Max Schautzer: "I hit the jackpot with my wife"

Max Schautzer celebrates his 80th birthday on Friday (August 14th). Born in Austria, he shaped TV entertainment, invented formats and hosted shows for many years. "Professionally, I haven't made a single flop," he looks back in the birthday interview with the news agency spot on news.

His greatest successes include the programs "Pleiten, Pech und Pannen" and "Immer wieder sonntags". He moderated the latter for almost ten years until he fell victim to the youth craze. And in his private life, too, Schautzer and his wife Gundel hit the jackpot. The two have been happily married for almost 52 years. "I am very satisfied with the results of my life and my career," explains the moderator. His biography "sometimes GENTLEMAN – sometimes COOLE SAU. A balance sheet in memories and anecdotes" appears on September 1st.

Happy 80th birthday! How are you going to celebrate this special day?

Max Schautzer: Thank you, unfortunately Corona determines the framework conditions. There won't be a big celebration like my 60th. We celebrate small and fine.

What do you wish for your special day?

Schautzer: Modest as I am, to stay healthy and fit.

A big birthday is often an occasion to take stock. What would you have liked to have done differently?

Schautzer: I am very satisfied with the results of my life and my career. Professionally, I haven't made a single flop. What I did turned out to be a success, on the radio, on television and on stage. In my private life, too, I won the jackpot with my wife Gundel. If you've been happily married for almost 52 years, you're exotic in my industry. I am grateful that the audience accepted me for who I am and stayed loyal to me for so long. For me, the audience, audience and readers have always been the highest authority. You were my client, I your service provider.

For many years you shaped TV entertainment, invented formats and hosted shows. Do you miss working in front of the camera?

Schautzer: Not at all, I always cultivated my versatility and didn't shy away from desk work. For example, I had my own TV production company for 20 years and built a studio for RTL in Düsseldorf that I managed. I was always a wanderer between the most diverse genres and never defined myself solely by my presence in front of the camera and microphone. I now enjoy my success as an actor, together with great colleagues on the most important boulevard stages in Germany.

Your former successful show "Always Sunday again" is celebrating its 25th anniversary this year. Tune in today, how do you like today's show concept and your successor, Stefan Mross?

Schautzer: This unpleasant chapter has ended for me and opened up new perspectives. I just want to remind you that I developed the format for WDR in 1994. The ARD live show from the Hohenzollern colliery in Dortmund was a huge success right from the start. With ratings of up to 30 percent and two million television viewers. Odds that remained unmatched. The success of the first season meant that it continued in turn on ARD, at MDR and SFB. When the BR jumped off at short notice, "IWS" landed in Europapark and thus with SWR. Today's show concept has only the title in common with the format at that time, which I presented for almost ten years.

Do you resent the station managers to this day that they fell victim to the youth craze?

Schautzer: The notice of termination was unintelligible and incomprehensible because the quotas, the measure of all things, were right. Media lawyers assessed the process as an interference with my format rights. I was not only the presenter, but also the author and co-producer of the show. This is for the sake of clarity, because the station's statements only ever talked about my role as a moderator. My book "Rock 'n' Roll in your head, waltz in your legs – answers to the youth madness" attracted a lot of attention and triggered a huge media response. Today it is considered a standard work.

What do you think of today's television program? What do you like to see and where do you switch off?

Schautzer: I could answer cynically now: Every audience gets the program that it deserves. But there are still pearls in the program. You just have to search, on Arte or 3sat for example. "Sing my song", "Bares für Rares" and "Who knows that?" are small formats with simple but good ideas that I like. On ORF, which I receive at our second home in Kitzbühel, I think the cultural programs are excellent. Where do I turn off? At container shows, jungle camps and scripted reality shows. For me the most unpleasant events since the invention of the itching powder.

You celebrated your greatest success with "bankruptcies, bad luck and breakdowns". What memories do you associate with this show?

Schautzer: In my biography I describe in detail how the idea for "bankruptcies, bad luck and breakdowns" came about and why this show, which was to become one of the most successful in German TV history, was initially not wanted by ARD. With my idea I was a few years ahead of the Americans! "Americas Funniest Home Videos" started with a special three years after us and went into series in 1990 with Bob Saget as the host. By the way, the US producers showed four of our contributions in their pilot show. We can be very proud that an idea once went the other way round. At the Golden Rose competition in Montreux, I was introduced to a panel discussion as the inventor of the first viewer-generated television format. It was said that I was actually the pioneer of YouTube, which came about much later, namely in 2005.

Most recently you were on stage in the theater, are further engagements planned?

Schautzer: Unfortunately, an interesting project failed due to Corona. But from January 2021 I'll be back on stage – if everything goes well – with Horst Janson and Christian Wolff in Düsseldorf, Essen and Cologne. Our piece is called "Kerle im Herbst" and has been sold out almost everywhere so far. Last two months in the comedy Hamburg in the Winterhuder Fährhaus.

How do you keep yourself so fit?

Schautzer: Among other things through my theater engagements. Because if you keep your mind busy, your body goes along with it. Otherwise a lot of exercise in the fresh air, golf, skiing and healthy eating.

You were also very lucky in your private life. You have been married to your wife Gundel for over 50 years. What is your tip for a long and happy marriage?

Schautzer: I answered this question in my new book as follows: There is no recipe for lasting love happiness based on the motto "You take …". If there were such a prescription, all divorce lawyers would be unemployed. There is also no recipe for baking the ideal partner. First of all, it is important that two people find each other who love each other. That is still the most important requirement for a functioning partnership. Lasting happiness does not come by itself, nor is it a gift from heaven. You have to work it out. It is important to develop mutual trust. Also respect for the other, willingness to compromise, tolerance etc. No routine, no boredom and lots of laughter. Maintain common interests and be able to converse in different areas. Then a marriage can always remain exciting and never become boring.

How do you spend your old age together?

Schautzer: Preferably in-house for as long as possible.

How has the corona crisis changed your everyday life?

Schautzer: Unfortunately, social contacts are only possible to a limited extent. Meeting friends, going to restaurants, bars, etc. Above all, the cultural offerings are very lacking.

What wish would you like to fulfill in the next few years?

Schautzer: I would like to go on one trip or another. Maybe another cruise. If the opportunity arises from time to time to dance a rock 'n' roll with my wife, I'm happy.