Why do we watch it every year? You really have to ask? Because it's... THE. SAME. PROCEDURE. AS. EVERY. YEAR! Nah, seriously: it's "tradition". It doesn't need to have a reason.

@eucitizen78

Жыл бұрын

You got the perfect answer. It is a tradition, and why is ist a tradition? Because it is the same procedure as every year. I mean...thats it...who can ask for more. No more need for clarification here.

@BlueFlash215

Жыл бұрын

There are enough reasons we watch it every year and I think enough people in the comment section gave the answer. Best look it up.

@Groffili

Жыл бұрын

@@BlueFlash215 It's funny, it's cute... sure. All of that. But can you show me any other short comedy sketch from 50 years ago that we Germans regularely watch on a specific date? Is there a tradition to watch "Palim Palim" every 3rd of July? Or listen to Otto's "Dänen lügen nicht" on the second tuesday in April? Do our TV stations run Loriot six times a day on Midsommer? No. There are lots of funny TV moments from the last century, german and otherwise. But it's "Dinner for one" that has taken this special position. Not because it is unique. Not because it it the best joke there is. Not because of the fantasic acting, setting, punchlines. No. Just because it is tradition. And you can rest assured that I will follow this tradition this year again. As every year, James! (sings: "tradition, tradition!")

@ryanwass

Жыл бұрын

Good point🤣

@BlueFlash215

Жыл бұрын

@@Groffili Where did I dispute that and why did you write a whole paragraph about something I didn't write?

There is nothing to explain about the Tiger, just accept it is there. 😂😂

@lordofkoala146

Жыл бұрын

Rich people used animal fur as carpets but besides that.. it is just there

@neosildrake

Жыл бұрын

Reminds me of the carpet at my moms home. It hat tassels and I knew it was there and every f*ing time I stumbled over them. And then there is of course the cliche that rich people always had a tiger or bear rug somewhere.

@stefankaiser3354

Жыл бұрын

Poor people like me use animal fur as a blanket... (Blanket = my cat... ) (No worries - he's alive!) *Guten Rutsch euch allen!* 🙋🏼🐈‍⬛

@zoolkhan

Жыл бұрын

@@stefankaiser3354 moment, ich muss ma schnell meine katzen zaehlen. .... 1. ok alle da :) HNY

@videomailYT

Жыл бұрын

^^ if i remember it correct it was a gift from Admiral von Schneider for Ms. Sophie as a present from one of her earlier birthdays...

Actually one of the most important things is this sketch actually uses very few words and it does not even matter a bit if you do speak english or not to be amused by it. So it works even for children. Also the humor is a bit simple - the running gag with tigers head or drinking from the vase. Drunks are always a bit funny. So it works for children - but it works for adults too. With age, as you learn english in school, you begin to understand the text. And with puberty you understand the smile at the end. So esp. if you started seeing it from young age every year the storry changes a bit - because the viewer changes, not the story. So the whole tradition thing works best if the audiance have not english as native language. It startes as kid, seeing it as a pure "slapstic" comedy. year by year you understand more. The tragic of Miss Sophie, not being able to accept all her friends have passed, is something you might think not deeper into while beeing young. But later. Also the end - yes "romantic live" becomes less often as older you become normaly... (only) once a year, as every year... You can not swim twice in the same river, as the river always change. This is the counterpart - you can not see this movie twice the same way - because you change and your perception, while the movie is always the same, you are not. The same sketch develops from a chilish slap-stic comedy to a humourous description of the tragedy of live, only by the developement of the viewer in his live. Beeing in another language might be the reason, it is so popular in Germany, because "understanding" what is said, adds a few steps more in the way while changing the perception. For native english audiance it might be funny once. But you simply have to see it multiple times in long intervalls to get it over the time. Beeing in an foraign language helps a lot not getting bored between changeing your own perspective.

@olivers.3669

Жыл бұрын

A wonderful explaination for the english speaking community!

@skrrytch

Жыл бұрын

Perfect explanation!

@Keksdich

Жыл бұрын

you explained this quite beautifully, so thank you :)

@katerpese

10 ай бұрын

Great description. I also assume the sketch invites people to a celebratory mood; with a party, drinks, comedy and making love. That would sum up a perfect New Years Eve.

Hi Ryan, the reason this clip is shown at new years eve is just, that the boss of the german tv channel found the clip once in their archive on new years eve and he thought: "oh the butler wishes "Happy new year Miss Sophie" - that fits perfectly to new years eve". After that it was shown every new years eve on that TV channel so that it became a tradition. That tiger is there because one time the sketch was performed in a random city, where the people, who were working on the stage design have put this tiger-head-carpet-thing on the stage (just for the stage design) and "James" really hit it accidently. The viewers were laughing that much, that the mayor of that city told Freddi Frinton (the actor, that plays James), that they should put that in the sketch regularly. For me, it's not hitting the tigers head, what makes me laugh - I like the moments when James is not hitting it surprisingly. ;-) And: you clearly know what the the end scene (going to bed and doing the same procedure as every year...) is all about... ;-) you are old enough to know that ;-)

@videomailYT

Жыл бұрын

^^ naja aber James hat da auch schon ganz schön einen im Tee XD Es wird aber auch so interpretiert, dass Ms. Sophie ihren Butler ins Bett bringen muss, weil er es nicht mehr hinkriegt alleine. Weil es ist ja normalerweise andersrum, der Butler hilft einem...

