News

COLOGNE -- German broadcasting giant RTL left public and commercial rivals in its wake at the fifth annual German Television Prize, the local version of the Emmys, taking nine statuettes including best series, sitcom and entertainment program. RTL's Abschnitt 40, (Section 40) the new Berlin police series from Marc Conrad's Typhoon Prods., took the best series trophy in its debut season, beating up veterans Edel & Starck from Sat.1 and Um Himmels Willen (For Heaven's Sake) on ARD. Blue-collar comedy series Alles Atze (Everything Atze) won for best sitcom and star Atze Schroeder picked up the prize for best actor in a sitcom.

COLOGNE, Germany -- German commercial networks RTL and SAT.1 proved they are still the standouts in the stand-up crowd by dominating the nominations for the third annual German Comedy Prize, which were announced Wednesday. The two channels picked up 10 nominations each, all but shutting out the competition. The only other station represented in this year's nominations for Germany's top television comedy award is SAT.1 sister channel ProSieben, whose TV-Total picked up a nomination for best comedy show. Alles Atze (Everything Atze), the weekly RTL sitcom based on the stand-up routines of blue-collar comedian Atze Schroeder, led the nominations, grabbing a nom for best comedy series as well as comedy actor and comedy actress nominations, respectively, for stars Schroeder and Heike Kloss. Schroeder will also host the ceremonies for the awards, set to be broadcast Oct. 11 on RTL.