Stefan Raab

Stefan Konrad Raab (born 20 October 1966) is a German entertainer, television host, television producer, and businessman. From 1999 to 2015, he hosted the late-night comedy talk show '' TV total'' on ProSieben. He also created a number of other television shows on the channel, such as '' Schlag den Raab'' and '' Bundesvision Song Contest''.

Raab began his TV career hosting the comedy show ''Vivasion'' in 1993. He became well known in 1994 after composing a hit single spoofing national football coach Berti Vogts. In the early 2010s, Raab was considered the "most powerful man in German entertainment television".

Raab is also known for his recurring role as either producer, writer and/or performer of the German entries to the Eurovision Song Contest from 1998 to 2012. He was the initiator of the national pre-selection show Unser Star für Oslo ("Our Star for Oslo"), in which Germany's winning entry at the 2010 contest in Oslo was determined.

In 2015, Raab ended his on-screen career while staying active as a television producer. He made his public return in 2024.

Early life and family

Raab grew up in Cologne with his sister and their parents, who owned a butcher's shop. He attended Jesuit boarding school Aloisiuskolleg in Bonn. Before entering the entertainment business, he completed an apprenticeship as a butcher in his parents' shop and studied law before dropping out of university after five semesters.

Raab lives in a suburb of Cologne and has two daughters (born 2004 and 2006) with his girlfriend Nike. Other than this, very little is known about Raab, who deliberately hides his private life from the media.

Career

Television

upRaab during the " TV total Stock Car Crash Challenge" in 2010
Raab became popular in Germany as the host of the comedy show ''Vivasion'' for German music television channel VIVA from 1993 to 1998.Schüle, Christian
Fernsehen: Das Prinzip Blamage
zeit.de. 12 March 2007. Accessed 14 April 2010.

In 1999, he created ''TV total'' which began airing in April 2001 on ProSieben, four times a week. While ''TV total'' started as a comedy format mainly showing and satirizing funny and embarrassing sequences from other television programs, it soon came to be more of a late night show featuring musical performances—in some ways similar to ''The Tonight Show with Jay Leno'' or ''Late Night with Conan O'Brien''.Stefan Raab biography
tvtotal.de. Accessed 30 March 2010.

After a boxing match against Regina Halmich in 2001 and a speed skating race against Claudia Pechstein in 2002, he also created several other celebrity sports events that are produced regularly, including ''TV total Turmspringen'' ( high diving) and ''TV total Stock Car Crash Challenge'' (stock car racing). He also brought fun and variety to the show by invented new sports: In November 2003, he initiated the first "official" World Wok racing Championship in Winterberg, Germany. Modified Chinese woks are used to make timed runs down an Olympic bobsled track. The championship took place annually until March 2011, in Innsbruck. The first ''Autoball EM'' — Autoball being a version of football played in cars and using an exercise ball to score goals — took place in 2007.

In 2006, Raab invented the game show '' Schlag den Raab'' (German for "Beat the Raab", remade for British television as ''Beat the Star'' and as ''Beat Your Host'' in several other European countries), in which he competed against a contestant in various disciplines. Some episodes of the show lasted more than five hours with excellent ratings.

Raab also organized ''PokerStars.de Nacht'', a poker event featuring some celebrity names in German entertainment.

In September 2012, he announced that he would be hosting a new talk show on ProSieben which would include political guests. It began airing on 11 November 2012. It stood in direct competition with the self-titled talk show hosted by Günther Jauch.

In September 2013, Raab was one of four hosts (one from each big television network) at the federal election debate between chancellor Angela Merkel and her challenger Peer Steinbrück.

In mid-2015, Raab announced his retirement from television and stated that he would remain hosting until the end of the year. The last episode of his show ''TV total'' aired on 16 December and the last episode of '' Schlag den Raab'' aired on 19 December 2015.

He made his return in 2024 with the show titled ''Du gewinnst hier nicht die Million'' on RTL+, which has been described as a combination of ''TV total'' and ''Schlag den Raab''. In June 2025 the show got canceled and RTL announced the start of a new show concept in fall 2025.

Music

As a musician, Raab is an autodidact, playing various instruments, such as piano, drums, guitar, ukulele, and some wind instruments. He began working as a freelance producer and composer of jingles and radio commercials in 1990 at his own studio in Cologne.Stefan Raab biography
laut.de. Accessed 30 March 2010.

From 1994 onwards, he produced a number of popular songs, including "Böörti Böörti Vogts" (a song about Berti Vogts), "Hier kommt die Maus" ("Here comes the mouse", a tribute to the children's television series '' Die Sendung mit der Maus''), " Maschen-Draht-Zaun", "Wir kiffen", "Gebt das Hanf frei!" ("Legalise Dope!", featuring Shaggy and samples from German politician Hans-Christian Ströbele), "Hol' mir ma' 'ne Flasche Bier" ("Get me a bottle o' beer", containing samples from then-chancellor Gerhard Schröder), "Space Taxi" from the soundtrack of the film '' Traumschiff Surprise – Periode 1''Stefan Raab biography
mtv.de. Accessed 30 March 2010. , "Pa aufs Maul" and "Rambo Zambo (Was is Bubatz?)" where Raab used the clipout of a speech of the german chancellor Friedrich Merz.

