When LOL: Last One Laughing released its first season on Amazon Prime * in Germany in 2021, I was surprised at myself: I don’t usually watch reality TV or any shows, but this format caught me. Ten comedians locked in a room trying to make each other laugh is just a very enjoyable affair. With the nice side effect that I first got to know many German comedy greats here.
Since then, I have always looked forward to the LOL-grimacing spectacle of further seasons and continue to discover new, funny facets of the competing jokesters. Of course, the LOL: Last One Laughing Halloween Special was a must. But in this year’s holiday spin-off, a change spoiled the joy: showmaster Michael Herbig left more celebrities than ever before – which unfortunately came at the expense of humor and watered down the concept of the show.
The LOL Halloween Special has too many celebrities and not enough comedians
Professional comedians try others with a poker face professional comedians to force a grin. LOL wants to entertain us with this concept. Whether with planned numbers, spontaneous gags or disguises, it doesn’t matter.
If we look at the casts of the past LOL runs on Amazon, we notice that there are always one or two celebrities in seasons 1 to 5 as well as the LOL Xmas Special were, the no full-time comedians or comediennesbut were actors, presenters or singers. So far these have included: Barbara Schöneberger (season 1), Klaas Heufer-Umlauf (2), Michelle Hunziker and Palina Rojinski (3), Elton and Moritz Bleibtreu (4), Michelle Hunziker again (Xmas), Elyas M’Barek and Ina Müller (5).
But if we take a look at the LOL Halloween Special with its minor changes that are actually negligible, we notice that 8 of the 4 candidates are not comedians, but “real celebrities” are, as Torsten Sträter so aptly puts it in episode 2. More than ever before. They are marked in bold here:
What happened there? Are there no more new German comedy stars or new discoveries? LOL Has the success gone to his head and now the show wants to proudly show who it can perform? The new celebrity density It wouldn’t be so bad if it didn’t have a negative impact on the show experience. Why the “real celebrities” hurt LOL
The fact that half of all participants are not professional humorists is reflected in the LOL Halloween Special to many “victims” and too few “perpetrators” gives.
If Palina, Bill and Co. go into the wait-and-see mode right at the beginning Defensive position of doing nothing go, the fun for us viewers automatically decreases. If no one attacks with comedy guns, it quickly becomes boring. This suddenly puts the entire burden of entertainment on the professionals. In the worst case scenario, the pairing of Sasha and Annette Frier even ensures that the comedienne remains idle for a long time. The comedians Torsten Sträter and Olaf Schubert are hard at work. Celebrities Tom Kaulitz and Sasha are hard at work eating apples and asparagus to keep from laughing.
This care attitude prevented Last but not least, I want to know the new guests beyond their fruit and vegetable habits. get to know better can. Admittedly, Sasha demonstrates a surprisingly spontaneous talent for puns once or twice and Bill’s attempts at flirting with Olaf also bring an unexpected twist to the show. But when the active comedians end up laughing themselves out of the game because of their humorous efforts, he feels LOL victory of the passives undeserved to. In the end, the Kaulitz twins simply had to keep going beyond a single prepared news number and a Siamese disguise with a permanent duckface. The bitter aftertaste here is not just due to the old LOL problem that “killers” win.
That Michael Bully Herbig is the one to compensate for the lack of humor with gadgets and guests tried can only backfire. Bully’s external intervention has never been the highlight of LOL humor. Rehearsed toilet noises, remote-controlled chairs, talking pumpkins and Bachelor gorillas are simply not funny. Against an Olaf Schubert, who spontaneously deduces his strange Kaulitz family connection, or a Torsten Sträter, who gives a eulogy for laughter, they stink as embarrassing children’s games. In the end, only Mr. Schubert, who has already been eliminated, can save (and finish) the Halloween special with his giant recorder encore.
Gags soft glamour: The Halloween Special is a betrayal of the LOL concept
The Halloween Special is of course still amusing in many places. But the disturbing trend of increasing celebrity appearances remains: LOL puts showmanship above showmanship. It’s a “look who famous we invited” instead of a “look what the German comedy talents can do”. Bringing in special guests such as opera singer Paul Potts or crime writer Sebastian Fitzek is intended solely for the wow effect. Just having them perform scripted comedy numbers doesn’t automatically make the non-professional fools funny.
If at the end Fame before talent goes, it hurts the show. Then LOL reveals the concept of his comedy showdown and prefers to sell himself for glitz and glamour. But as the Amazon show moves away from its roots — back toward more reality TV and its celebrity infatuation — it shouldn’t be surprised if curious newbie fans like me lose interest in the long run.
So please, LOL, give up on the celebrities and bring more people with you next time who have something can – instead of people who just have something are.
Podcast about LOL: The strengths and weaknesses of the best German Amazon series
Ten comedy stars, six hours, one studio and no one is allowed to laugh. That is the concept of the currently best German Amazon series, which is hosted by Michael “Bully” Herbig.
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In this edition of the Moviepilot podcast Streamgegefrums, avowed fans of LOL: Last One Laughing explain what makes the show so appealing, share favorite moments and discuss LOL’s weaknesses.
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