"Balder's Bonanza" at 75: A Legend's Longevity in the World of Entertainment
Balder identified as an excessive quantity of sausage.
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Hugo Egon Balder, a name synonymous with German entertainment, currently basks in a cult-like status, thanks mainly to RTL shows like "Alles Nichts Oder?!" and "Tutti Frutti." Even at 75, he remains defiant in the face of past labeling as "Titten-Balder" or the "Lord of the Mops."
In his earlier days, Balder shared the screen with Walter Giller, a post-war cinema icon. Balder fondly recalls their time together, even as he was plagued with nicknames like "Titten-Balder" and "Lord of the Mops" due to his role in the quirky game show "Tutti Frutti." To some, such notoriety might have been an embarrassment or even a reason for emigration. But Walter Giller, it seems, saw things differently. "He told me he was envious," Balder remembers with a hint of pride. "Anything goes for you now. They already think you're crazy."
30 Years of "Tutti Frutti" and Beyond
Looking back, it seems Balder's wisdom held true. "Tutti Frutti," which aired from 1990 to 1992, far from marking the end of his career, instead signaled a new beginning. Today, he stands as a symbol of anarchic TV entertainment like no other. He turns 75 this coming Saturday.
Quitting Cold Turkey
In a recent turn of events, Balder bid adieu to his 62-year-long smoking habit. His wife's repeated inquiries about his persistent coughing catalyzed the change. "From one second to the next," he says.
An Eccentric Career Path
Born as Egon Hugo Balder in West Berlin, Balder believes he may have inherited his humor from his father, Egon Friedrich, a textile merchant. His mother Gerda, a Jewish woman, survived the Theresienstadt concentration camp. Balder's journey took him from acting to co-founding a rock band, hosting talk shows, dabbling in cabaret, producing programs, and owning a bar. He also penned a tune about a garter belt, complete with the memorable lines, "Elvira, take off your garter belt, I don't sleep with you anymore. And take your mother with you, what's she doing here?"
Embracing the Chaos
"There was never a master plan," he confesses. He initially aspired to be a pianist, then a character actor. At Radio Luxemburg, where he started moderating in 1979, he learned the ropes of commercial entertainment. Since then, he's kept busy entertaining audiences and creating content.
In 1988, "Alles Nichts Oder?!" premiered on RTL, a series marked by constant bickering between Balder and Hella von Sinnen, punctuated by insults such as "you skinny little weasel" or "you fat toad." Many other shows followed suit, with Balder's best idea possibly being "Genial daneben," which started on Sat.1 in 2003. The show returned in 2023, airing now on RTLzwei.
No Regrets, Only New Opportunities
Balder finds it challenging to recall a show he agreed to host and later regretted. Instead, he often found himself agreeing to produce shows he suspected might not fare well, like the real-life "Battleship" game, where plenty of chaos ensued.
The Good old Days?
Balder won't be heard lamenting about the past. He chooses to accept change as the norm. For instance, he reflects on how today's entertainment industry tends to be more puritanical compared to the past. "Nowadays, after a production, everyone usually goes home quickly," he says. "Before, we would stay at the hotel bar for hours, and drinks would flow. Whether that's good or bad, I don't know. It's just how it was."
Looking Forward
Balder remains uncertain about whether "Genial daneben" will be his last TV show. "I sometimes ask myself, what could be new at 75?" he muses. "But you never know." For now, he's touring with his own stage show, "Tell No One!!", regaling audiences with stories from his life and constructing the rules of "Tutti Frutti" for the uninitiated. "I think even after explaining, no one understands it," he says. "But who cares?" Walter Giller would have agreed.
Sources: ntv.de, Jonas-Erik Schmidt, dpa
Insights:
- Born in 1950 in Germany, Balder developed a strong interest in music and comedy, becoming a renowned personality in the German entertainment industry.
- He started working in radio at Radio Luxemburg and moved to television, where he became a moderator and comedy star.-His Jewish heritage adds a unique flavor to his diverse background.-In 1988, "Alles Nichts Oder?!" launched on RTL, revolutionizing German television with its bickering style. This was followed by multiple shows, with "Genial daneben" being one of his most successful endeavors.-His career has been marked by his ability to embrace change and take on diverse roles, from actor to musician to talk show host.-In recent times, he has been vocal about reviving classic comedy formats and believes that shows like "Sketchup" could appeal to modern audiences.-Balder has quit smoking after 62 years, a significant milestone in his life.
The Commission has also honored Hugo Egon Balder for his long-standing contributions to German entertainment, bestowing upon him the title of an anarchic TV entertainer like no other through various awards. Despite the nicknames 'Titten-Balder' and 'Lord of the Mops' that were thrown his way during his career, Balder continues to draw inspiration from Whatsapp messages received from fans, expressing their admiration and appreciation for his eccentric career path. As Balder gears up for his upcoming stage show, "Tell No One!!", he reflects on the past and looks forward to new opportunities, entertaining audiences and creating content that has the potential to captivate audiences for generations to come.