@MortimerFolchert

Жыл бұрын

@@videomailYT First of all, you're answering to an english comment under an english video. So please don't be so rude and comment in english. Secondly, nobody says Miss Sophie brings James to bed because he's drunk. I never heard this in over 30 years of watching this. It is exactly what people think it is, that's why he winks the way he winks. The only reason I could come up with for "your interpretation" of the finale is that some parents feared to explain the concept of sex to their asking child and came up with this nonsense.

@MusikCassette

Жыл бұрын

@@MortimerFolchert it might be what some prudish people tell their children what is going on.

@videomailYT

Жыл бұрын

@@MortimerFolchert ok, it is not correct to answer in German on an English video. But then tell me why it is ok to answer in English on an German video. No one would complain about something like that... 🤷 And i bet you dunno so i will tell you. A lot of scientist can understand German and you know why? Because the research and so on was made here in Germany and even in the us German is one of the 4 official languages. Also sag doch einfach was du für nen Problem hast? Vielleicht eine Verhaltung 🤔

@flohi.9515

Жыл бұрын

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dinner_for_One

Dude….you are completely overthinking it!!!! ❤🎄🤗….love from Germany

@KxNOxUTA

Жыл бұрын

Actually no. There's actually a whole lot of answers to all of his questions and actually many of the jokes and choices of carpet make a huge lot of sense! It's a masterpiece because the density of absolute top tier humor and subtle story telling is THIS good! The bird is sent FLYING? Come on! A fight with the resentful spirit of a hunted tiger put shamlessly on display in combination with how it tells us just how old n clumsy that butler has become? Brilliant. You gotta use all braincells each year n you still find new back story by observing what is shown to you, not told to you!

@steinarhaugen7617

Жыл бұрын

"Overthinking". No, he doesn't think at all. This is not rocket science!

Ryan, the whole thing is set in the last century or the century before last in a mansion of the former colonial power Great Britain. In those days it was customary to display hunting trophies in the living area, but since you could at least have complete stuffed big cats, only the skins with the heads were brought back to England and hung on the wall or laid on the floor in the living area. Miss Sophie is 90 years old, her friends are deceased, but she does not want to give up her birthday party, so the butler has to take over the roles of the guests who are no longer alive, so that the illusion remains for Miss Sophie. Admiral von Schneider is...an admiral. And in the navy of the time, clicking one's heels together was a mark of honor analogous to today's military salute with one's hand on the barrett. The story takes place on New Year's Eve, that is, Miss Sophie's birthday is on New Year's Eve. And the gag at the end simply means that James still has to perform duties in Miss Sophie's bedroom. The same procedure as every year. When this sketch was first broadcast on German television, there were only three TV programs. So there wasn't much choice back then. So after the first broadcast, more than half of all West Germans and a few lucky East Germans knew this show. And after repeating it for a few years, it became a cult, so to speak. Every year, several stations broadcast this skit at different times. Not always in English, sometimes dubbed with regional dialect.

@duemrol

Жыл бұрын

For 'clicking one's heels together' was especially German Military famous for. (Only back then, not today) Admiral von Schneider is obviously a German Admiral. Back then not everyone knew the own Birthday. They often knew only the Birth-year. In such cases the January 1st became the Birthday of this Person.

@rosu3870

Жыл бұрын

Best summary ever!

@a.riddlemethis795

Жыл бұрын

Thank you, I wanted to write the very same explanation. It's a bit odd that it's necessary though. Young people nowadays... :))

@riker1701D

Жыл бұрын

@@duemrol Possible, of course. But in the European aristocracy in the 20th or 19th century. everyone who belonged to the upper class already knew what his exact birthday was. In the preface to the sketch, however, New Year's Eve, i.e. 12/31, is explicitly mentioned as Miss Sophie's birthday. Well, whether at the time when the German Empire and the British Empire were not exactly considered friends, it is unlikely that von Schneider was German. First of all, members of the German naval leadership would not be allowed to fraternize with the "hereditary enemy" and secondly, he would then exclaim "Prost", "Prosit" or "Zum Wohl" instead of the Danish "Skål". The beating of the heels together is in fact a Prussian invention. It was used to provide the officer with an audible way to see if the crews had carried out the order "Stillgestanden!" at the same time. But it was later implemented in other armies around the world. In Germany, this has not been in use since the 1930s. But yes, it stands today mainly as a synonym for Prussian devotion to duty.

@riker1701D

Жыл бұрын

@@a.riddlemethis795 Well, the youth has other issues. Like every youth in every generation. It is up to us not so young anymore to preserve and pass on knowledge about past things.

