Oliver Pocher is a guest on “Late Night Switzerland” with Stefan Büsser.image: srf
Last night a new episode of “Late Night Switzerland” was shown with Stefan Büsser and the comedian Oliver Pocher as a guest. Here are the highlights – or low points – of the show.
04.11.2024, 17:3604.11.2024, 19:01
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“Late Night Switzerland” by Stefan Büsser has been on SRF 1 since February 2024 and has been criticized since the beginning. In the current episode, Büsser brings the German comedian Oliver Pocher on the show.
One thing in advance: There was not much content in the conversation, but there were jokes about Muslims, Hitler, disabled people and women. A completely normal late night show in 2024.
Cockfight between Büsser and Pocher
The conversation is under the shadow of a tense atmosphere. Harmony or natural flow of conversation looks different. You can feel a fun and competitive battle between the two.
Büsser is facing a German comedy titan, he seems uncertain, but he has one goal: He has brought a big name into his show and he wants to let him do something small. Pocher counters in a mostly unstructured way, unpolished and evasive
Pocher is known as a terrible enfant; there is an article in his Wikipedia section entitled “Controversies”. Büsser mentioned on the show that they had never received as many negative reactions to a studio guest announcement as they did to him.
Uncomfortable is an understatement
Büsser wants to coax him out of his reserve and asks him about his personal headlines about failed marriages: “When it came to certain things, I thought to myself that I would never talk about the mother of my children like that.” Pocher replies: “Yes. But. At a certain point you have to talk about the mother of your children like that.” Pocher suppresses a laugh at this sentence.
I have the feeling that he can’t really believe what he’s saying himself, that it comes out of him and now he can’t say back: “Putin has a mother too, many people forget that.” He gets up and says: “Even Hitler had a mother.” Büsser grimaces a little and answers dryly simply: “That’s to be expected.” My facial features are also slipping out. With these statements, the cringe factor of this interview quickly reaches its peak.
“Putin also has a mother, many people forget that.”
Oliver Pocher
When Büsser suggested that he go to a psychologist with his problems, Pocher replied that he would rather discuss it in the podcast with his ex-wife Sandy Meyer-Wölden. So far without reflection. She is “one of those stricken” and is now “very deep”. Of course this misogynistic statement is left unsaid.
Call me crazy, but the presence of a woman would definitely be good for the whole thing and could break up the uncritical boys club dynamic. Or at least it was worth a try.
Shortly afterwards another unpleasant joke ensues between Büsser and Pocher on the subject of circumcision among Muslims and Jews, which I will spare
Büsser does not manage to stand up to Pocher or push him into a corner. He was somehow expected to tease Pocher, challenge him or question his jokes and statements. Is it because of Büssi’s will or his abilities?
I also understand that comedy or satire is difficult. And yes, from the comfort of Watson’s office chair, I can easily complain. My only aim is to make jokes that don’t always come across as jokes and are original again. Where is the self-irony? C’mon, Oliver, Stefan, you are no longer teenagers, you can slowly get rid of the “boys will be boys” mentality.
It doesn’t matter whether it’s Oliver Pocher, Stefan Büsser or even Stefan Raab who wants to bring back his television: I can’t suppress my eye at the twentieth joke about surrounded Muslims or tame women. We have a Sunday evening show on public radio and we use the platform with such types and topics.
They both feel too comfortable and too safe after all this time on stage, but in my opinion comedy and satire should be openly questioned and criticized – and criticized.
Humor should not be just a crude mouth for all kinds of statements. It was supposed to encourage discussion and unfortunately that wasn’t there on this show, although that would really be the job of a host like Büsser. I think it’s time for both of them to give the stage to someone else. Perhaps a female host would be good for the format.
Who would you like to see on a late night show? Write it to us in the comments.
Last night a new episode of “Late Night Switzerland” was shown with Stefan Büsser and the comedian Oliver Pocher as a guest. Here are the highlights – or low points – of the show.
“Late Night Switzerland” by Stefan Büsser has been on SRF 1 since February 2024 and has been criticized since the beginning. In the current episode, Büsser brings the German comedian Oliver Pocher on the show.
S controversial humor from the past; the landscape of comedy has evolved. In today’s world, comedians need to navigate sensitive topics with care and thoughtfulness.
The episode of “Late Night Switzerland” featuring Oliver Pocher highlighted an uneasy mix of humor and discomfort. While both comedians aimed for laughs, many viewers felt the jokes crossed lines, especially concerning sensitive subjects like marriage, personal relationships, and cultural practices. The dynamic between Büsser and Pocher often felt more like a competitive sparring match than a cohesive conversation, leaving little room for genuine exchange or reflection.
Critics noted how Büsser struggled to challenge Pocher’s more controversial jokes. Rather than engaging with care or pushing back against problematic commentary, he appeared to sometimes yield to Pocher’s provocations, which detracted from the show’s potential for meaningful dialogue. It raises important questions about the responsibility of comedians to address societal sensitivities while still engaging their audience.
Ultimately, as the comedy landscape continues to evolve, the need for a balance between humor and responsibility grows more crucial. The “boys will be boys” mentality is becoming increasingly out of step with contemporary expectations, and comedians who wish to remain relevant may need to rethink their approaches to humor in a way that respects diversity and promotes understanding.