Comedian Otto Waalkes Honored with Lifetime Achievement Television Award
In a significant recognition of his influential career, comedian Otto Waalkes will be honoured with the Lifetime Achievement Award at the German Television Awards (Deutscher Fernsehpreis) 2025. The esteemed event, supported by ARD, RTL, Sat.1, ZDF, and Deutsche Telekom, will see streaming partners Disney+, Netflix, and Prime Video joining as partners.
The award ceremony, broadcast by ZDF on September 10, 2025, will celebrate Waalkes' humour that has spanned generations and significantly shaped the understanding of humour in Germany since the 1970s. The comedian, musician, actor, director, voice actor, and artist (77) is renowned for his role as the hyperactive jack-of-all-trades and has been a North German local phenomenon that became a national event.
Waalkes began his TV career in 1973 with a show that aired about once a year and became a hit, achieving a viewing share of 44 percent in its third episode. In recent years, he has been seen in various productions, including the comedy hit "LOL - Last One Laughing" on Amazon Prime Video, where he was almost revered by his younger colleagues in 2024.
Arnim Butzen, TV chief of Deutsche Telekom and chairman of the German Television Award 2025, praised Waalkes as a gifted comedian and one of the most versatile entertainers in German television history. Waalkes himself feels the changes in the TV industry over the past few years are positive, citing increased competition as a potential benefit.
However, the German Television Award has added warning notices to some of Waalkes' old shows due to discriminatory passages. Waalkes, surprised to receive the honorary television award, expressed his views on the debates, saying, "I don't watch more TV than before, preferring comedy, documentaries, and sports broadcasts."
The German Television Award will be held for the first time by MagentaTV in 2025, with ZDF broadcasting the major TV gala. MagentaTV will lead the German Television Award for the first time, working with ZDF to broadcast the major TV gala on September 10. Apple TV+ is a new sponsor for the event in 2025.
The TV gala on September 10 will see Waalkes receive the award, marking a historic moment in German television history. The event promises to be a night of celebration, honouring one of the most influential figures in German comedy and entertainment.
Read also:
- Understanding Hemorrhagic Gastroenteritis: Key Facts
- Stopping Osteoporosis Treatment: Timeline Considerations
- Expanded Community Health Involvement by CK Birla Hospitals, Jaipur, Maintained Through Consistent Outreach Programs Across Rajasthan
- Reducing Anxiety Through Nutrition: Edibles That Soothe the Mind