As far as I know, the skit was recorded in Germany for German TV. So that‘s part of the reason why it only got aired on British Television decades after the original recording. But even if it‘s Ms. Sophie‘s 90th birthday, it‘s like New Years eve a procedure that happens every year at the same time with a lot of eating and drinking. Perhaps that‘s why it‘s so popular on New Years Eve. It‘s the same procedure as last year. Heck, it‘s the same procedure as every year. 😉

@madkuya9862

Жыл бұрын

What are you talking about? the scrip was written by a British author back in 1934 the recording was only on 1963 nearly 30 years LATER. Frinton and Warden performed Dinner for One on stage on Britain's seaside piers as early as 1945 Es ist ein Theaterstück das unter anderem im Imperial Theatre in New York aufgeführt wurde. The laughter doesn't come from a laughing machine either, but from the live audience who were in the theater when it was recorded in Hamburg Germany a few days after it das "discouverd by 2 germans in Blackpool.

@Al69BfR

Жыл бұрын

@@madkuya9862 I‘m talking about the actual recording of the skit that is aired on German TV for more than 50 years now. Not about the origins of the skit that was staged in theaters before and after. Just the televised version of it that afaik was aired in the UK decades after it was recorded.

@to.l.2469

8 ай бұрын

@@Al69BfR Yes, this specific version was recorded especially for German television in Germany. But before that it was very successful as a stage play in England. But the origin of recording and client is totally irrelevant here. It is an English stage play with origins in the 1920s - 1930s.

This video just emphasized that the British and the American sense of humor are sooo different 😂

@clemensbl

Жыл бұрын

Nothing is British about Dinner for one except the language. It is a German recording and it is German Humor. British do not understand and do not watch this recording just like Americans don´t.

@user-zo8js6ig6z

Жыл бұрын

@@clemensbl No actually It is very British. It was written by a British Author Lauri Wylie for the theatre & is performed by British Comedians Freddie Frinton & May Warden.

the fact that it became a new years eve tradition is part of the meta joke. watching Dinner for one on new years eve is the same procedure as every year.

Has anyone already mentioned “Die Feuerzangenbowle” to confuse Ryan completely 😂. Also often watched on New Year or during Christmas season also at Universities with interaction of the audience.

@anjafark

10 ай бұрын

🤩

On a side note: In the 1980s, someone decided that it's been repeated often enough and pulled it from the schedule. This resulted in thousands and thousands of angry calls to the ARD. The result of that was a late broadcast on New Years Day, together with an apology.

@anjafark

10 ай бұрын

😂 I remember this aswell.

I think you might as well ask why so many Americans watch "Home Alone" at Christmas (we in Germany and the Czechs / Slovakia, by the way, always watch "three hazelnuts for Cinderella" at Christmas, that's also a tradition.. in my opinion the most beautiful Cinderella film adaptation that exist... filmed at Moritzburg near Dresden in a winter wonderland) I think people somehow grew fond of the characters and made it a tradition to watch them at the same time every year, so that several generations now enjoy it together.

@zigge1989

Жыл бұрын

The 1973 tsjekkoslovakisk film? "Tre nøtter til Askepott" 1973 Original title: Tri orísky pro Popelku kzread.info/dash/bejne/nH2JtqejppXZltI.html It an old christmas tradition here in Norway as well. Started in 1975. It's a bit wird, but only 1 man dubbed all the characters, voices in norwegian. 47 years later, it the same old movie.

@moneesszehha306

Жыл бұрын

Not forgetting "Sissi" (Part 1-3) and "Der kleine Lord" (Little Lord Fauntleroy) 😉

In short, dinner for one is about Miss Sophie celebrating her 90th birthday. As every year, she invited her four closest friends to a birthday dinner: Sir Toby, Admiral von Schneider, Mr Pommeroy and Mr Winterbottom. However, these have all long since passed away (why or how they died is not yet known), which is why Miss Sophie sits alone at the table while her butler James stands in for the deceased guests in turn and imitates them. In the end, James escorts Miss Sophie to her chambers where the two spend the rest of the evening ( qualit time), that's why he winks. The skit wasn't originally planned as New Year's Eve entertainment. After it had been broadcast several times as a break-filler on ARD and NDR, the show got its fixed slot nine years after it was first broadcast. On December 31, 1972, NDR entertainment director Henri Regnier pulled the tape out of the archive. Since then, Dinner for One has been broadcast at the turn of the year. The saying “Happy new year, Miss Sophie” (James as Mr. Pommeroy) may have contributed to the choice as a New Year's Eve sketch.

@flamehaze59

Жыл бұрын

Good explanation!

@clemensbl

Жыл бұрын

You missed that it Always was a German skit in english Language.

Last year I had to work at a concert on New Year's Eve. And my colleagues brought this tiger carpet from somewhere and laid it out backstage. Then everyone who happened to pass by stumbled across it. I've never had so much fun at work as I did that night.

You are overthinking the whole thing. It‘s just funny to watch. And we have it every New Year‘s Eve on Swiss TV too 😊.

