German comedian Otto Waalkes honored with a television achievement award for his lifelong contributions
In a grand celebration of German television, comedian, actor, and artist Otto Waalkes has been honoured with the prestigious German Television Award for his lifetime achievement. The award, which is supported by ARD, RTL, Sat.1, ZDF, Deutsche Telekom, Disney+, Netflix, Prime Video, and for the first time, Apple TV+, will be presented at a gala on September 10, broadcast by ZDF.
This year's German Television Award ceremony will be held by MagentaTV for the first time, in collaboration with ZDF. The change in leadership of the award occurs annually.
The announcement of Waalkes' honor came a week before the ceremony at a grand TV gala in Cologne. Arnim Butzen, TV chief of Deutsche Telekom and chairman of the patrons of the German Television Award 2025, praised Waalkes as "a gifted comedian and one of the most versatile entertainers in German television history."
Waalkes, who expressed his feelings of honour and surprise, has fundamentally shaped the understanding of humour in Germany since the 1970s. His hyperactive jack-of-all-trades character ("Holladahiti!") was a North German local phenomenon that became a national event.
In recent years, Waalkes 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. However, he revealed that he doesn't watch more television now than before, but prefers formats like comedy, documentaries, and sports broadcasts.
Waalkes sees the changes in the television industry over the past few years as positive, citing competition from the internet and streaming as a potential benefit. This sentiment is echoed by the sponsors, including Apple TV+, which is a sponsor of the German Television Award for the first time in 2025.
The German Television Award, established in October 1998 by the German TV broadcasters Das Erste, ZDF, RTL, and Sat.1, continues to recognise and celebrate outstanding contributions to German television. This year, it is Otto Waalkes who stands as a testament to the enduring power of laughter and entertainment in shaping the German television landscape.
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