Based on the concept of the Eurovision Song Contest, Raab created and hosted the Bundesvision Song Contest (''Bundes''republik Deutschland = Federal Republic of Germany), which first aired on ProSieben in 2005. The contest features representatives from each of the 16 states of Germany and stipulates that their song has to be at least partly in German. It took place yearly until Raab's preliminary retirement in 2015.

Involvement in the Eurovision Song Contest

Raab wrote the song for the German entry to the Eurovision Song Contest 1998, Guildo Horn's " Guildo hat euch lieb!". After placing first in the pre-selection competition Countdown Grand Prix 1998, it finished the main contest in seventh place.Germany country profile at eurovision.tv
eurovision.tv. Accessed 30 March 2010. Raab participated himself as the German entry to the Eurovision Song Contest 2000 with the nonsense song " Wadde hadde dudde da?". He placed first in the pre-selection competition Countdown Grand Prix Eurovision 2000 and finished the contest in fifth place. For the 2004 Eurovision Song Contest, Raab created and hosted a talent show called ''SSDSGPS'' ("Stefan sucht den Super-Grand-Prix-Star", "Stefan seeks the super Grand-Prix star", satirising the title of the German Idol series ''Deutschland sucht den Superstar'', DSDS). The competition was won by Max Mutzke, who finished the main contest in eighth place.

In 2009, Raab was approached by the public broadcaster NDR, a member of the ARD broadcasting consortium, to jointly organise a national pre-selection in order to determine the German entry for the Eurovision Song Contest 2010. It was revealed that Raab initially refused the request, but that his television network ProSieben accepted the offer to work with ARD/NDR. As a result of the cooperation, the talent show contest ''Unser Star für Oslo'' (''Our Star for Oslo'') took place from 2 February 2010 onwards, stretching across 8 shows. Raab took a lead role in the programmes as head of the jury. In the national final on 12 March 2010, Lena Meyer-Landrut emerged as winner. On 29 May 2010, Meyer-Landrut won the Eurovision Song Contest 2010 with the song "Satellite", claiming the first German Eurovision victory in 28 years.Schacht, Andreas
Germany wins: See full results
Eurovision.tv. 30 May 2010. Accessed 30 May 2010.

The cooperation between NDR and ProSieben was continued for the Eurovision Song Contest 2011. Meyer-Landrut was confirmed as the artist of the German entry after her successful win in the previous contest. The pre-selection competition '' Unser Song für Deutschland'' was held to determine the song of the German entry, with Meyer-Landrut performing twelve songs to be voted on by the public. Raab was involved in the selection of the competing entries, some of which he also wrote and composed, and was a juror on the final of the competition. " Taken by a Stranger", which was produced by Raab, emerged as the winning song. In May 2011, Raab acted as co-host of the main contest alongside Anke Engelke and Judith Rakers, with Meyer-Landrut finishing in tenth place.

The week following the 2011 final, Raab announced he would end his Eurovision involvement as a pre-selection host, chairman of the jury, composer and musical producer. However, he still returned in 2012 as creator and producer of the pre-selection competition '' Unser Star für Baku''. Raab participated as a regular jury member and was succeeded as jury president by Thomas D. The competition was won by Roman Lob with " Standing Still", which finished the main contest in eighth place. Raab was no longer involved from the Eurovision Song Contest 2013 onwards, as the cooperation between NDR and ProSieben was dissolved.

After Raab came out of his retirement as entertainer and television host in 2024, he reportedly offered to produce a pre-selection competition for the Eurovision Song Contest 2025 to be hosted jointly by public and private broadcasters. In October 2024, Raab was confirmed to return as creator, producer and jury member of the pre-selection competition ''Chefsache ESC 2025: Wer singt für Deutschland?''. The television shows aired on Das Erste as well as private channel RTL, where Raab had signed an exclusive contract. The duo Abor & Tynna won the contest and represented Germany at the Eurovision Song Contest, where they reached the 15th place.

Participations

TV shows

As host

* 1993–1998: ''Vivasion'', VIVA
* 1995–1996: ''Ma' kuck'n'', VIVA
* 1999–2015: '' TV total'', ProSieben
* 2005–2015: '' Bundesvision Song Contest'', ProSieben
* 2009, 2014–2015: ''Schlag den Star'', ProSieben
* 2011: ''Eurovision Song Contest'', ARD
* 2012–2013: ''TV total Quizboxen'', ProSieben
* 2012–2013: ''Absolute Mehrheit'', ProSieben
* 2013: ''Das TV-Duell – Merkel gegen Steinbrück'', ProSieben
* 2024–2025: ''Du gewinnst hier nicht die Million bei Stefan Raab'', RTL+

