It is one of the longest-lasting series on German television: the ZDF crime series “Der Alte”. In the 45-year history there have already been several changes in actors and characters.
The 450th episode aired on Friday. And she was the ratings winner again. An average of 4.95 million tuned in – even though all episodes of the Friday thriller can now be found in the ZDF media library a week before they are broadcast.
In the first 100 episodes from 1977 to 1986, Siegfried Lowitz (“The Invisible Claws of Dr. Mabuse”) played the gnarly chief inspector Erwin Köster. He was struck down by a bullet at the end. From 1986 to 2008, Rolf Schimpf (“It doesn’t always have to be caviar”) played his successor Leo Kress.
A new “age” is coming up
Walter Kreye took over as Rolf Herzog until 2012. Since then, Jan-Gregor Kremp has been the title hero as Richard Voss. After ten years, Kremp (59) should soon be over – and Thomas Heinze (58) will give the new “old man”. Filming will start in the summer.
The supporting characters in the “old” such as Commissioner Gerd Heymann (Michael Ande), who was there from 1977 to 2016, or actors such as Charles M. Huber (1986 to 1997) and Pierre Sanoussi-Bliss (1997 to 2015) enriched the series . “Continuity and constant modernization from the book work to the look characterize the format right from the start,” ZDF recently described its series itself.
In Germany, crime series are among the most-watched and, in some cases, also the longest-lived TV formats of all. The ARD series “Tatort” (since 1970) and “Polizeiruf 110” (since 1971, initially as a GDR production) are the best proof of this. The Sunday crime series are series made up of different teams in different cities and regions, where there are constant changes in personnel.
Long-lived TV formats
Some series or series have been running for decades in this country, including the series “SOKO Munich”, which has been running for 44 years, 38 of them under the title “SOKO 5113” and with changing participants, but for a long time with Werner Kreindl and Wilfried Kraus.
After all, ZDF series like “Bella Block” with Hannelore Hoger (1994 to 2018) or “Derrick” (1974 to 1998) ran for 24 years. Their leading actor Horst Tappert came up with 281 episodes during this time. His assistant Harry Klein, played by Fritz Wepper, had previously even been in the series “Der Kommissar”.
“Alarm for Cobra 11 – The Autobahn Police” has been running on RTL for 26 years, “Wilsberg” on ZDF for 27 years and “A strong team” for 28 years. The ARD series “Großstadtrevier” has been running for more than 35 years. (dpa)