Elton's expulsion from ProSieben is still causing a stir. Jan Böhmermann expresses doubts about the official story of the chased TV presenter.
Cologne - Almost a week ago, ProSieben dropped the bomb: The private broadcaster first announced Elton's departure as presenter of the primetime show “Schlag den Star”. It was later announced that the 53-year-old was leaving the station completely after 23 years. The background is obviously conflicts over Elton's appearances in formats of the competitor RTL. There are different versions about how the separation happened.
Surprising end at ProSieben: Elton accuses the broadcaster of poor style
Elton posted on Instagram last Wednesday (April 10): “To make one thing clear: I am not voluntarily giving up this wonderful program (“Schlag den Star”, editor’s note). He had bad style for ProSieben accused: “I only found out today after my management called the Pro7 boss to find out whether the rumors were true that I was no longer allowed to moderate Schlag den Star.” Elton had moderated “Schlag den Star” for eight years. He was “really speechless, angry but above all extremely sad. I'm not even granted a farewell show after 23 years at ProSieben. Without words!!!,” Elton continued.
ProSieben boss Hannes Hiller responded to the allegations in an interview with the industry service
DWDL
: “I'll try with a picture from football. If someone has been playing regularly for BVB for years, but then cheers for FC Bayern more and more often in the fan block, then a question inevitably arises: When is the right time to change clubs?" Hiller did not comment on the process of the separation in the interview .
Jan Böhmermann doubts Elton's version: "I can't imagine it with the best will in the world."
The news of Elton's expulsion from ProSieben spread like wildfire, and numerous stars supported the ousted presenter. But there are still some who doubt the 53-year-old's official version. One of them is ZDF presenter Jan Böhmermann (43).
In the episode “Spoiler alert! Triggeralert!” of the podcast “Fest & Fluschig” from April 13th, the satirist and his colleague Olli Schulz (50) talk about Elton’s exit. “Elton, Stefan Raab's intern, who has basically been the foundation of ProSieben for 23 years, found out overnight (...) from his management that he had been kicked out of ProSieben. “Just because he moderated everything else on all the other channels,” said Böhmermann.
The presenter of “ZDF Magazin Royale” then expresses doubts about Elton’s version. “I know everyone involved, all the executives behind the scenes and I cannot (...) with the best will in the world imagine that Elton found out about this the day before,” explains Jan Böhmermann, who describes those responsible for the private broadcaster as “long-term thinking, very smart, nice people”. “Even if they have unpleasant news, that’s just what happens in the media business. Every now and then a few noses have to say: 'Look out, after 23 years it might be time for you to move somewhere else.'"
“But he’s already doing it,” Olli Schulz intervenes, citing as examples the former ProSieben formats “Blamieren oder Kassieren” and “Schlag den Besten”, which Elton now presents on the Cologne TV station RTL. Böhmermann adds: “And the quiz thing on ARD.” This refers to the show “Who knows something like that?”, in which Elton is there as a guessing team captain.
Böhmermann then dishes out a nasty tip against the Berlin native: “Elton is everywhere. And the best thing of all is: You can see from Elton that you don't have to be able to show off yourself on German television, you don't have to be blessed with talent. You just have to be there and stay there.” The 43-year-old wishes Elton the new beginning, but there is one thing that annoys him: “This widespread disappointment, only to get a few positive comments.”
Elton's renewed collaboration with Stefan Raab is certainly conceivable, because "there's a big television war going on in the background," says Jan Böhmermann. “Stefan Raab is warming up again!”
(sk)
Sources used:
“Fest & Fluschig” (podcast by Jan Böhmermann and Olli Schulz, episode from April 13, 2024), dpa