Samuel Koch
“The Masked Singer” was “quite a psychological thriller”
The phoenix was exposed as Samuel Koch in “The Masked Singer”.
© ProSieben / Willi Weber
Samuel Koch was the phoenix on “The Masked Singer”. In an interview, the actor reveals how the trip on the ProSieben show was for him.
At “The Masked Singer” the phoenix had to take off his mask on Saturday evening (November 6th). The actor Samuel Koch (34), who has been involved in “Wetten, dass ..?” was paraplegic from the neck down in December 2010. That very show celebrated its 40th anniversary on the same evening with a special broadcast and top ratings.
He reveals whether Koch is indulging the moderator Thomas Gottschalk (71) and how he experienced the evening of his own unmasking together with the jury, consisting of Ruth Moschner (45), Rea Garvey (48) and Thore Schölermann (37) in an interview with the news agency spot on news.
The jury was visibly touched by your unmasking. Has it happened to you too?
Samuel Koch: Touched would not be the right term. I was rather overwhelmed. And I was surprised that everything suddenly looked so different from what it was under my mask. I had imagined everything to be much smaller and more cramped. So my first reaction was more like: ‘Oops, oh this is how it all looks!’ It all happened pretty quickly. It was quite a psychological crime thriller I would say. I was more tense, nervous and excited than I thought.
Shortly after being unmasked, you said it was a scandal that you got this far on a singing show. So you don’t think you’re a great singer?
Koch: No, singing is absolutely not one of my core competencies. Of course, I took singing lessons during my studies. But even when I was at school, singing wasn’t one of my strongest disciplines. I also had a hard time, that was certainly not to be missed with one or the other song.
How did you react when the request for “The Masked Singer” came in?
Koch: I was surprised. I found that presumptuous because I’m simply not a singer. Casting myself on “The Masked Singer” is just as absurd as casting me on “The Masked Dancer”. In itself it was also a complex procedure, as I am involved in the theater and there I was considering a leading role that would have taken place in the same period of time. This has led to some scheduling conflicts in advance. But it was now a unique opportunity, so I was looking forward to this challenge and wanted to move out of my comfort zone.
Were you able to keep the secret from those around you?
Koch: As far as possible. The production and the broadcaster attach great importance to secrecy. We played the game there. My wife and a person in management knew about it. I also had a personal assistant with me. Production struggled with that, but it was just important for me that someone from my team was there and knew.
They had a very large and special costume. Was it difficult to perform on stage with it?
Cook: Yes and no. The costume was designed to be very expansive. I had legroom like in business class. There was more space in there than I would have needed. So I had no problem with that. The biggest difficulty was the very limited field of view.
Let’s get to your competitors. Do you have any guesses as to who might be among the other costumes?
Koch: I was surprised how the production managed to only meet each other on stage during the brief moments. During the vocal rehearsals with the vocal coaches you are also separated from the others. But the vocal professionals had so much power in their voices that a few notes made their way to the cloakrooms. Incidentally, that was always the moment when I thought I was leaving. The professional singers intimidated me a bit. Then I just thought: ‘No, cobbler, stick to your last and go back home.’ On the other hand, I also guessed in these situations. But if I’m honest I have no idea.
On the evening of your unmasking, a special episode for the 40th anniversary of “Wetten, dass ..?” – a real quota cracker. Do you allow Thomas Gottschalk the success?
Koch: Yes, of course, I give everyone everything they want.
The journey with “The Masked Singer” is now over for you. What’s the first thing you will do now?
Koch: About two years ago I said that I talk so much and have so much output and that I need some input again. I then started studying philosophy and systematic theology in Heidelberg for my master’s degree. I will dedicate myself a little to that.
In addition, I am currently in talks with ProSieben, who have lived up to their name, because they are pro new ways, whether I can give the Phoenix another appearance. I’m going on tour next year. The program will be called “Weightless”, is colorful and mixed with music, drama and theater. Of course, a character like the phoenix fits in very well. And now that the phoenix is still burning, I’ll be looking over the next few days to see how the program can be designed with him.