Every country has their own 'idiosyncrasies'. Some have a reason, some can be explained and some others, well, are just simply exist. To be honest, I have no idea why American's don't wear white after labor-day, but they sure have my blessings to do so if it makes them happy. Why do Americans move the fork from one hand to the other after cutting the meat? Well, from what I've heard, it stems from colonial times and was a method to identify British spies (who apparently knew how to use those table-tools properly). And why do the Greeks smash their plates after dancing? I have no idea, but when in Hellas, do as the Greeks do. And when you're in Germany on New Year's Eve, perhaps as a guest of some locals, you most certainly will watch "Dinner for One" – whether you want to or not.
Chances that you know the story already while looking up the title on IMDb are high, but – as they say – "same procedure as every year", and so I'll shamelessly sum it up: As she does every year, Miss Sophie (May Warden) wishes to celebrate her 90th birthday among her best friends: Sir Toby, Lord Pommeroy, Admiral von Schneider and Mr. Winterbotton. Problem is: those four gentlemen have passed away a long time ago, a fact to which Miss Sophie seems oblivious. As every year, Sophie's trusted Butler James (Freddie Frinton) courts the table, while at the same time impersonating the various guests that are not there. And with each serving of the various liquors, naturally getting progressively drunk as the evening goes by. The evening ends after 18 minutes, after which James offers to escort Lady Sophie up to her chambers, because, you know, "same procedure as every year".
How many times have most Germans watched this sketch during New Year? Depends. If they're born after 1963, just multiply the number with their age and you'll get a conservative estimate – conservative because many households watch it more than once during New Year, two to three times being average. As for myself, well, ask me from the top of my head what food is being served in which order and I'll tell you honestly: Mulligatawny soup (no idea what that is and no intention to find out), followed by North Sea Haddock, chicken and fruit. How many times does Freddie Frinton tumble over the tiger's head on the floor? Eleven times (once he misses it, to his own surprise; once he steps over it with a drunk gracefulness and finally he jumps over it). How many drinks is he "forced" to have? 15, not counting the time he drunkenly drinks out of a flower vase and utters, "I'll kill that cat!" (the meaning which escapes most viewers, but as "every year", they'll laugh anyhow). You get my point.
Strange enough, it tends to be the ones who ask that ridiculous question, "what's so bleedin' funny about that?" The answer might be: "Don't ask – it's a German thing (and the answer as to why YOU don't find it funny might be, that neither Miss Sophie nor James are wearing bleedin' bowler hats).
Need I mention that "Dinner for One" has made it into the Guinness Book of Records as the shows that had the most re-runs in German television? You need not worry about missing it on "Silvesternacht" (German for New Year's Eve) – on average the various regional channels will make sure that it runs between 15 and 20 times on that day. However, there are certain cultural restrictions or shall we say: taboos. Do not be so fool hearted to turn on the Swiss-version, for this will only be greeted with dead-silence and hostile glances. Although it features the same actors, this version is mutilated down to 11 minutes and only serves as proof that humor has never made it up the Alps. And for the love of god, do not switch to any given spoof or any of the numerous remakes in various (German) dialects by various comedians, for this will only spoil the evening and create bad air among friends and family. Same goes for the colored version (re-colored by a computer, if you can imagine) – this will kill the mood like an old dog with flatulence under the diner-table and the airing during 1999/2000 had led to public protests and outrage. Rumor has it, that some East Germans still watch the version that ran from 1978-1987, during the communist era. This is considered evidence that the viewer was in the STASI, the East-German secret-service – East Germans only got the privilege of watching the real version in 1988, signaling them that freedom was neigh, less than a year later.
So if you plan to visit (South)-Germany during September, you'll inevitably end up in the Oktoberfest. If you visit Cologne, the visit wouldn't be complete without having seen the carnival and if Hamburg is your destination, you'd have missed out if you haven't tried the local fish-specialties or took a ride on the river Alster. And if you're there during New Year's Eve and didn't get a chance to watch "Dinner for One", well, then you haven't experienced New Year's Eve in Germany.
What rating would I give this? Why, I'm German – need you even ask?
Chances that you know the story already while looking up the title on IMDb are high, but – as they say – "same procedure as every year", and so I'll shamelessly sum it up: As she does every year, Miss Sophie (May Warden) wishes to celebrate her 90th birthday among her best friends: Sir Toby, Lord Pommeroy, Admiral von Schneider and Mr. Winterbotton. Problem is: those four gentlemen have passed away a long time ago, a fact to which Miss Sophie seems oblivious. As every year, Sophie's trusted Butler James (Freddie Frinton) courts the table, while at the same time impersonating the various guests that are not there. And with each serving of the various liquors, naturally getting progressively drunk as the evening goes by. The evening ends after 18 minutes, after which James offers to escort Lady Sophie up to her chambers, because, you know, "same procedure as every year".
How many times have most Germans watched this sketch during New Year? Depends. If they're born after 1963, just multiply the number with their age and you'll get a conservative estimate – conservative because many households watch it more than once during New Year, two to three times being average. As for myself, well, ask me from the top of my head what food is being served in which order and I'll tell you honestly: Mulligatawny soup (no idea what that is and no intention to find out), followed by North Sea Haddock, chicken and fruit. How many times does Freddie Frinton tumble over the tiger's head on the floor? Eleven times (once he misses it, to his own surprise; once he steps over it with a drunk gracefulness and finally he jumps over it). How many drinks is he "forced" to have? 15, not counting the time he drunkenly drinks out of a flower vase and utters, "I'll kill that cat!" (the meaning which escapes most viewers, but as "every year", they'll laugh anyhow). You get my point.
Strange enough, it tends to be the ones who ask that ridiculous question, "what's so bleedin' funny about that?" The answer might be: "Don't ask – it's a German thing (and the answer as to why YOU don't find it funny might be, that neither Miss Sophie nor James are wearing bleedin' bowler hats).
Need I mention that "Dinner for One" has made it into the Guinness Book of Records as the shows that had the most re-runs in German television? You need not worry about missing it on "Silvesternacht" (German for New Year's Eve) – on average the various regional channels will make sure that it runs between 15 and 20 times on that day. However, there are certain cultural restrictions or shall we say: taboos. Do not be so fool hearted to turn on the Swiss-version, for this will only be greeted with dead-silence and hostile glances. Although it features the same actors, this version is mutilated down to 11 minutes and only serves as proof that humor has never made it up the Alps. And for the love of god, do not switch to any given spoof or any of the numerous remakes in various (German) dialects by various comedians, for this will only spoil the evening and create bad air among friends and family. Same goes for the colored version (re-colored by a computer, if you can imagine) – this will kill the mood like an old dog with flatulence under the diner-table and the airing during 1999/2000 had led to public protests and outrage. Rumor has it, that some East Germans still watch the version that ran from 1978-1987, during the communist era. This is considered evidence that the viewer was in the STASI, the East-German secret-service – East Germans only got the privilege of watching the real version in 1988, signaling them that freedom was neigh, less than a year later.
So if you plan to visit (South)-Germany during September, you'll inevitably end up in the Oktoberfest. If you visit Cologne, the visit wouldn't be complete without having seen the carnival and if Hamburg is your destination, you'd have missed out if you haven't tried the local fish-specialties or took a ride on the river Alster. And if you're there during New Year's Eve and didn't get a chance to watch "Dinner for One", well, then you haven't experienced New Year's Eve in Germany.
What rating would I give this? Why, I'm German – need you even ask?