ZDF New Year’s Eve Show: Kerner’s Broadcast Fails

“And that’s what I pay GEZ for…”

Breakdown at New Year’s Eve show: Johannes B. Kerner has to improvise

Four and a half hours live on ZDF – something can go wrong. No problem for moderation professional Johannes B. Kerner.

A huge floating stage was set up there, where, among other things, the actors from the “Michael Jackson Musical” performed, the Bavarian singer Oimara presented his hit “Wackelkontakt” and pop star Johannes Oerding sang “Kreise”.

Michael Patrick Kelly, the British boy band Blue, the band Wanda, DJ Felix Jaehn and pop star Kerstin Ott were also there. However, the singer’s performance didn’t go entirely smoothly. When Johannes B. Kerner announced them with their hit “Die immer laughs”, the wrong song was heard at first – then there was silence.

The moderator only hesitated for a moment and then explained: “If we play the right song, then they can do it too.” But again nothing happened for a few seconds. It didn’t take long for the audience to react. “Is ZDF doing a live broadcast for the first time?”, “And that’s what I’m paying GEZ for…” or “What exactly does sound and directing do for a living?” could be read, among other things, on the short message service X.

Instead of Kerstin Ott’s singing, Johannes B. Kerner could be heard again, who was obviously improvising. “Kerstin Ott is now our guest on stage and we are really proud that she came to us. On this floating soccer field, on this huge pontoon, on the largest floating party stage in the world. ‘The One Who Always Laughs’ is her mega hit and it is – eyes and ears open – a song that she basically wrote in five minutes. At the kitchen table, for a friend. Back then she was still a hobby musician and the rest is music history,” overdubbed the moderator handled the glitch very professionally.