After 15 years, the “Quiz Taxi” is rolling again on German TV. For moderator Thomas Hackenberg, the new edition holds many surprises.
From 2006 to 2008, Thomas Hackenberg (61) was already on the road with the “Quiz Taxi”. Now the rolling show is coming back to TV. From September 4th, the current episodes will be shown on kabel eins and Joyn, Monday to Friday from 6:55 p.m. Then you can see again how unsuspecting passengers get into the taxi and suddenly find themselves in a quiz show. In an interview with the news agency spot on news, the moderator reveals why the concept still works, how the candidates have changed and what he finds most exciting about his job.
What have you done in the past 15 years?
Thomas Hackenberg: I was in the back seat (laughs). No, listing all of that would go beyond the scope. I’ve had an extended excursion as a visual artist and many other things besides. I always say I was kidnapped as an extraterrestrial, explored other galaxies and got back in the car in time for the “Quiz Taxi”. I think there is an urgent need for a good mood to be back on the streets and on television. People are all short on fuses and need entertainment.
How did the remake come about?
Hackenberg: The station manager Marc Rasmus contacted me and asked if I would like to drive the “Quiz Taxi” again – and if I still have a driver’s license. I then thought about it for a bit and then said that I could definitely imagine rolling it out of the garage again.
What were you looking forward to the most?
Hackenberg: It was a bit like a class reunion. I brought our old producer Stefan Vobis on board. The two of us know best how the format works in Germany because we produced almost 800 episodes back then. But before the first ride, I asked myself if I still had it. But after five minutes I felt like we had never been at the break. It was just great fun. Of course, I’m always looking forward to the people who get on board.
It’s a bit of a surprise egg – you never know who’s going to get in and what’s in it…
Hackenberg: That’s right, that’s a good comparison. We shot in Cologne and you have the whole metropolitan sociotope in your car. The student, the pensioner, the family visiting Cologne, or the lesbian bachelorette party. Everyone knows something and everyone also knows nothing, depending on the field of knowledge. And that’s exactly what’s so exciting, because you don’t know beforehand who’s got what. We tend to classify people. But it’s really often a surprise that some people, who you wouldn’t trust, have the full knowledge, and others, who you would have thought could do it easily, look at you like three question marks. Unfortunately, we often run around with our grid. There are really great surprises to be had there. And hearing people’s stories is of course also exciting. It’s always like a little speed dating.
Would you say that your knowledge of human nature has improved as a result?
Hackenberg: Oh, if you go through life with open eyes and an open heart, then your knowledge of human nature improves with every day that you are in the world. And since it’s been a few days longer for me, I’ve met more people. I’ve had a lot to do with people throughout my professional life, as a radio presenter, as a management trainer, with the “Quiz Taxi”. In any case, I am always surprised. But that is also very important. If you think you know and know everything, your head becomes immobile and you become afraid of changes and innovations. And I don’t want to be one of those people who harden with age. I am happy when I can learn something new and gain new insights. I don’t want to walk around like a baked pretzel bun.
It’s been 15 years since the last show. Is the “Quiz Taxi” timeless?
Hackenberg: I think so. The joy of quizzing and puzzling and the urge to play are in us humans. Of course some things are changing. The world has become faster-moving and the areas of knowledge are now much more fragmented than they were then. With series alone, the different streaming providers make it so different who knows which actors and content. There are now many parallel universes, just in the areas of television and culture. That has really fanned out incredibly far in recent years. And what you also notice: people perform with a much greater naturalness when they realize that they are on a TV show. I think that has to do with smartphones and fast internet. You quickly upload a selfie to Instagram and post yourself on TikTok. At that time the whole topic didn’t exist. The first iPhone had just come out, hardly anyone had it at the time. Now people are used to using moving images in everyday life. That’s why they’re much more relaxed in my taxi now, I think that’s great. That’s great progress.
Is it difficult to drive and present at the same time?
Hackenberg: That is a challenge. But I’m used to focusing on several things. With Formatradio, you moderate and drive the show at the same time. That means: operate the controls, pay attention to the music, that’s where advertising and news come in. So divided attention and still being involved is nothing unusual for me. But if I bump advertising time into the wall on the radio, it’s not as bad as if I bump into someone at the crosswalk. Luckily this has never happened to me. The new car also makes it very difficult for me to knock someone out. There are so many security systems. But of course I also make sure to get people safely from A to B myself.
Do you like driving a taxi yourself?
Hackenberg: I rarely drive a taxi because I don’t have the opportunity to do so. Most of the time you use the taxi if you’ve been to a party and had a drink. But I don’t drink alcohol at all and in this respect I’m more of a taxi for my friends in my private life. When I’m in other cities, I like to rent a bike or one of those scooters, which I always park properly, by the way. Otherwise, I prefer to explore other cities on foot. Taking a taxi has become rarer, but I always think that the things that people actually need will survive. I’m pretty emotionless and pragmatic. Maybe in a few years I’ll do “Quiz E-Roller” or “Quiz Uber” (laughs).