearts of Austrian audiences. After studying art history, she attended the Max Reinhardt Seminar and then joined the ensemble of the legendary Josefstadt theater. Whether it's theater, film, or TV—she does it all. And how! She's snagged the German Acting Award just as she's won the Austrian Film Prize, most recently in 2023 for "Märzengrund."
In her private life, she's firmly based in Vienna, speaks fluent Italian alongside German, and even has a South Tyrolean dialect. But here's something many don't know: Gerti Drassl is also a bit of a music nut. In a radio interview, she once shared her favorite tracks—from Tracy Chapman to David Bowie to Muse. And she has a particularly special memory of her father: "He worked at a bank but was a passionate actor. We actually performed together at a well-known Viennese theater."
What to Expect Tonight
The comedy has actually been available online for 24 hours already, but for all you traditionalists, the full viewing pleasure hits the screen tonight at 8:15 PM. So if you're in the mood for:
- a healthy dose of Viennese wit (dry, please!),
- two actresses you can't help but love,
- family secrets bubbling to the surface,
- and Wolfgang Böck getting to be gloriously grumpy as pub owner Toni,
then you should mark your calendar in red. Because one thing's for sure: When Gerti Drassl and Brigitte Hobmeier share the screen, it's never boring. And when the question of who Hedwig's biological father is starts floating around—well, folks, the popcorn will be gone before the movie's even really started.
So with that in mind: Lights, camera, action!