You question it too much, just go with it😂😂

I love this sketch, BECAUSE you understand the jokes even as a child, not speaking English at all. And with years going by, and watching the sketch at least once a year, I find more and more nuances, which makes it more funny than before. e.g. that last "I'll do my very best, Miss Sophie" and then go up the stairs... I didn't catch it for a long time, that butler James had do do another duty this evening :-) I love the different characters, butler James performs within this sketch: German Admiral Schneider, shy Mr. Pommeroy with his high voice, Sir Toby who enjoys much too much wine and gurgles in his voice , Mr. Winterbottom who can't stop talking, as well as Miss Sophie waits hungrly for his flattering words. As my parents enjoyed evenings with friends as well, me, as a child, could identify those characters amongst our guests quite easy: every party has it's Mr Pommeroy, Sir Toby, and Mr. Winterbottom, and I'm sure, mostly every time there was also a litte Admiral Schneider with us...

I'm 55 years old and have been watching "Dinner for One" since I was a kid. It's just tradition... just don't question it. It's just a German thing. 🙃🧐😋

My local small town theatre in Southern Germany actually performs "Dinner for One" every New Year's Eve - but in Bavarian dialect! It's a wonderful play which attracts basically the whole culturally inclined part of the town population. They play it like a dozen times on New Year's Eve - every single show is always sold out.

Also a new year tradition here in Germany is "Ein Herz und eine Seele" also called "Ekel Alfred" but this is complete in German language.

@steffikapunkt6281

Жыл бұрын

Der Silvesterpunsch 😂😂😂

@kunei1996

Жыл бұрын

Wird Punsch zu Bowle, wenn er kalt wird?

@gedeuchnixan3830

Жыл бұрын

And when talking legendary german comedy: Heinz Erhardt and the GOAT Otto Walkes.

@GuidoMengelberg

Жыл бұрын

And this serial also came over from the british isle.

@stepomuk9783

Жыл бұрын

Der Punsch 🤗🤣🤣🤣

Its also a tradition in Norway, we watch it at 19:30 every 23rd of december! 🎄

Part of the fun is that we know the story by heart and are eagerly waiting for the best moments.

It is a comedic masterpiece. It's a s simple as that. And it's the same procedure as last year

Hi Ryan. I really like your content. About the show... I've watched the show every year since I was a kid. I'm 47 now and still watch it. The last joke - when Miss Sophie retires - is usually only understood as an adult. James has to show again whether he can do "the same procedure as every year". 😉🤣😂 It's probably a new year's tradition, because the show is only shown several times on tv on new year's eve. On no other day - only on new year's eve. Have a good day tomorrow with your family. Greetings from Germany and "Guten Rutsch" 😀

I'm an American and have been living in Germany for 23 years. Dinner for one is a MUST. My best friend came to visit 20 years ago for New Years and had to watch it with us. She's been watching it ever since. She lives in the states.

Definitely also a tradition in Switzerland - as has been pointed out, you watched the shorter Swiss version of the sketch. Although I wonder if the tradition might be losing traction, now that more and more young people only use streaming services and no longer watch regular tv... Gotta say, though, your complete baffledness over the wink/thumbs up at the end, before the butler accompanies Miss Sophie upstairs, was utterly adorable. :) (I must admit when I got old enough to understand that last joke I wondered if Miss Sophie usually invited all four gentlemen up to her room on her birthday or if that's always been James' privilege...)

@ankem4329

Жыл бұрын

Sir Toby

For the tiger you have to keep in mind the british history and commonwealth,so it's a trophy. Admiral von Schneider performs a military hail, this originally is a prussian military tradition. Prussian also fits his name. Despite this he says Skål which is the scandinavian version of cheers.

@MrAranton

Жыл бұрын

​@pegamini "Dinner for One" is a comedy skit. In it's context "Admiral von Schneider" is not full flegded character with a biography and backstory, he's just a set of mannerisms that James replicates as faithfully as he can. Watching that faithfulness decline as James gets drunker is part of the comedy. But with von Schneider in particular even sober James isn't that good at replicating the mannerism. I doubt admiral von Schneider would have hurt himself performing a military salute. Because of that, drawing any kind of conclusions about von Schneider's backstory based on James' attempts to replicate his mannerisms seems - questionable.

It is a tradition because we decided so. Like every tradition. ImO the "like every year part" discribes the syvester feeling very well. After some years, new years eve really is the same procedure as every year for you.

I was born in 1971 and butler James stumbling over the tiger head is one of my earliest childhood tv memories.

There is no reason why we watch it. Its a tradition like watching Loriots "Weihnachten bei den Hoppenstedts". That is also really funny. 🤣

@brynieisengurt434

Жыл бұрын

"Hat Ihr Enkel denn ein Zipfelchen?" - "Mein Enkel hat alles, was er braucht." "Jetzt sag' ein Gedicht auf." "Zicke-zacke Hühnerkacke." - "Doch nicht das!"

