Otto Waalkes honored with a lifetime achievement television award for his career accomplishments
Otto Waalkes, a comedian, musician, actor, director, voice actor, and artist, is set to receive the prestigious German Television Award for his lifetime achievement. The announcement was made a week before the ceremony at a grand TV gala in Cologne.
Waalkes, initially a local phenomenon from the East Frisian town of Emden, rose to national prominence through his TV show in the 1970s. His unique brand of comedy, musicality, wordplay, and beloved Ottifants have significantly influenced the understanding of humor in Germany.
In recent years, Waalkes has been seen in various productions, including "LOL - Last One Laughing" on Amazon Prime Video in 2024. His versatility and impact on German television history were emphasized by Arnim Butzen, TV chief of Deutsche Telekom and chairman of the German Television Award 2025.
The German Television Award, supported by ARD, RTL, Sat.1, ZDF, Deutsche Telekom, Disney+, Netflix, and Prime Video, will take place on September 10, 2025, at the Coloneum in Cologne. The ceremony will be broadcast live on the ZDF channel at 8:15 PM, with Barbara Schöneberger as the host. MagentaTV is working with ZDF for the implementation of the award and will broadcast the grand TV gala on September 10.
Waalkes (77) expressed his feelings of honour and surprise at receiving the award. He also made a humorous reference to the recent addition of disclaimers to his old TV shows. Despite his busy schedule, Waalkes revealed that he does not watch more television than before, but prefers comedy, documentaries, and sports broadcasts.
In the "Night of the Creatives" held the evening before in the Cologne Flora, the lead for the German Television Award changes each year. This year, MagentaTV took the lead. Interestingly, Apple TV+ is joining as a sponsor for the first time in 2025.
In 1973, Waalkes got his own TV show, which became a hit, achieving a viewing share of 44 percent in its third edition. Waalkes was almost revered by his younger colleagues in shows like "LOL - Last One Laughing". The German Television Award 2025 promises to be an exciting event, honoring one of the most influential figures in German television history.
