2007/12/14 New York, NY
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A bad influence

Sunday night

Tuesday night I was briefly in Amsterdam and before dinner I visited my mother.
It had escaped me completely that Chanukah had already started; it turned out to be the last evening. The candles were lit and my mother was eating her dinner while she was watching a thriller on German television.
The thriller was not that bad and I remembered that when I was young my parents didn’t have television – a bad influence if ever there was one – but on Sunday night we were allowed to go to the neighbors to watch “Tatort” (a German murder mystery).
I still have fond memories of “Tatort” – maybe I should say I have a weak spot for German television.


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20 comments Last_comment
Arnon
You're not the only one. I don't like series like that, but Deutsche krimi even make me watch.
said Coen van Beelen 14/12/2007 12:03 • x
Coen
Derrick is underestimated, the Austrian singer Falco is underestimated as well.
said Arnon Grunberg 14/12/2007 14:50 • x
I prefer Schimanski, because it is so.. schmutzig.
said Robert H. 14/12/2007 15:57 (Updated 15:58) • x
Deutsches Fernsehen.
Ich glaube dass das Deutsches Fernsehen für mich in meinem Jugend sehr wichtig war. Holländisches Fernsehen gab es nur am Mittwochmittag, so biss 17.00 Uhr, und das war es dann. Also, Lassie und Gunsmoke auf Deutsch und natürlich auch Tatort mit Schimannski, haben mir viel Spass gemacht.
Nowadays English speaking countries set the pace and make up for the biggest inpuit of TV (series and movies alike) but I must say I have the fondest memories of German tv when I was a kid...
said Ybe de Rooij 14/12/2007 16:04 • x
ta-tort
After not watching tatort for all of my thirty years (living in holland it seemed to be on tv every oter night, but i never looked for more than a few seconds), the noun hit me just two weeks ago. Untill then, i thought it was a proper name (in my head i pronounced it : Ta-tort), like Derrick, Der Alte and Commisaris Rex.
said finbarr newitt 14/12/2007 17:10 (Updated 04:35) • x
tatort is really kind of "cult" in germany - "spießig", old-school german tv. and one of it´s biggest advantages: no interruptions by ads :-)))
(thanx for reminding me of gunsmoke! I loved it, when I was little. - in fact I loved western, shame on me...)
said Esther Rudolph 14/12/2007 18:44 (Updated 18:49) • x
I prefer Derrick over Tatort (in Flanders it is often referred to as ‘Monsieur le commissaire Tatort’!) as I prefer Frost over inspector Morse.
said Jan Thys 14/12/2007 18:49 • x
Esther R
Since when exactly became “Spießig” narrow-mindedness (isn’t there a better translation for Spießigkeit?) a cult in Germany?
said Arnon Grunberg 14/12/2007 19:33 • x
Robert H
Did you know that Nastassja Kinski made her debut (almost) in Tatort somewhere in the seventies, I believe 1977, an excellent Tatort by the way called Reifezeugnis.
said Arnon Grunberg 14/12/2007 19:38 • x
Arnon
I do now, thank you. I found out that it was actually in 1976. I don't know however what exactly was so 'scandalous' about her performance. If you care, here is a link to some nice pictures, including one titled "Familie Kinski beim Einkaufsbummel". http://www.klaus-kinski.de/bio/nast.htm
said Robert H. 14/12/2007 22:31 • x
The "Tatort" with Andrea Sawatzki is the best. She`s great.
said Manon Kadoke 15/12/2007 04:00 • x
Manon
Who is Andrea Sawatzki?
said Arnon Grunberg 15/12/2007 04:44 • x
Arnon
Jeanny is a good song, but unfortunately the only one I know (I'm aware of the existince of Rock me Amadeus, but I never heard it).

Don't forget Wolff and Kommissar Rex. The last one especially because the always returning joke with the roll meat.
said Coen van Beelen 15/12/2007 12:44 • x
@Arnon
You want to say, that "Spießigkeit" is mainstrem in Germany? No-no-no... (Maybe, I misused the word "cult". But some clishees become really cool, when they are taken over the top :-])
said Esther Rudolph 15/12/2007 14:58 • x
Arnon
She`s a german actress. She`s really good. And very beautiful.
said Manon Kadoke 15/12/2007 15:07 • x
Arnon
Your weak spot for German television is precisely the reason why RAM didn't work. Dutch people don't share your weak spot.
Although there may be some exceptions.
said Margot Morgan 15/12/2007 17:21 (Updated 11:14) • x
One of my favourites used to be 'Die Sendung mit der Maus', that's nostalgia for me. No good looking actresses though...
said J. v.d. B. 15/12/2007 18:15 (Updated 04:02) • x
Margot M
I’m quite sue that most Dutch people don’t share my preferences, but I’m not sure what exactly was German about the television program RAM?
Both the directors didn’t have much affinity with Germany and German culture.
Nevertheless according to articles I have read Germany is getting more and more popular in the Netherlands. I even came cross young people who went to the Black Forest for a holiday. Twenty years ago this was unthinkable.
said Arnon Grunberg 16/12/2007 16:22 • x
Arnon
Didn't you do a lot of interviews in German?
I mean, it's a free world and you're allowed to do so, but your audience still has to be able to identify with you.
At the office I would ask my colleagues: 'So, did you watch Arnon last night?'
And they'd be: 'No, we tuned out, it was way too German.'
Maybe your articles don't tell the truth.
said Margot Morgan 16/12/2007 20:55 • x
Margot
Raul Schrott you mean. The Netherlands would be a better place if people were more interested in German culture.
said Arnon Grunberg 17/12/2007 15:38 • x
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