Matthias Opdenhövel: A name to remember. - The versatile moderator on German television
If you're a fan of music, sports, or entertainment shows, it's highly unlikely that you've never seen the face of Matthias Opdenhövel (53). This has been a part of the German TV landscape for almost three decades with his sometimes mischievous grin on his lips. Recently, "Opdi," as he's affectionately called, celebrated the release of his popular show "Hast Du Toene?" on June 2nd, and he'll be hosting "Schlag den Star" in prime time again. But have you ever wondered about the other TV shows he has hosted throughout his career?
The Beginning of Matthias Opdenhövel
Born in August 1970 in Detmold, Opdenhövel finished his high school education and later joined the military before pursuing a business administration degree. However, he abandoned his studies and instead joined the now-defunct "Lippische Rundschau" as an intern. After that, he moved to Radio Lippe, which marked his first TV appearance. His first TV job was at VIVA in the mid-90s, where he gained recognition.
Subsequently, he hosted multiple shows like "Bitte Lacheln" with Aleks Bechtel and "Weck Up" with Barbara Schoeneberger, who are both still active in the television industry. Opdenhövel's "Hast Du Toene?" made a comeback on Sat.1 on May 30th.
Sports Years
In the early and mid-2000s, Opdenhövel's career took a different turn. He became a stadium announcer for Borussia Mönchengladbach. But his interest in sports didn't end there. He then moved on to the Pay-TV channel "Arena," where he brought his exciting commentary style to the Bundesliga and hinted at his future role in the most popular German sports format on TV.
Before that, he worked with Stefan Raab from his VIVA days. He moderated many of Raab's shows, including "Schlag den Raab," the "TV total Wok-WM," and the "TV total Turmspringen." The duo's "Schlag den Raab" received Germany's most prestigious TV award for "Best Entertainment Program/Best Moderation" in 2007.
Opdenhövel's sports-related pursuits led him to the Bundesliga channel "Liga Total" before joining ARD in 2011 where he became a studio host for "Sportschau." He also covered major tournaments, including the 2014 FIFA World Cup, where the German national team won their fourth title.
ART sports coordinator Axel Balkausky said in 2021: "Opdi's wit, his quick-wittedness, and his relaxed demeanor will be missed." Spiegel noted that he belonged at the station no matter what he produced or moderated. His departure marked the end of an era for ARD.
The Comeback and Controversy
In 2021, Opdenhövel returned to ProSieben and Sat.1, where he moderated the "Schlag den Star" reboot and the "Hast Du Toene?" reboot. However, things turned sour when he made a controversial joke about Elton John during a live broadcast of "Hast Du Toene?" on September 2nd. This immediately triggered a public outrage, with some viewers demanding his immediate firing.
Following the incident, ProSiebenSat.1 issued a statement expressing their disapproval: "We do not tolerate any form of discrimination or insult. The joke made by Matthias Opdenhövel during the 'Hast Du Toene?' show was inappropriate and unacceptable, and we sincerely apologize to Elton John and all those who were offended by the comment." Opdenhövel apologized for his remark, saying, "I never intended to offend anyone. I was just trying to make a joke that went a bit too far, and I'm genuinely sorry."
Despite the controversy, Opdenhövel kept hosting "Hast Du Toene?" and "Schlag den Star" on ProSieben and Sat.1.
It was announced in April 2024 that Opdenhövel would continue to be the exclusive moderator for the broadcasting group: "Opdenhövel's contract has been extended for several years." This means that Opdi, the "chameleon of friendliness," will remain a fixture on ProSieben and Sat.1 for the foreseeable future.
Hopefully, he'll create more unforgettable moments like his previous milestones in the TV world.
Opdenhövel has become a valuable utility player in Unterföhring alongside Joko Winterscheidt (45), Klaas Heufer-Umlauf (40), and Steven Gätjen (51) since his return. Opdenhövel, who has been wed to his wife Alexandra since 2012 and is father to two sons, has been hosting the "ran Bundesliga" and most recently the current "The Masked Singer" season - a format he's had complete control over since its debut in 2019. Another endeavor from the cast with Opdenhövel was "Zervakis & Opdenhövel. Live." featuring Linda Zervakis (48). This program, in conjunction with Zervakis, concluded for ProSeven at the end of 2023 after 77 episodes.
On the small screen this Sunday, Opdi makes a comeback with "Schlag den Star," overseeing the second half. Gätjen had taken up the reins from him previously, with Elton (53) - once Raabs' "show trainee" and a crowd favorite - eventually taking over. The disappointment of some viewers came when he was removed from his moderator role a few weeks ago. Opdenhövel is set to come back to the format on June 2nd at 8:15 PM on ProSeven. In the first fresh episode with Opdenhövel, the axes will be taken up by football greats Mehmet Scholl (53) and Markus Babbel (51), who will compete for a hefty 100,000 euros on TV.
