– Two stars are looking for the difficult questions
Trevor Noah and Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson meet for a charming conversation. But it doesn’t really rock.
Published today at 6:23 p.m. Trevor Noah and Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson in Noah’s new podcast “What Now?” Photo: Screenshot We were sad when he left “The Daily Show”. A lot of people were extremely skeptical when Trevor Noah took on the role as host in 2015. But until his departure in December 2022, he made the show his own as a sharp-tongued, highly funny critic of daily news and an empathetic comedian and found an enthusiastic audience, especially among millennials. Noah also spoke about this development from a lot of rejection to a lot of honor at the start of his new podcast with the telling title “What Now?” whose first episode went on air on November 9th. He was inundated with thousands of hate tweets in 2015; One sender stood out because he was not just offensive, but also funny. Finally, he spoke to the guy directly, and lo and behold, this resulted in positive communication – and a deal: “If I last six months on the ‘Daily Show,’ then you’ll watch it,” Noah suggested to the hater (this one had refused Noah’s show until then). The man agreed with amusement because he didn’t give the South African a chance. That’s exactly what Noah is talking about in his podcast (including video): discussing opposing views in a civilized conversation. In the past, even spouses could have belonged to different parties, he said in the podcast, but now friends would even cancel each other if they only disagreed on small things. And many would keep their opinions hidden in public for fear of reprisals. Dwayne Johnson for president? The comedian wants to dialogue against this situation and invited Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson to the first conversation. The superstar – the successful actor and producer is also considered one of the best professional wrestlers of all time – didn’t let himself be asked twice despite his full calendar. And in view of presidential candidate Joe Biden’s recent dismal poll numbers, Noah tapped into the spirit of the times by asking whether Johnson would run. The background was that, according to a survey, around half of the population would like to see Johnson in the White House. In fact, Johnson revealed in the podcast, both parties had approached him about running for office. He doesn’t actually want to do that because he’s totally committed to being a father to his two little daughters (5 and 7); With his eldest (22), he missed out on being a wrestler, which he regrets very much. But if the American people really want him, he’ll think about it. Anyone who doesn’t feel warmed by this commitment to the family, which made Johnson’s eyes light up – as Trevor Noah also commented with wit – is in favor of the seemingly intimate format of the film Podcasts lost. The trusting, human and touching, this appearance of authenticity: this is what makes up the “unique selling proposition” propagated by Noah. In honest, face-to-face encounters, we get each other out of the rigidity of our existence in the trenches and create space for the “difficult”. The thing about the fund for the victims in Hawaii. That’s charming. And when Johnson once again tells the story of the grandmother who threw his then 13-year-old father out of the house, when he talks about his own bitter poverty – his mother and the kids were permanently broke and were thrown out of the apartment – and about his Struggling with depression, then we are moved, feel close. However, all of these memories have been circulating in the media for months and years. Trevor Noah also brought the topic of “People’s Fund of Maui” with him as a decidedly “difficult” question on the subject of hatred and madness of annihilation on the Internet. A quick reminder: After the devastating fires in Hawaii in August, Oprah Winfrey and Hawaii native Dwayne Johnson jointly set up a relief fund for those affected, donated $10 million and called for people to participate via social media. In addition to approval, there was a shitstorm: How could you, as a super-rich, address the average consumer in need instead of other super-rich people – or yourself? Noah didn’t respond to this criticism at all, but simply asked about Johnson’s emotional survival strategies – which have already been used elsewhere was to be read. Answer: He went inside himself, rediscovered the angry, at-risk youth in himself who reacted to poverty with aggression and wild ambition – and so his understanding of the haters matured. An inexpensive medium: secondary use for them Stars?Kurz: The two talked animatedly about the current and the past, about painful and happy family stories, about dealing with different cultures and the search for knowledge and reconciliation. That’s nice, you can hear it – but it doesn’t have to be. And the question arises as to why so many people are currently riding the podcast wave. Among the television greats alone, Chelsea Handler, Conan O’Brien, Sarah Silverman and Stephen Colbert have launched a podcast: often a kind of secondary use, an inexpensive medium with reach and an aura of honesty. But often without urgency. Interesting things on the topicDear Alexandra works as a culture editor in the life department. She writes primarily about theater as well as social and educational issues. Studied German, English and philosophy in Konstanz, Oxford and Freiburg i Br.More informationFound an error?Report now.0 comments
2023-11-10 17:34:59
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