2:53 the clicking the feet together is done by him because he represents an admiral in that case (admiral von schneider). The clicking together of the feet is often seen in old military films when they salute. I don't know when this tradition started and if or when it stopped but that is the reason

@Seamus.Harper

Жыл бұрын

I think it was typical for pre 45 Getmany.. that also answers the question as to why it stopped, I guess. Additional Info for anyone: In German it's called "Hackenschlag".

I find it funny that he always knew he had to get terribly drunk, and that he is basically not allowed to do anything wrong and after all the hocus-pocus one must still be able to make Miss Sophie as happy as every year.

Just guessing, but here's another possible reason for the popularity: For many Germans New Year's Eve is the day of the days for party and getting drunk and this scetch is about drinking heavily and everything (sherry, champagne, wine...) within a pretty short period of time. However the more the servant is drinking the funnier he is and at the end he is is still capable to fulfil his duty as Lady's beau. Usually the networks broadcast this show on TV between 5 and 8 pm, so it is a funny warm-up for what is coming that night - or it brings at least some warm memories of past New Year's Eve parties ;-) And as an innocent kid you just enjoy the slapstick moments. At least I did.

Well, it is something that is reliable, especially in these uncertain times - no matter what changes, Dinner for One will be the same procedure as every year.

She used to celebrate her birthday every year with her 4 best friends. Sadly they are all passed away by now and the butler takes over their roles... As they used to do everything when they were still alive... When they go upstears... It means he has to take up the roles of all 4 in the bedroom! That is why he says he trys his best... Because she expects him to "perform" 4x ;-)

@alenaadler8242

4 ай бұрын

Bless his heart, Ryan is just an innocent American... i felt it in my soul when he said he didn't *want* to know...

I think that has something to do with culture. Different drinks with different dishes are not really known in the USA. Maybe someone will do a US version of the sketch with a barbeque grill and red Solo cups on the table.

I dont remember when it started but i was in my 30 s and watched it every year with my american husband in germany. We both love it - English version - now we are in the USA and watch it on youtube. We are 57 years old now and still love it.

The greeting of putting the heel of your feet together is an old german aristocratic greeting. So the Admiral von Schneider is shown like this because the "von" part means "of" and is often representative of the family being aristocracy

I think you watched the Swiss version which is a third shorter than the German one and skips several jokes as well as the short introduction. It has that diaginal perspective due to a different camera position. And the whole dining room was more decorated in the Hamburg recording. It took nine years after production until an official decided to show it on New Year's Eve, probably because of the sentence “Happy new year, Miss Sophie” ... and the focus on drinking might have played a role, too ... If you google "dinner for one alle termine" you find lists of the multiple broadcasts on different regional channels. These excessive reruns (up to 20 times per year) actually earned the show a record ...

btw.: the shrieking lady is Sonja Göth. She worked for german television at the time and was part of the hired audience.

The last question "Same procedure like ervery year", can be interpreted in several ways. In political, social, private ... ways. But I suppose what dinner for one makes so popular that you can trust, you will see it at New Years eve every year. So its the only reliable thing in a fast changing world. :; P.S. And it makes all of your family laugh despite of theire knowlege of english or how babies are made. And of course they are going upstairs to play chess

Ryan there is no backstory😂😂😂😂just funny.. here in switzerland we watch it too every year🎉happy new year!

There was also a trend for german made sitcoms to rum on new year’s like Ekel Alfred and Theaterstadl, which were repeated many years in a row. Together with short scatches with Didi Hallerforden or Otto Waalkes (german comedians). And dinner fir one speaks enough for it self, every kid gets the jokes without speaking English

I am an east german woman! I didn’t know this tradition! My late father in law introduced me to this!

One Point is, we Look at Silvester, because everything repeats. Her Birthday is a metaphor for the new year, everything starting new

As to the backstory: After her introduction to society, Miss Sophie went on a safari with her four gentlemen suitors, to find out - under these adventurous conditions - whom she intended to marry. On New Year's Eve, she invited them all to an opulent four-course dinner in her luxurious jungle tent to announce the lucky winner of her hand and heart. As her butler James was seating her guests at the table and Miss Sophie was about to thank them for coming, they were suddenly and most brutally attacked by a tiger, who darted through the tent like a flash of lightning. All her four gentlemen friends were killed almost instantaneously. What a ghastly sight! As the tiger lunged for her dear butler James, Miss Sophie had enough and rushed for Admiral von Schneider's gun and shot the bloody beast herself. Since that day, Miss Sophie and James have to re-enact the dinner that never happened on every New Year's Eve.

@abruemmer77

Жыл бұрын

That sounds plausible

@Deadhessian

Жыл бұрын

love this backstory allthough i think its made up, still love it ^^

@Coastfog

Жыл бұрын

@@Deadhessian you're probably right, but... isn't the lore of any work of fiction technically "made up"? Maybe the real backstory is the friends we made up along the way...

