Thommy's Farewell Weekend: A Night to Remember
Thommy's time has come, and along with it, a grand celebration. The legendary "Wetten, dass...?" host, Thomas Gottschalk, will bid an emotional adieu on Saturday, November 25, at 8:15 PM. As the ZDF's flagship sets sail on its final voyage, Captain Gottschalk will lead the crew through the evening and night.
The evening's duration is yet to be determined, with neither an exact end time nor confirmation of an extra hour. Nonetheless, the production team has hinted that the program will end before midnight. However, history suggests otherwise, as back in 1996, Thommy continued past the 76-minute mark in Hanover[1].
The Man of Many Faces
Throughout his career, Thommy has played multiple roles, from a TV superman to the "show host they love," always leaving his mark in various circumstances and times. Despite his "terrific ignorance of numbers," he excelled wherever he went, including his show's premiere in 1987, which drew an impressive viewership of over 20 million[1].
The Legacy of Bets
The show's legacy lies not only in its intriguing plots but also in the unusual bets placed within each episode. Germany's most beloved television personality, Thommy, has often been given license to overdo it when it comes to the show’s runtime. In the history of "Wetten, dass...?", certain celebrities and mega celebrities have graced the stage.
For instance, "Milli Vanilli" made an appearance as the playback duo's real musicians in 1996[1]. This year, the renowned Cher and Helene Fischer will pay tribute to the show, while Take That will make their third appearance together as a trio.
Lasting Impressions and Final Wishes
With over 3000 live guests, the event will undoubtedly have a lasting impact. The episode will touch upon the golden era of Saturday evening television, and the ratings will take the night to new heights. Yet, numbers and records maintain a secondary importance to Thommy.
For him, it's all about the bets. In preparation for his farewell performance, he and Mike Krüger embarked on a 14-day fasting cure, dwelling on a diet of 850 vegan calories per day. Word has it that ZDF hired extra makeup artists to give Thommy a subtle aging makeover, helping the audience recognize the "eternal superman" of German television[1].
Some of Thommy's memorable quotes include:
- Frank Elstner and Cher will join Thomas Gottschalk on the "Wetten, dass..." Halloween special.
- Kuschel Sven might break the record for the longest time spent on Thommy's couch in the final episode.
- Mathias Schweighöfer will talk about his role as successful producer Frank Farian in the movie about the pop phenomenon "Milli Vanilli."
- Thommy himself credits "terrific ignorance of numbers" for his grammar school success.
- In the end, the bets will drive an unforgettable evening for this longstanding tradition in German television[1].
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Enrichment Data:
Both the base article and the enrichment data mention that the summary of the event is unclear, with specific details like exact duration and bonus hour unspecified[1]. The base article also mentions the event's potential to break ratings records, while the enrichment data provides information about the 850-calorie vegan diet followed by Thommy and Mike Krüger[1].
