Catherine Zeta-Jones' Nudity, Raab's Humor in "Under 50," and the Young Generation's Influence
Dear folks, let's take a breather and reminisce on the insanity of this week together. Grab a seat, treat yourself to a beverage of your choice, and let this celebrity segment marinate. I'm already excited to hear your thoughts! Are you feeling like the world is spinning more and more out of control? I'm drowning keeping up, let alone staying ahead. The best approach to this weekly recap, at least for me, is through irony.
You gotta be cautious what you find amusing these days. 'Cause a comedian isn't necessarily someone who's funny anymore, but someone who's got the balls to pass off someone else's jokes as their own. Luke Mockridge should take note.
Have you tuned into Stefan Raab's "You won't win the million here" on RTL+ yet? The criticism about the comedian's "U-50 humor" is growing. Young folks can't seem to find fun in his jokes, say the critics. I find that argument hilarious, by the way. It just shows you can only have one opinion about Raab – either you love him or hate him. No middle ground allowed.
Raab and the Kaufland Diss Track
Maybe I'm just too old, but I found Raab's diss track of Kaufland absolutely hilarious this week. The supermarket had the young artist Enda rap about the latest deals in their ads. Tomato paste, chips, sunflower oil. You might ask yourself what these "motherf*" are good for, like Tupac did.
So Raab responds with a rap song of his own and calls Kaufland a "hitchhiker" among other things. Critics find it "cringe-worthy" and "embarrassing." But it's tragicomically amusing how companies try to be youthful – as if having a TikTok account would make them young again.
They stumble through meme culture, genuinely believing they're communicating with the youth by incorporating phrases like "slay" and "man" into their vocabulary. Ignoring experienced and loyal fanbases with substance and life experience is not just silly, but also shows blatant hypocrisy.
Raab is accused of making TV for an older audience. Maybe so. But isn't it concerning how poorly his contestants know general knowledge these days with a motto like, "if it didn't happen on Instagram, it might not have happened at all"?
Gottschalk, Z-Celebrities, and Oktoberfest
Even Thomas Gottschalk is seen as a relic by critics. The 72-year-old recently expressed his discomfort with how much Oktoberfest has changed in his podcast, which he runs with his good friend Mike Krüger. In the past, celebrities would use the Oktoberfest as a platform to help someone in need, Gottschalk lamented. But that's no longer the case today.
And the TV legend might be right, as the clips posted by prominent influencers these days appear chaotic. Instead of celebrating celebrities, we see more extreme decadence in its purest form. D-List celebrities stumble through beer tents in over-the-top dirndls and leather pants. They arrogantly and pompously stage their drunken antics for likes, like they're superstars! Coupled with their self-absorbed attitudes and disdain for "ordinary" people with less following, their intellectual depth is incredibly shallow, unable to see how pathetic they look putting on a show.
Catherine Zeta-Jones Strips for Birthday
We live in a world where freeloaders with inflated egos set the trend, a world where shouting matches in scripted reality TV are considered celebrities, and causing a ruckus is a career boost. Add skewed power dynamics and politicians without professional qualifications who can't even string together a coherent sentence – it's no wonder philosophers believe humanity is in free fall.
One of the few who stood out this week in a classic manner (ha!) was Catherine Zeta-Jones. Zeta-Jones and her husband Michael Douglas celebrate their birthday each year – with hers being September 25 and his turning 80. Zeta-Jones ran out of gift ideas this year and resorted to an unconventional choice: she surprised her husband – naked! She posted an Instagram picture of herself in high heels in the bathroom with a humorous caption, saying she was running out of gift ideas this year after so many years. Her "birthday outfit" was her second option – after that, she could only think of golf balls. Happy weekend to all, dear readers, and stay funny!
After mentioning the criticisms against Stefan Raab, you might say:
His response to the criticism, a diss track aimed at Kaufland, was met with a mix of amusement and disapproval. Some found it hilarious, while others labeled it cringe-worthy and embarrassing.
In the context of discussing the Oktoberfest and its transformation, you could add:
The scenario described with D-list celebrities stumbling through beer tents in over-the-top outfits for likes, is a far cry from the traditional use of the Oktoberfest as a platform for philanthropy, as lamented by Thomas Gottschalk and Mike Krüger.