@MortimerFolchert

Жыл бұрын

But they explain the real backstory in the beginning of the skit every year... Miss Sophie always invites her 4 closest friends over to her birthday party and by her 90th birthday, she has outlived them all because they just simply died sooner. (So James has to fill the gap for everyone deceased and on her 90th birthday he finally has to do all 4 of them, since noone is left)

@simongunkel7457

Жыл бұрын

@@MortimerFolchert Slight correction: He doesn't have to do all 4 of them, he just has to do Miss Sophie 4 times as each of the 4.

This tradition is also in Austria. I think it has become a tradition because there is something to laugh about for everyone and even if there was nothing to laugh about all year round... you can laugh about that every year... and that's why you like to see it again every year...the same procedure as every year..

@tristanvoltaire2058

Жыл бұрын

Wie wahr, Landesgenosse. Selbes Verfahren wie jedes Jahr.

@hannaleppala9630

Жыл бұрын

The same tradition also in Finland. And actually in many other European countries as well.

@thelibraryismyhappyplace1618

Жыл бұрын

We also have it in South Africa! I now live in Australia and it was on just half an hour ago.

@tristanvoltaire2058

Жыл бұрын

@@thelibraryismyhappyplace1618 lol

Maybe this article will answer some questions, Ryan!! Firstly, fun fact: the line "Same procedure as every year" (in English) has become a very popular catchphrase in Germany, Sweden, Norway and Denmark. The phrase has entered everyday vocabulary, and is used in newspaper headlines and advertisements. This article answers about the tiger 🐯🐅too!" : "The sketch was written by Lauri Wylie during the 1920s. According to some sources, Freddie Frinton played the role of the butler in English variety theaters as early as 1945, paying royalties to the author. The official premiere took place in 1948 at the Duke of York's Theater in London. It was also played on Broadway with a completely different cast in 1953. Later, Frinton bought the rights to the sketch from Wylie. He toured the UK and had various female co-stars. When Audrey Maye stopped playing Miss Sophie, her mother May Warden took over the role. In 1963, German entertainer Peter Frankenfeld and director Heinz Dunkhase saw the sketch in Blackpool. It was later shown on the live TV show Guten Abend, Peter Frankenfeld and recorded by NDR in front of an audience on 8 July 1963 at the Theater am Besenbinderhof in Hamburg. Interesting in this context is that Freddie Frinton preferred not to stay in Germany. He did not think highly of Germany after World War II, and refused to perform the text in German. According to the NDR, both Frinton and Warden received 4,150 D marks each. The sketch was shown on various occasions on German TV, before it was given a fixed program time on New Year's Eve in 1972. It premiered on Swedish TV for the first time in 1969.[1] The infamous tiger trap that the butler keeps tripping over was not included in the original script. It was brought at the request of a mayor of a city the skit was being played in at the time. When Freddie Frinton accidentally tripped on his head, it caused such hilarity among the audience that it was decided to keep the tiger trap. A Swiss TV channel recorded a new version of the sketch, but with the same cast. It is seven minutes shorter (11 minutes) and differs in a few details. In the German version, you have a white tablecloth and a candlestick on the table - in the Swiss version, these are missing. In the German version, when James trips on the tiger's head, he afterwards goes back and bends down and pats the tiger's head. Even a line to Miss Sophie, when James' impersonator Admiral von Schneider is going to toast her, is missing from the Swiss film. Also, backdrops and camera angles differ. According to the Guinness Book of Records, the single most recurring TV program in the world. By 2005, The Countess and the Butler had been shown more than 230 times. The sketch premiered on Swedish television in 1969. It was bought by Sweden after the Montreux Festival in 1963 (the Montreux Festival - Rose d'Or is a TV festival and award ceremony for entertainment programs since 1961). However, because it contained too much alcohol, it was not shown annually until 1969. Since 1976, the skit has been broadcast every year on New Year's Eve, with the exception of 2004 when the program was canceled due to the Indian Ocean earthquake on December 26 of that year. In Denmark the Danish television network decided not to broadcast the sketch in 1985, but received so many complaints that it returned the following year. In Norway, the show is broadcast on 23 December instead of New Years, since 1980. In 1992, it was aired 15 minutes early, and the resulting audience uproar caused it to be re-broadcast later that night In addition to the countries mentioned above, the sketch is shown in Australia, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, the Faroe Islands, Greenland, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, South Africa and Austria, among others. Although The Countess and the Butler is in English and originates from Great Britain, it is almost completely unknown there. Only on New Year's Eve 2018 was it premiered by Sky Arts. Before that, the sketch had received a British cinema premiere earlier that year. Using digital technology, the sketch was shown in color in 1999 in Germany. After massive protests, the original was withdrawn. The most common version is the German film adaptation. It is only in Sweden, Switzerland and Norway that the Swiss variant is shown. The NDR television channel recorded several other versions in 1963. Danish TV shows a version in which no audience is heard.A third, 11-minute version was recorded by Schweizer Fernsehen (Swiss Television) with less alcohol drunk. Both the 18-minute and 11-minute versions have been released on DVD in Germany."

