On April 12, 2025, the beloved German television show "Verstehen Sie Spaß?" made a triumphant return with a live broadcast at 20:15, hosted by the ever-charismatic Barbara Schöneberger. This episode, celebrating 45 years of the show, featured a series of elaborate pranks targeting various celebrities, including Veronica Ferres, Heiner Lauterbach, Leony, and Wayne Carpendale. The show, which has become a staple of German entertainment since its debut in 1980, continues to delight audiences with its unique blend of humor and surprise.
One of the standout moments of the evening involved actress Veronica Ferres, who was unsuspectingly drawn into a prank orchestrated by her colleague Heiner Lauterbach. Ferres believed she was attending an important interview at a bustling pizzeria during the Berlinale film festival. However, unbeknownst to her, Lauterbach was not merely a fellow diner but rather a stressed waiter in need of assistance at the restaurant, owned by his friend Vladimir.
As the scene unfolded, Ferres found herself stepping in to help Lauterbach manage the chaos in the restaurant, which was filled with impatient actors posing as disgruntled customers. "It was really very strange, but also incredibly amusing with Heiner. He was so busy in the restaurant that I didn’t even think about whether his story about why he was waiting tables was realistic; I was too perplexed," Ferres later recounted to the Deutsche Presse-Agentur (dpa). She added, "At some point, I thought: This is getting more absurd, is there a hidden camera somewhere? But I decided to just go along with it and help, just in case it wasn’t a prank. I can’t leave Heiner hanging."
Meanwhile, the episode also featured Wayne Carpendale, who was set up during a pre-game event for FC Bayern Basketball. Tasked with hosting sponsors and partners, Carpendale faced a series of comical mishaps, including being forced to coordinate with energetic children and cheerleaders. The prank reached its peak when his wife, Annemarie Carpendale, shared a kiss with Barbara Schöneberger on the Kiss Cam, leaving Wayne utterly bewildered. "There was a lot going wrong from the start, and by halftime, I was ready to disappear into the expensive LED floor of the BMW Park because I thought I had ruined it," he later confessed.
In addition to these pranks, the show featured singer Leony, who was humorously pranked during a check-in at a small three-star hotel. Instead of a straightforward process, she was met with an absurd array of services aimed at boosting the hotel’s ratings, including a bizarre dog water tasting and an exaggerated bed consultation. The chaos only intensified when she finally reached her room, which was anything but the luxurious escape she had anticipated.
Frauke Ludowig also took part in the evening's hilarity by pranking drivers in a parking garage as part of the "International World-Animal-Day 2025" celebration. She instructed unsuspecting motorists to pay their parking fees using animal sounds, leading to a series of humorous exchanges and confused expressions.
Adding to the comedic chaos, Barbara Schöneberger herself donned the role of a zookeeper in the Krefeld Zoo, where she introduced visitors to a so-called "wonder bear" capable of extraordinary tricks. The guests were initially enthralled, only to later realize they had been the victims of another cleverly orchestrated prank.
As the night unfolded, the light-hearted atmosphere of "Verstehen Sie Spaß?" reminded viewers of the joy found in simple entertainment. Schöneberger reflected on the enduring appeal of the show, stating, "All the formats that have been running for almost 50 years have one thing in common: they deal with people. They engage with people and are kept very simple. I believe that will always work. I have never been a fan of completely new, crazy ideas and technologies; I prefer the simple, good old entertainment."
As the episode drew to a close, viewers were left with a sense of nostalgia for the show's long history and excitement for its future. With its unique blend of celebrity culture and playful pranks, "Verstehen Sie Spaß?" continues to capture the hearts of audiences and remains a cherished part of German television history.
In summary, the April 12 episode of "Verstehen Sie Spaß?" was a delightful showcase of humor, featuring pranks that brought together a variety of celebrities in unexpected situations. From Veronica Ferres stepping into the role of a waitress to Wayne Carpendale's bewildering experiences at a basketball game, the show once again proved its ability to entertain and surprise. As Barbara Schöneberger takes the helm, viewers can look forward to more laughter and unforgettable moments in the episodes to come.
