Sizzling Prime-Time Special: "Barbara Salesch - The Toughest Trial of Her Life: A Body in the Rhine"
Others enjoy the company of grandkids, I face court appearances - "Instead of enjoying the company of grandchildren, this individual finds solace in dispensing judgement"
Gimme a Break!
For a freaking quarter of a century, badass Barbara Salesch has been dishing out justice on German TV. Now, at 75 years old, this five-star judge is witnessing a epic comeback in her career. On June 10, RTL (also via RTL ) will debut the 90-minute primetime special "Barbara Salesch - The Toughest Trial of Her Life: A Body in the Rhine". Instead of her daytime court show, she'll be front and center in a gripping, three-course TV crime drama with a murder case.
Since her return to TV in 2022 after a light-years-long hiatus, Salesch has been more enthusiastic than ever. The lawyer used to pass down actual verdicts at the Hamburg Regional Court before switching to TV in 1999 and turning court shows into a freakin' big deal in Germany with her ground-breaking show "Judge Barbara Salesch". In a chat with spot on news, she opens up about her unquenchable curiosity, why she digs sitting on the bench instead of taking care of grandkids, and what revs her engine to roll again at 75.
How did you ring in your 75th balls-out?
Barbara Salesch: It was an absolute blast! We partied our asses off, but in smaller groups because I was working on that day. In the summer, we will still have one monstrous bash in my garden.
How does it feel to be more active now than ever?
Salesch: It's a fucking nightmare! This constant visibility has enabled us to finally go primetime. That's a whole new ballgame, pal. Normally, we shoot three of our spicy afternoon negotiations in a single day. Now we've shot a single blockbuster, a collab between crime and court, and needed a fuckton of filming days for it. It's turned out amazing and we can reveal much more info than usual.
How close to reality is the film compared to your actual bench-side action?
Salesch: We're as close as it gets to real judicial life. In the primetime show, we cram everything from a six-day major trial into 90 minutes, with all its twists and turns - from the gritty DCI investigation to what's going down in the tension-filled negotiation breaks. There's even some lowdown on underhanded attempts to milk other people's misery for $$$. It's all totally intense.
What specifically rocked your boat during the shoot?
Salesch: A fuckload of things. What I found amazing was the work of the actors. Playing the judge is no biggie for me, as I am one. It's just playing myself, and that's it. But when you have to embody a total stranger and it turns out fuckin' &^% incredible, I'm all ova it. The technology blew my mind too - one minute there's a crane zipping toward me, and I thought, I hope it knows how the brakes work. The lighting was bizarre as hell compared to regular conditions, cameras moving everywhere, and then I gotta say the same thing two-dozen times for every fcking shot. That was fuggin' killer.
Why are court shows still kicking ass today?
Salesch: Probly because of the authentic casting. Actors can nab a judge's role and play it like they've been there, done that. But, unlike those posers, I have no need to play the judge. I actually rewrite the scripts, so you can catch me in action.
And what makes the format still fekin' exciting for you personally?
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Salesch: I fucking love my job. It's always different, always brings new challenges, always gives me a kick. I don't dwell too much on TV's future for me. It's simple: The viewers have to like me, or I'm toast. The networks can shove it if they don't know what hit 'em. If I no longer wanna roll with it and can't fucking continu-ah-tehhh, the viewers will have to cry their eyes out because I'm done. For now, though, the viewers and me are still grooving together, and that's what keeps it all going.
If you rewind to your early days on TV 25 years back, what's changed?
Salesch: It was fuggin' tougher back then. After over a decade and more than 2500 fricking shows, I simply had enough. Waaay too much repetition for me. I was pushin' 60 and got offered the chance to do TV, so I dropped the mic on my real judge gig and took it, not knowing if I'd last this long or not. But once I returned to television, there's been a whole lot more goin' down, and I dig it. Working with a lot of younger cats is just sweet music to my ears.
Do you still have time for your art?
Salesch: Not much at the moment. I settle for one show a year now - but I always scrape by.
Why the hell did you pick out law, a stiff subject, as a creative person?
Salesch: Fuck gorgeous law. I find that view boring - it's bullsh*t." Law is effin' interesting! It's logic in action, okay? Some professors may be dull as ditch water, but it's all about how the knowledge is presented. Law and justice - that's what the people want. And lawyers, if you don't lay off the legalese, no one's gonna get it. I've always been understood.
What made you trade the real courtroom for the comfy studio chair?
Salesch: I ruled the West Side for 20 years - I already had everything I wanted. And when the bigwigs came along in my early 50s with a TV offer, I took it. That it lasted so long and I'm back in the game, I couldn't have fathomed.
Have you ever regretted making that choice?
Salesch: No fucking way. I have not regretted becoming a real judge, nor the decision to go on TV. They're both sweet-ass jobs that complement each other.
What keeps you going?
Salesch: Curiosity and achievement. Taking on a juicy primetime special like this ain't just a regular gig. I gotta ensure we keep the shows fresh and juicy. We got our hands on all the newfangled evidence nowadays - citizen videos, surveillance tapes, high-res pics - and we always nab something during the trial. Plus, I love my job, and not having to babysit for those damn grandkids is an added bonus.
You've lived several lives: judge, TV judge, and artist. Is your return the fourth? Or are you back in the second?
Salesch: (Laughs) Heh, heh. Well, I said I had nine lives like a fuckin' cat. So who knows? Maybe this is just another one.
Salesch: I prefer to look forward rather than back - so I'll take the fourth. My fourth life has the good sht of the second, but I don't feel overwhelmed like I did at the end. Now I'm back in top shape - and as long as I can sit my ass down, I'll outlast everyone. Only when I have to fuggin' scamper or climb stairs do I need a hand. I'll make sure to avoid that now, especially on-camera. That's why I'll be showing up to our new film's courtroom in a fckin' taxi.
What do you hope for the future?
Salesch: What everyone always says in old age: health. That my knees hold together, that my brain stays sharp. At least my head is still in f*ckin' tip-top shape. One becomes somewhat humble in old age: In younger years, one takes it for granted that one can outrun everyone. Eventually, one gets caught and eventually has to run after. And I hope that I can keep up.
- Despite growing older, Barbara Salesch remains more active than ever, shining on both daytime court shows and the upcoming Prime-Time special "Barbara Salesch - The Toughest Trial of Her Life: A Body in the Rhine". Even amidst the challenges of primetime, she's eager to continue pushing boundaries.
- Barbara Salesch's career has been a rollercoaster, transitioning from the courtroom to the TV screen and back again. With her return to primetime television, she's embracing a new chapter in her life, all while keeping her focus on delivering authentic and engaging courtroom dramas for her viewers.