It’s hilarious. Since I watch your videos I started saving all typical German reels and posts on instagram omg. Never recognised them really, but you made me to. Lol

The main phrase here meets the core of almost anyone: Days like new years eve and others are packed with things we do like a standard habbit and watching this scene is one of them for the Germans. And this has something for all ages. You can lough about the slapstick, without understanding a word or you can "dive deep" and lough about the sophisticated humour behind the phrases and situations. And every time you watch it you can find new jokes you overlooked before. This piece of Stage-Art is a Masterpiece in my eyes, looking simple on the first attempt but having so much humour hidden inside! And if you did not get the joke at the end yet: MISS Sophie most likely was never married, but has had 4 male friends and the butler slips into their roles once every year. And that will include "going to bed". And James will "Do his very best"

I think the two actors Freddie Frinton (James) and May Warden (Miss Sophie) harmonize very well together and are likeable. I think that`s why a lot of people like to watch it on tv.🍾

It is a sketch in English, but was produced in Germany for the German audience. (The actors actually refused to speak German I heard) So maybe that's why the brits didn't know it till many years later. ;)

Miss Sophie's birthday is on December 31st. She always had her friends for dinner around her, sadly, they all passed away over the years and only she's left to celebrate her 90th birthday. James has to fill in for all four of them, most likely for a number of years now (hence "the same procedure as every year, James"), but he is not the youngest now either, and a bit clumsy as well. That's why he trips over the tiger's head frequently (after drinking all the alcohol even more, of course). And a former CEO of a German broadcasting channel liked Freddy Frinton and his comedy talent so much that he ordered that skit to be recorded and televised it every New Year's Eve since, although he long since retired (and perhaps is dead by now, too).

This year you can start the tradition to watch this every new year’s eve. 😂

Regarding the Joke at the end (I'll do my very best): The first time I remember seeing this routine was when I was about 5 years. it took me 30 years more to get that specific joke. Don't give up :D. Also: Since no remake could appeal to the german audience, the NDR decided to colorize the original recording. That version is currently only shown on that channel. Not mentioned in the video is the drinking game: Every time James toasts on behalf of someone: Toast your friends. Every time James trips over the lion: One shot. Watch the 2 or 3 times on new years eve and you know why new year is a national holiday in germany.

I've never seen these version of "Dinner for one". But my family and I watch the real version every year. It's not really new year without watching Dinner for one 😅

3:07 It is only Slapstick. There is no deeper sense. We watch it on New Years Eve while we prepare the Party. It is easy watching. 😉 7:22 My personal experience: When you watch it the first time, it could be somehow odd or boring. For me it became better and funnier, the more often I watch it. There is quiet some fun, sitting together witch friend, knowing what will happen next and speak the lines together.

I kind of dig your humor. You´re pretty witty and funny which I appreciate. Thx for the vid and for the daily uploads btw

Hi Ryan, I am 51 years old and I can only remember one year I haven't seen it. That was 32 years ago, when I was an Au-Pair in Maryland, USA. And New Years didn't felt like New Years. Maybe this explains how important "Dinner for one" to most Germans is. And you should really watch the original broadcasted version. Unfortunatly you have to wait until this years New Years Eve. Than search in the NDR-Mediathek for "Dinner for one". And just enjoy it.

I really don't know why you are still somehow confused about this little theatre play. It's just a funny little story that was shown sometime on TV at Silvester, the day before New Year's Day. Many people love the sort of humour, the way it is performed, and the little stories that might be behind all the guests. So it became a tradition. That's all. And it's different from all the other stuff that's usually on TV. 😉

Happy new year to you Ryan and everyone else, greetings from Germany ! 🎉🤘 Rock on

3:45 It is a new years eve tradition because of the sentence ... Same procedure as last year, Miss Sophie? Same procedure as every year, James. And of course the getting drunk thang. We jokingly said that on new years eve to our family, like when we served the food or asked about something, but also refering to the video itself, because watching it is tradition and the same procedure as every year

If i remember correctly the end bit is about them sleeping together, which is a tradition for them "the same procedure as every year James" and since he's that drunk it's "i'll do my very best"

In Austria, another German country, always show "Ein echter Wiener geht nicht unter" ("A true Viennese won't perish") on television. It's not that random, but shooting firework from the flat window to your neighbours flat to attack him on new year's eve, is funny for about 50 years now :D

Good Morning I wake up and a new video poped up. Beautyfull

I’ve seen this so many times and only now noticed the innuendo in the last joke :D I always thought this is about whether or not James is able to help her up the stairs in his drunk state xDD

Its also tradition and on TV every year here in Austria! This type of carpets you can see in many old movies, in houses of richer people, often they were in the bedroom

German TV also shows every damn single Bud Spencer and Terrence Hill movie during christmas time and they're originally from Italy. Also Home Alone (the original one) is a must. It's been like this since I've been a kid

That’s a briliant idea! They should turn it into a cinematic universe, with one feature film for each of the characters at the table detailing their backstory. Culminating in a fulminant finale that brings them all together at the dinner table

@simongunkel7457

Жыл бұрын

Well, they obviously all shagged Spohie at some point and James apparently got to know them all when they were still alive. So I guess that's more along the lines of an HBO show than a cinematic universe.

