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Thomas Gottschalk, a stalwart of German television, announced his departure from the ARD prime-time show on February 12. His departure has left a void, particularly in the popular show "Wetten, dass..?", which is yet to find a suitable host for its potential return.
The ZDF, the broadcaster behind "Wetten, dass..?", is under pressure to find a host for the show's restart. With a possible April 21 date in sight, the hosting decision would need to be made before an internal personnel change at the station.
The identity of the host remains unknown, but Michelle Hunziker has been mentioned as a potential successor to Gottschalk. She has been suggested to co-host the show with Gottschalk or take over the hosting duties. Markus Lanz, known for his serious, persistent, and witty hosting style in his late-night shows, is also considered an internal alternative candidate.
However, the 46-year-old Jörg Pilawa, who is popularly known as the darling of all mothers-in-law and masterfully hosts every quiz show on Wednesday evenings, might find Gottschalk's shoes too big to fill. Despite reports suggesting otherwise, the ZDF has not confirmed Pilawa as the preferred candidate for the host of "Wetten, dass..?"
Johannes B. Kerner is still a possible candidate for the host role, but his relationship with the ZDF has been strained since his departure to Sat.1 nearly three years ago. Pilawa, too, has publicly stated a clear "no" regarding his involvement in the show.
The decision to find a new host for "Wetten, dass..?" was influenced by the accident of contestant Samuel Koch on December 4, 2010, who has been paralyzed ever since. The ZDF has confirmed that "Wetten, dass..?" will continue, but a restart date and host are yet to be determined.
Recent suggestions made by Pilawa for the show in "Stern" have been interpreted as a sign that he has already dealt with the topic. However, the ZDF is "on the home stretch" in the search for a host, according to their statements.
Despite the potential for stress and the high bar set following Hape Kerkeling's rejection, the search for a new host continues. The successor of Thomas Gottschalk as the host of ZDF's "Wetten, dass..?" is yet to be announced.
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