Her career began with an internship at “RTL Saturday Night News,” and today the comedian Carolin Kebekus (36) has her own prime-time show on ARD, “Pussy Terror TV.” In the interview she talks about sexism, humor below the belt and bad jokes from Mario Barth.
UNIGLOBALE: Ms. Kebekus, you appear on public television with a comedy show called “Pussy Terror TV”.
Carolin Kebekus: Yes, the name is crazy. We always have a lot of fun when the daily topics switch over to our show and the presenters have to use the word “pussy”. That probably wouldn't have been possible 20 years ago. However, “pussy” and “terror” is still a tricky combination today.
Why “terror”? Is there still so much going wrong with us?
Yes. For example, it is still the case that women are given the feeling that they should not go all out, but should rather take something back. Because it is good manners to let others go first. Otherwise you will quickly be seen as “difficult” or a “bitch”.
How can you change that?
I wish girls weren't raised to be so fearful. That they are not encouraged to constantly hide under a bushel. Rather, they are raised to be strong people who are not afraid - not afraid of demanding their rights and exploiting their potential. Instead, I see these girls watching videos on YouTube of other girls unpacking bags of products they bought at the drugstore! Or who take photos of themselves on Instagram as if they were a small, shy deer!
Is it all just education? Or do boys just want their excavator at some point and girls want their doll?
Maybe some things are just that way. And it's also good for your own identity if you feel like you belong to a gender. But you can also wear Barbie tights as a girl or wear high heels later and still be a strong, adventurous person!
In your show you also like to talk about taboos, for example about women farting and sexual preferences. Is it primarily something like this that people find funny today?
Above all, I find it incredibly funny myself. I've always loved laughing at below-the-belt jokes. Luckily, that often overlaps with what people find funny too. So I don't have to pretend about what I'm talking about.
Are you something like the feminist answer to Mario Barth?
Not planned – but you could look at it that way, yes.
Do you find Mario Barth's jokes really stupid?
No, I can't say that. I recently saw an old program of his and I laughed my ass off! Just what kind of timing he has and how he plays things out! Of course he uses a completely outdated image of women. In any case, I no longer know any woman who is like he describes. Maybe he just doesn't get good women, I don't know. In any case, I don't recognize myself there. But the way he constructs the jokes forces me to laugh. As a colleague, I have to recognize that he has great talent.
How long will we continue to joke about the differences between men and women?
Always. These differences simply exist and everyone will recognize themselves in these jokes. Forever and ever.
Was it difficult for you to get to where you are today because you are a woman? Or was it sometimes even easier because you are a woman?
I think both. Making people laugh is generally not an easy thing. When you come on stage as a girl and are still unknown, the reaction is often: Ah, a woman, then let's use the time and get the next beer. Anyway, she only talks about how her husband doesn't go shoe shopping with her and stuff like that.
Once people realize at some point that you're funny despite being a woman, you suddenly find yourself a gap in the market - and that opens doors. If a woman is needed for a show, you quickly have a television appearance. On the other hand, I've also heard: "No, we already have a woman." And then they appear with four boys and a woman.
Have you also experienced sexism in your business, like many women in male-dominated areas?
Yes, of course. Every woman has probably had contact with sexism in her job. For many women, this is so commonplace that they don't even perceive it as sexism. Sayings like “Ah, the girls are going to make some coffee” are little things like that. I myself now have a status where I no longer notice it that much. I'm now the worst sexist macho of all in my crew. Now I'm giving back years of oppression!
You did not follow a classic, straightforward training path. Her career started with an internship at the Friday Night News and everything else developed from there. Have you sometimes wished you had more security and regretted not having completed any training or studies?
Yes totally. I've regretted that quite often. Whenever there were bad phases and I didn't know exactly what would happen next. Then I thought: It would be good to be able to apply somewhere now with solid training. I also struggled for a long time with the fact that I had taken acting lessons but had no real acting training. It took me a while to be able to represent to myself that my career is my education.
In your shows you sometimes represent politically clear opinions, for example on the subject of refugees. Is it important for comedians to have a clear stance?
Attitude is very important. What you say has to be authentic and you have to want to tell it. However, this does not have to have a political background. A comedian doesn't need any claims to improve the world.
You have been harshly attacked on Facebook for your political statements. What does that do to you?
I don't read that. Of course, I notice when there's a lot going on and a shitstorm breaks out, and I'm also asked about it. But I don't delete comments, I think that's silly. I don't read them anyway, so they don't bother me.
Carolin Kebekus talks about sexism, humor below the belt and bad jokes from Mario Barth.
