“Kranitz – Money back in case of separation”
That’s how good the new improv series is
“Kranitz – Money back in case of separation”: Tini (Lisa Hagmeister) and partner Jochen (Charly Hübner,) have problems with their sexuality. In “Tini & Jochen – He cries a lot” they talk to couple therapist Klaus Kranitz (Jan Georg Schütte) about it.
© NDR / ARD Degeto / NDR / Thomas Leidig
The improv dream team around Charly Hübner, Jan Georg Schütte and Co. shows with the new series “Kranitz” how great acting is possible.
A new improv series on TV will start on Wednesday (October 20th) with “Kranitz – Money back in the event of separation”. Jan Georg Schütte (58) plays the ominous self-made couple therapist Klaus Kranitz, who helps different couples out of relationship problems in a total of six episodes.
Charly Hübner in episode one
It starts with the episode “Tini & Jochen – He cries a lot” (10:30 pm, NDR). The couple with sex problems is played by Charly Hübner (48, “Polizeiruf 110”) and Lisa Hagmeister (42, “Großstadtrevier”). Tini and Jochen see the world critically. During a lecture about the truth of 9/11, the former civil engineer and the dog physiotherapist met and fell in love. During the lockdown, they marched on lateral thinker demos. But recently things haven’t been going smoothly for the two of them and Jochen also knows why: Tini is obsessed with Wilma, Dunja Hayali’s golden retriever. His wife is infiltrated by dangerous ideas via social media, Jochen is sure of that …
It will continue next Wednesday (October 27th, 10:45 pm) with “Jörn & Mareike – Flutes for Toads”. Then Anna Schudt (47, “Tatort”) joins the third episode “Manni & Sandy – Barmbek instead of Bahamas” (November 3rd, 11pm).
Regular collaboration between improv specialists
The series impresses above all with the great acting skills of the actors. It is not the first time that Hübner, Schudt and Bjarne Mädel (53, “Der Tatortreiniger”) have shown their talent for improvisation for Jan Georg Schütte. They have also been seen in his films “Class Meeting” (2019, with Schudt and Hübner), “Tatort: The Team” (2020, with Schudt, Hübner and Mädel) and “Forever Summer 90” (2020, with Hübner) .
There is a reason why Anna Schudt likes Schuette’s unusual formats again and again, as she explains spot on news: “The work is very direct and can also go completely in the pants. You definitely go far beyond what could be a comfort zone and that’s a lot of fun, “she explains the special attraction of improv films. Contrary to what you might think, the Konstanz native’s excitement in front of such film recordings is limited. “I’m a bit excited, yes, but I’m more happy. It’s like being in the sandpit in the past: you think up a game together and see how far you get,” she describes her emotional state.
“We want to have fun”
At one point or another, couples are likely to recognize each other in their behavioral patterns and problems, but the filmmakers focus on something other than being instructive. “We want to have fun, not spread a message, for that the characters and especially Kranitz are far too exaggerated and extreme,” explains Schudt.