Oliver Geissen
The situation in Germany “doesn’t give him a good feeling”
Oliver Geissen will now moderate “Our Favorites”.
© Seven.One/Willi Weber
In an interview, Oliver Geissen talks about his new ranking show “Our Favorites” and his future with “The Ultimate Chart Show”.
What can viewers look forward to in “Our Favorites”?
Oliver Geissen: In the three programs we will shed light on what makes Germany tick right now: Who is at the top of the popularity scale? Germany has decided: Who is the most popular among comedians, actors or musicians?
With the “Chart Show” you are a professional when it comes to ranking shows. What is special about these formats and why do you enjoy moderating them?
Geissen: Well, it’s no secret that in a ranking show the best is saved for last. That means: the later the evening, the more exciting it gets. The fact that everyone can of course guess who will end up at the top makes it particularly attractive.
What about “The Ultimate Chart Show”? Are there any more episodes with you and if so, how long would you continue to host the show?
Geissen: The chart show is very important to me personally. Sure, we’ve been doing that for over 20 years now. There will be more new chart shows in 2024 and, if I have my way, for the next 20 years too. Even if the topic will probably end up with “hits from divorced Duisburg residents, over 40, with back problems”…
So far you have mainly been loyal to RTL, now your first Sat.1 moderation follows. How did that happen?
Geissen: When the request came from Sat.1, I found the project exciting from the first minute. After consulting with RTL, there were no concerns, as many of my colleagues are now active on several channels in parallel.
You have Steven Gätjen, Jörg Pilawa, Andrea Kiewel, Uwe Ochsenknecht, Caroline Frier, Heiner Lauterbach, Ruth Moschner and Ingolf Lück at your side on the show. Why are these celebrities a good cast for the show?
Geissen: Our celebrities are well chosen and can say something about any topic because they have been there long enough. Even though I actually know most of them well personally, I was surprised at how differently we perceive our favorites.
“Our Favorites” is about Germany’s entertainment greats. For you personally, who needs to appear in this ranking and why?
Geissen: I think I’m pretty mainstream. Of course, there won’t be comedy without Mario Barth, Bastian Pastewka or Martina Hill. Musically, names like Grönemeyer, Westernhagen and Nena are a given, and when it comes to film, no one wants to miss Lauterbach, Ochsenknecht or Bleibtreu. What is also interesting are the many other names that appear in the ranking and are presented in an order that – in some cases – I would not have expected.
The show celebrates the 75th birthday of the Federal Republic and with it democracy. How do you currently experience developments in the country, with the key word being the shift to the right?
Geissen: It’s obvious that something is happening in our country right now and it actually doesn’t make me feel good. The entire political, desolate situation is unfortunately the perfect breeding ground for right-wing ideas, which fortunately the majority of citizens are resolutely opposing – and that is not just a good thing, but fundamentally important.