It was aired as a spontaneous replacement for some show that was canceled on a short note. The people in the audience are mostly the wives, husbands and friends of the people working on set, because they had to shoot very quickly and couldn't find an audience quick enough. And since slapstick humor doesn't need language, it became a hit immediately and was requested every year thereafter.
We watched that skit in German class every year through middle school and high school!!! Good times hahahaha- SKAL! *clicks heels and almost falls over
"Schkål!", to be more precise. It's still gibberish, though, as "skål!" (with a clear /s/ sound) is the Scandinavian salutation when raising a toast. German speakers would say "Prost!" or "zum Wohl!". 🍷🥃🥂
@@danielvanr.8681 I know lol, you should watch the reference movie/ skit they're talking about called "Dinner for Two", it's an old comedy, will make more sense what the reference is.
Watching that sketch every New Year’s Eve is also a tradition here in Denmark. One I very much enjoy. The sketch is even rerun every year on our main television channel, DR1, timed so that it ends a few minutes before midnight.
Cool. I had no idea. Here in Germany different channels show it at different times throughout New Year's Eve so everyone can watch it at the time which suits them best or mutliple times if they want.
It has been a tradition in ages in Denmark, the one year (in the 80'ies I think) they skipped the sketch, there was a veritable storm of complaints - they haven't dared to even think about skipping it again
I was once spending new years eve in France, but with group of German friends. I was confused as hell when they told about this tradition, but of course we sat and watch the whole thing. They even had a game to drink a shot everytime James was tripping on a carpet haha. Great video! Good memories
Last New year's Eve, I showed my British boyfriend "dinner for one". And he was totally confused how us Germans could possess such humour 😀 (Needless to say, he had never heard of that sketch before)
Tell him that we only watch it at the 31st of December because it's the only day of the year we are legally allowed to have fun and that was the best thing we could come up with, so we continue to watch the same old black and white TV show every year!
I’m from Sweden and I had no idea people watched it outside of Sweden! It’s tradition here as well but here it’s called “grevinnan och betjänten” which means “the duchess and the servant”
I did not yet realise that germans and dane share this tradition.... Like why??? But "that damn cat" is the best thing ever and worth a yearly tradition in and of itself
Maybe because we share Geographic borders and culture with each other? Our languages are based on the same origin? And before Christianity we even believed in the same mythology? If they don't speak you can literally not distinguish a Northern German from a Danish person (Jutland), because they are eerily similar in the way they behave. It's just that we swallow the potatoes before start to speak. Just kidding (not really tho). I love you people up north :)
I spent my first New Year in Germany in the hospital and we all gathered in the common room to watch it together and eat cake. It's one of my favorite memories of New Year.
The sketch is a huge hit in Norway and Sweden as well. I keep mixing up which country watches on which of the days, because I watch on both, but it has a fixed spot every Christmas Eve and/or New Years Eve. Same procedure as every year.
I’m British and lived in Germany and have literally NEVER heard of this film. Though I’m going to have to watch it now. With Kettle Crisps. I hope you got some sponsorship for that! 😂
This is my German partners tradition and we do it every year now and I have to say I quite enjoy it, it’s a fun sketch! It’s a shame it’s forgotten in Britain
As a South African, I grew up with this tradition (British stepfather showed me the sketch and explained) and I loved it and watched every year. No one I ever met knew about it, I’m surprised it isn’t more well known in The U.K.
I can't believe I've forgotten our most honorable German tradition this year! 😳 Does it still count to watch it on New Years Day? Or do I have to repeat the horrible 2021 now?
No it doesnt. You will have to inform you nearest German Office about this horrible transgression and be prepared to be reeducated o nwhat it is to be a German. Next thing youtell me you feel nothing when hearing the word "oranje" ....
In Norway this sketch is called the countess and the butler and its watched the day before christmas for some reason, and it keeps getting funnier and funnier. The moment he misses the polar bear head and looks down in wonder, kills me every time
I think its because it has an almost perfect blend of slapstick humor, running gags, and visual storytelling. Its dangerously close to being the platonic ideal of a sketch.
The best thing about this video is that he always bumps into the table when he get up to get the other one something (as if he was his Butler lol). And in dinner for one the butler trips over the head of a tiger that’s part of tigers pelt lying on the floor. So subtile but perfect XD
it's not only in germany but also in switzerland that dinne for one is traditionally watched together on new year's eve just like three nuts for cinderella at christmas🙃😊
It just hit me today, most people want to start their year off with a good start, but party hard on new years eve, so they wake up on Jan 1st with a hangover and have a horrible start to their year, doesn't that seem like backwards logic?
There are a few other TV shows that have tradition on Germany (some may know ekel Alfred) but dinner for one is probably the most prolific one. As is stuffing yourself with Raclette and bombing mailboxes apart in certain small towns. You know, the fun stuff. I was pretty happy actually this year was a little "quieter" as an introvert, I kinda rely on alcohol to survive new years otherwise I think...
Funny things, in Russia we have same tradition! On the new year, all people watch same move its called "The Irony of Fate, or Enjoy Your Bath!" And I mean ALL COUNTRY!
I actually showed this to a former boss and colleagues in London (I'm german) and they still don't believe it's a British sketch. Apparently "same procedure as last year" is a VERY stereotypical german turn of phrase LOL
It's also a tradition in Denmark and a good chunk of Scandinavia, the actual reason is it was cheap to send and it was vaguely related to the new year. Seriously, it was record by one of the German public service station, NDR, so it's really cheap to license and once something happens twice in a row, it becomes a tradition. I've seen every single year since 1986 and I laugh every single time.
Every year I watch "world's strongest man" with my dad. It is a very intellectual show. We're waiting all year to see it and this show has become a ritual in our family, it always makes us feel smarter PS : I m french
I actually found out about this sketch on my year abroad in the US cause the guy staying in my same family was German! The sketch is very funny still to this day!
In Norway that movie is shown every year on NRK (the national broadcasting) on the 23rd of December. It's more of a New Years thing, but the bottom line is we watch it every year as well for some reason
We watched this sketch so religiously, that when I missed it one year, I actually felt bad about it and thought it brought bad luck for the next year. My mind was blown though when I talked to Brits about it and they had no clue what it was..
Happy New Year to everyone 🎆! Who else tried to drink away 2021 and wasn't sucessful but still was or is on the verge of not ending up like our friend here?
austria here "same prcedure as every year james". also love when he has to stand at atention everytime he has to be admiral don schneider and asks everytime cause he hurts his ankles "must i miss sophie?"
In Austria it is on TV also every year before the sound of the Pummerin at midnight and the Donauwalzer introduce the new year. I think many Austrians enjoy this sketch as well. A friend hosted once a dinner where he cooked all the things Miss Sophie has for dinner in this Sketch.
It's a tradition in Sweden as well, I used to watch it every New Year's Eve I spent in Sweden as a child. I believe the one we watch is a different recording than the one watched in Germany though. Yes, there's more than one!
My parents always watch this sketch, we are Australian. Even though it usually gets shown on the ABC at around 6pm on New Year's Eve, I have not come across anyone else who does it and I am thankful other people still continue with this tradition.
I found 'Dinner For One' on the most obscure free to air station in Australia many years ago; they play it every New Year's Eve, and I watch it religiously. It's hilarious. And I'm coveting that rug. Does this mean that I am part German? "SKAL!"
