Salutation: What does a trash TV star have to bring along?

Trash TV influencer Anredo explains the phenomenon of trash TV in an interview and reveals which formats are particularly successful.

On Twitter, he regularly comments on TV highlights live for his 57,000 followers, in the podcast for the RTL show "Das Sommerhaus der Stars" he discusses the prominent candidates and their escapades: Trash TV expert Anredo explains in an interview with the news agency spot on news, why the Trash TV phenomenon received a new boost a few years ago and how he assesses new formats such as "Battle of Reality Stars". In addition, the podcaster explains what qualities a real trash TV star must have and what German productions can still learn from foreign formats.

Trash TV seems to have received a new boost since "Celebrities under the palm trees". Why did the format work so well?

Salutation: I have the impression that the latest boost in reality TV was a few years ago and is still going on. The large number of new clients is currently playing a major role, especially in the streaming sector. In the German market in particular, as a national player with local trash TV, you can certainly set yourself apart from Netflix and Co. And the classic TV viewer usually benefits from a linear broadcast. "Celebrities under palm trees" lived a lot from its cast. When I read who was going to be there before it was broadcast, I prepared myself for great cinema – and was not disappointed. In my opinion, the cast was definitely cast to be on the safe side, after all, a very polarizing field of participants was brought together and celebrities were hired, all of whom have already delivered in similar formats. Unfortunately, the fact that it ended in a real bullying scandal took away a lot of fun in the end. There boundaries were definitely exceeded. Probably, curiously, it was precisely these headlines that contributed to the success of the format.

How do you rate the new formats "Kampf der Realitystars" and "Like Me – I'm Famous"?

Salutation: These programs also position themselves strongly again via their participants. "Battle of the Reality Stars" seems to be very similar to "Celebs under Palm Trees", but it is picking up even more momentum with the candidates, as several new celebrities join in every episode. The unfair twist that just the new ones are allowed to decide who has to go creates tension. I was really looking forward to "Like Me – I'm Famous": The number of residents in the villa is more manageable than in the "Battle of the Reality Stars". In addition, the basic topic of likes and digital recognition was anchored in the concept. An aspect that I personally find very interesting.

Why does trash TV work in general?

Salutation: For many people, light entertainment and supposedly low appetites are probably the entry point into trash TV. I think that the fascination of this genre lies in the depth: viewers who are basically affine and get involved, discover and characterize people anew, get a unique, intimate insight and are up close when a conflict grows out of small things . The series boom in fictional formats is certainly based on similar motifs, with the difference that with reality TV we hope that there is no creative director at work, but that the people shown write their own story in the constant battle for attention and airtime. And I love to see how it works … or completely pissed off.

Are there limits for you to when a show goes too far?

Salutation: Trash TV lives from its fine line and the individual exploration of one's own good taste. If I deliberately do not watch programs, it is mostly because I am not interested in the basic topic or because I notice while watching that I do not feel entertained. In established formats such as the jungle camp, I assume that all participants now know what to expect – of course, pity is limited. In my opinion, however, some candidates have definitely exceeded the limits of "Celebrities under the Palms". Fortunately, I also have the impression that most of the viewers were able to classify the situation correctly and, for example, expressed massive criticism of the broadcast on Twitter. At that moment, it really reassured me that a large number of people open their mouths and are particularly committed to social issues.

You tweet successfully in a wide variety of formats. Are you following a specific strategy?

Salutation: I like not being alone while watching TV. So I sit on my virtual Twitter couch and watch thousands of others. On the one hand, of course, I try to creatively process what I have seen, to create entertaining content myself and to express my own opinion. But it is at least as important to me to get the opinions of others on what is shown and to get a feeling for the reception of the audience. For me, a Twitter TV evening adds a whole new level to a show that I don't want to miss anymore.

How important is virtual communication between Trash TV viewers for the success of the show?

Salutation: Some formats are sure to get additional attention from the social buzz on the Internet and thus perhaps a few more viewers. But it only becomes really exciting for me when social media is firmly anchored in the concept of a program and complement each other. Unfortunately, most interactive shows are still limited to classic (paid) telephone votes. The possibilities of intervening intensively in the format as a user over the Internet are still very limited. I would like to see more experimentation, especially with live shows.

There is a podcast with you for "The Summer House of the Stars". What do you think of this year's candidates?

Salutation: The "summer house" will be an absolute highlight again this year! I've spoken to a few celebrity couples for the podcast and I'm expecting great things. The list of candidates reads wonderfully again and is a great mixture of established reality faces such as Georgina, and people I would never have expected in the format, such as Annemarie Eilfeld.

Which trash TV show did you find particularly successful and why?

Salutation: In addition to the well-known long-running hits like "Sommerhaus", "Promi Big Brother", jungle camp or "Germany's next top model", I also learned to love some streaming content this year. I especially liked "The Circle" from Netflix. I literally gave away this show because – like almost all Netflix originals – it perfectly understands how to cast a spell over the user so much that you want to keep watching. Unfortunately, social media communication is incredibly difficult with non-linear content, after all, everyone is looking at different times.

What qualities does a trash star need for you and who can do it best?

Salutation: authenticity. A trash star only becomes a trash star if he is authentic, if his story is exciting, if he has something to tell. And the unsympathetic ones are just as important as likeable characters. To be polarizing is certainly helpful. I also think that not every trash star is in good hands on every show. In addition to the concept, group dynamics also play an extremely important role in celebrity formats. For example, there were some candidates who turned in in the jungle and were totally boring at "Celebrity Big Brother" – and vice versa.

Can German trash TV shows still learn something from foreign formats?

Salutation: I often miss the strategic aspect of reality broadcasts in German formats. Most of the participants in this country say that they do not take part in a show with a strategy. Strategists don't go down well with us. Perhaps that is why the great global success "Survivor" last year didn't find the audience it deserved in this country. When I deal with international reality formats, I keep noticing how much more exciting conflicts and games become when candidates pull all the stops within the framework of the rules. I have the impression that viewers in Germany despise candidates who really play "the game", who strategically nominate and openly admit that they want to win and fight for it.

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