- True crime cases are getting closer to Alexander Mazza.
Alexander Mazza (51) presents several episodes of the US true-crime format "People Magazine: Investigative", which will be available on discovery+ from August 10th and will air on TLC every Saturday at 6:15 PM from August 17th, 2024. Each episode of this documentary series delves into a dramatic criminal case, with the help of interviews with family members of the victims and the investigators. Mazza guides German viewers through the show and puts the events and what is seen into context. He reveals what viewers can expect and which cases have particularly affected him in an interview with the news agency spot on news.
You've hosted many entertainment shows, so how did you come to present a true-crime format?
Alexander Mazza: Quite simply: I was approached by the production company "Madame Zheng" and the channel "TLC". Probably because I have years of experience as a moderator and as an actor, I have a connection to crime series like "SOKO", "Die Chefin" or "Die Rosenheim-Cops".
Crime stories and reports on real cases are very popular. Are you also a true-crime fan, or have you had little contact with it so far?
Mazza: The genre is not new to me. If you will, I grew up with the mother of true crime. We often watched "Aktenzeichen XY ... ungeloest" back then. Even then, this show encouraged us to be more attentive to what was happening in our surroundings. To look more closely. To question actions and events more and, if necessary, to provide clues. Today, I listen to more true-crime podcasts. I like "Zeit Verbrechen" or "Verbrechen von nebenan".
Can you understand why many people are interested in it?
Mazza: Absolutely! The evil in us humans exerts a certain fascination. True crime fascinates people for a variety of psychological, social, and cultural reasons: whether it's human abysses, the search for justice, voyeurism, tension, or even for overcoming fear. Personally, I find it an interesting phenomenon that, according to statistics, more women are enthusiastic about the true-crime genre.
What can viewers expect from this format?
Mazza: Spectacular criminal cases that have become headlines and caused a sensation worldwide will be shown. Journalists from the "People Magazine" report on their own cases, giving the format a special and personal touch.
What were the personal challenges for you in this show?
Mazza: Some cases have really affected me, especially when it comes to children.
Some cases deal with horrifying cruelty. Has it shocked you how brutal humans can be?
Mazza: Of course, it's always shocking again and again. However, you don't have to watch true-crime shows to realize the atrocities humans are capable of. Unfortunately, even just consuming daily news from around the world is enough.
Which case has stayed particularly in your memory and why?
Mazza: There were many cases. Generally, though, it's the so-called cold cases, the cases that couldn't be solved, that have occupied me the most. The thought of how many perpetrators are still at large and how many relatives can't come to terms with what happened is frightening.
Hand on heart: Could you sleep well after the recordings?
Mazza: Not really.
The Commission, led by Mazza's production company "Madame Zheng" and TLC, was instrumental in casting Mazza for the true-crime format. Mazza's background in acting and hosting entertainment shows, including crime-themed series, made him an ideal fit for the project.
