Hape Kerkeling Celebrated with ARD Documentary and Themed Programming for 60th Birthday

The iconic German entertainer reflects on his career as a new documentary premieres and fans revisit his most beloved works.

The ARD will honor Hape Kerkeling's 60th birthday on December 9 with a themed day featuring a new documentary, 'Hape Kerkeling – Total Normal,' premiering at 8:15 PM.
The documentary, available in the ARD Mediathek from December 5, explores Kerkeling's 40-year career through interviews and archival footage, including commentary from notable collaborators like Anke Engelke and Otto Waalkes.
Programming highlights include the film adaptation of Kerkeling's autobiography, 'Der Junge muss an die frische Luft,' and a curated 'Best of' collection of his iconic sketches.
The documentary revisits key moments, such as Kerkeling's early TV appearances, his groundbreaking characters, and his response to being outed on live television in 1991 by Rosa von Praunheim.
Additional regional broadcasts and podcasts will feature Kerkeling's work, including his films 'Kein Pardon' and 'Club Las Piranjas,' as well as a special podcast produced by Radio Bremen.