The 5th season of LOL announces itself with ten new participants. One name in particular is already causing fear and trepidation: Otto Waalkes could easily beat off the competition with just one grimace
When I caught up with the LOL Christmas special at the beginning of the year, I came to the conclusion after the three episodes that the bully show with the brilliant comedy duo Anke Engelke and Bastian Pastewka is peachy. The two of them have already challenged my laugh muscles on their own. Together they are unbeatable. The Avengers of German comedy on TV. What else is there to come?
The cast of the new LOL season has been known for a few days now and I’m afraid we already have the answer. For what is now the fifth round of the main series, LOL host and presenter Michael “Bully” Herbig has invited an absolute comedy legend: Otto Waalkes. That could mean a knockout win in the first two episodes. Who on earth is going to stand up to the non-Frisian?
Read on to find out: This is how good the LOL Christmas special really is
Comedy legend with over 60 years of experience: Otto Waalkes mixes up LOL season 5 on Amazon Prime
Otto Waalkes no longer needs much of an introduction. The East Frisian comedian, musician and actor has been making people laugh since the 1960s. Much of this is certainly a product of his time and, from today’s perspective, controversial. However, there is no doubt about the pop cultural footprint he left behind with Otto, 7 Dwarfs and his dubbing role as Sid in the Ice Age series.
(Otto Waalkes in Otto Der Film)
For several generations, Otto has been one of the defining comedy names. Thanks to his idiosyncratic humor, he was able to create an unmistakable brand that has not been forgotten even after a decade in which he was less in the spotlight. With LOL, Otto is probably getting the biggest stage since his cinema hits in the 2000s. The other contestants must already be trembling.
At the beginning of each LOL season, the stars arrive in the studio one by one. It’s not uncommon for a murmur to go round when someone like Pastewka enters the room. He always comes very well prepared and has at least one sketch ready to upset people, preferably with a disguised voice and absurd costume. But that’s not the biggest challenge.
As precisely as Pastewka rehearses his sketches, nothing is more dangerous than the casual and at the same time very penetrating looks he gives the competition in between. The slightest movement in his face or an inconspicuous movement can make you burst out laughing. In other words: Pastewka is a walking comedy bomb – and that brings us back to Otto Waalkes.
LOL Season 5 could be the shortest thanks to Otto’s repertoire of jokes: Who on earth is going to survive this?
No matter what big gags Waalkes prepares, the most dangerous are the many bizarre things he just does on the side. A strange walk, a crazy hop. Briefly disguising his voice and looking around with eager eyes. At the right moment, Otto can easily override all the safety mechanisms of not wanting to laugh. None of the LOL participants should be immune to this
(Otto Waalkes and the cast of LOL season 5)
Otto also has unpredictability on his side. Although he has a distinctive sense of humor, it would be a mistake to reduce his six decades of comedy experience to one repetitive joke. Otto can draw on a huge repertoire, from contorted postures to inventive wordplay and abstruse strings of noise that catapult us into another comedy dimension.
Stream now: Here you can watch the latest LOL episodes on Amazon
In addition, Otto has a psychological advantage. He doesn’t come into the show as a blank slate. The reputation that precedes him is no secret and could put a lot of pressure on the new LOL cast. Otto’s presence automatically brings with it the fear that something hilarious could happen at any moment. That increases the nervousness. And if you’re nervous, you have to try much harder not to laugh.