As candidate

Raab and Wok world championship">Wok_racing.html" ;"title="Georg Hackl after the 2008 Wok racing">Wok world championship
* 2003–2015: ''TV total Wok racing">Wok-WM'', ProSieben
* 2004–2015: ''TV total Turmspringen'', ProSieben
* 2005–2015: ''TV total Stock Car Crash Challenge'', ProSieben
* 2006–2015: '' Schlag den Raab'', ProSieben
* 2008–2014: ''TV total Autoball'', ProSieben
* 2009–2015: ''Deutscher Eisfußball-Pokal'', ProSieben
* 2024–present: ''Stefan & Bully gegen irgendson Schnulli'', RTL
* 2025–present: ''Raabs Pokernacht mit GGPoker.de'', RTL

As producer

* 2009–2024: ''Schlag den Star'', ProSieben
* 2009: Unser Star für Oslo, ARD/ProSieben
* 2010: Unser Song für Deutschland, ARD/ProSieben
* 2011: Unser Star für Baku, ARD/ProSieben
* 2018–2024: ''Das Ding des Jahres'', ProSieben
* 2019: '' Headis Team-WM'', ProSieben
* 2019–2024: ''1:30'', ProSieben
* 2019–2024: ''Schlag den Besten'', ProSieben
* 2020–2024: '' Free European Song Contest'', ProSieben
* 2024–2025: ''Du gewinnst hier nicht die Million bei Stefan Raab'', RTL
* 2024–present: ''Eltons 12'', RTL
* 2024–present: ''Stefan & Bully gegen irgendson Schnulli'', RTL
* 2024–present: '' Chefsache ESC 2025 – Wer singt für Deutschland? '', RTL / NDR
* 2025–present: '' Raabs Pokernacht mit GGPoker.de ''

Awards

For his television show ''Vivasion'', Raab received the ''Goldener Löwe'' (Golden Lion), the predecessor to ''Deutscher Fernsehpreis'' (German Television Award), in 1996. For '' TV total'' he received the ''Deutscher Fernsehpreis'' in 1999 as well as the comedy award '' Rose d'or'' in 2001.

For his talent show ''SSDSGPS'' he was awarded the '' Adolf-Grimme-Preis'' in 2005 in for the "discovery and support of young music talents". On 29 May 2005, Raab received the ''Deutsch-Türkischer Freundschaftspreis'' (German-Turkish Friendship Award) for his ''TV total'' specials from Istanbul in preparation for the Eurovision Song Contest 2004. He won the '' Bravo Otto'' in the category "Comedystar" from 2000 to 2003. In 2000 and 2005, Raab was awarded the ''ECHO'' (German music award) as "Best National Producer". In 2005, he also received the ECHO award as "media partner of the year").

On 29 September 2007, Raab received the ''Deutscher Fernsehpreis'' for "Best Entertainment Show" for the fifth episode of '' Schlag den Raab''. On 6 February 2008, the show was awarded the ''Goldene Kamera'' (Golden Camera). Furthermore, Raab received the media award ''Bambi'' on 27 November 2008. In 2009, Raab won the ''Herbert Award 2009'' for ''Best Television Sports show'' for ''TV total Turmspringen''.

Madame Tussauds in Berlin has displayed a wax figure of Raab since April 2009.

As the initiator and president of the jury of the show '' Unser Star für Oslo'', Raab was awarded the '' Bavarian TV Award'' in 2010.

On 12 November 2011, Raab came second in synchronised diving, teaming with Elton in Munich, at the ''TV Total Turmspringen 2011'' event. This was his first ever podium along with Elton at this event.

Controversies

Raab has been the subject of lawsuits throughout his career, some of which have gained public attention. The two most referenced cases are:
*The case of then 16-year-old model Lisa Loch, who was ridiculed during some shows through Raab's assertion that her name ("Loch" meaning "hole" in German) made her more likely to find a job as an actress in pornographic movies. Loch claimed she received anonymous obscene telephone calls, was mocked by classmates and in public and as a result suffered sleeplessness and was afraid to leave her home. A court in Hamm ordered Raab to pay €70,000 in compensation due to infringement of personal rights.
*In an episode broadcast on 6 September 2004, Raab showed a clip, originally destined for a news broadcast, of a 28-year-old Turkish mother Nil S. holding a Schultüte (a cardboard cone, typically full of sweets, traditionally given to children in Germany on their first school day). Raab's comment, "Unbelievable! The drug traffickers are disguising themselves better and better" ("eine Tüte" also means "a marijuana joint" in German slang, hence the pun), resulted in repeated lawsuits, and after a Munich court ruled against Raab, Nil S. settled for €20,000 compensation accompanied by a written apology.Raab spart 130.000 Euro
stern.de. 20 March 2006. Accessed 30 March 2010.

References

External links

*

Official ''TV total'' website

{{DEFAULTSORT:Raab, Stefan
1966 births
Living people
Television people from Cologne
German male comedians
German comedy musicians
Parody musicians
German satirical musicians
German game show hosts
German pop singers
Musicians from Cologne
Bundesvision Song Contest
21st-century German conductors (music)
ProSieben people
Comedians from Cologne
Eurovision Song Contest entrants