@piasecznik

Жыл бұрын

I remember when I was a kid in the early or mid-2000s my local newspaper in Hamburg ran what was essentially an elaborate serialised Dinner for One fanfic which did what you suggest. I don't remember much about it though, and I can't find it on Google.

@KxNOxUTA

Жыл бұрын

@@simongunkel7457 Actually, she says "And my dear old friend Mr Winterbottom". That is a very bold endearment for her time and class right there ;D Not to mention he (or the butler as him) specifically praises her, as most beautiful woman he's ever known. Also, it is called "intercourse" if anything, in that context. And even that is far far far too bold of a term for her Ladyship and her company! Please show some decorum XP

There is a whole documentary on how the sketch dinner for one came into be, for example he tripping over the tiger actually happened on accident, and stuck with the sketch forever.

It's kind of funny and adorable how you try to find out what it all means. I've watched it for years and tbh I don't think it's that deep. I love slapstick and am notoriously known for having the humour of a 12 year old and laughing at fart jokes, so it's kind of in my dna to find this hilarious :D It's just supposed to be slapstick and funny, seeing poor James getting bossed around by miss sophie and getting progressively more wasted. There's no deep cultural reason why we watch it and no intricate subtext behind the jokes, it's just one of those random things that turn into tradition. I also think it's relatable to adults since you'll be probably sitting around the tv with everyone on a scale from tipsy to wasted. Everything's funnier when you had some of that grape juice yourself.

@ariane14605

Жыл бұрын

Until the 1970s, ARD and the third programs filled their program gaps with the show. "Dinner for one" has only been shown annually on New Year's Eve since 1972. That is the story in "Dinner for one" 6) "Dinner for one" has a kernel of truth According to recent finds, the skit is based on a true story. Dowager Duchess Sophie Karoline Amalie of Saxe-Gotha-Altenburg celebrated dinner parties with her late friends. Her cousin Albert of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha experienced such an evening himself. Queen Victoria's Prince Consort later told his secretary about the unusual celebration. Laurie Wylie discovered records of the anecdote years later. That's how the script came about.

Hi Ryan, maybe to understand the last joke better if you focus on the relationship between Miss Sophie and „her dear mister Winterbottom“ who’s sitting to her right as she requested and who’s making compliments to her all the time. And James has to fill the places off all the deceased. So you might imagine what happened between Miss Sophie and Mister Winterbottom every year after dinner until he died… And for me it’s a New Year’s Eve tradition because it‘s miss Sophies Birthday, the ending of one year and the beginning of the next.

I‘m watching this show since I was a baby almost every year on New Year’s Eve and I wanna know why we‘re freaking do it, too!! 😂

It only made perfect sense to me one year, that was New Year's Eve 2020/2021. When it felt ok to get blasted by yourself in front of the tv. So in order to get it you need to be 1) alone and 2) getting drunk by yourself. Tiger skin rug! Hahaha. Happy New Year. Next year needs to be better. Cheers, Miss Sophie! And Mr Winterbottom.

and we don‘ t need an explanation for the tiger or the sad old woman, we just celebrate the moment and the past and that we are mortile. why on new years eve? well, when not then, when ?

@sigourneyburton3387

Жыл бұрын

ok 😅

The shriking Lady was actually a sound technishian of the show and she nearly got fired after this beacause she had to remain silent. She later gave interviews in documentations.

Just a piece of Art!

It's not a deeper meaning behind this, this is the humor of the 50s/60s it wasn't that sophisticated and complex. But for many Germans growing up it was the first contact with the English language which they heard and even could repeat as they watched it so many times. Sometimes several times on new years eve. It's more "Situationskomik" (Comedy/Absurdity of a situation) which makes us laugh and everyone has his/her favorite part where they giggle, like mine is when he pulls the chair of Miss Sophie, drinks the flower water or throws the plate, or when he hops over the tigers head, when you expect him to stumble.

The German version simply has a German introduction. Otherwise it is in English. And it is popular in Germany, perhaps because Germans don't need massive amounts of explanation to understand things. As a Canadian, it seemed clear enough to me, too...

Hi Ryan, if you are the one, who will bring it to America, you will be famous one day 😂 btw there is no backstory. Take it as it is. Just FUNNY 😅

it's Schadenfreude. Thats why it is so famous in germany. Also, to explain: it is linked to New Years Eve through MR Pommeroy, who (or James in his place) wishes miss Sophie a good new years Eve in every round. And the whole act is about mourning the dead, by celebrating as if they were still there, to remind us of the good times we had with them. The rug basically is just there for the fun, nothing special about it, its just something that fits to a group of old ppl. (in my school we had white boards with feet that every teacher stumbled over, so we stuck a picture of a tigerface on the feet, and the teachers suddenly stopped stumbling^^)

HI Ryan, I asked my mother, why we watch it every year and she explained to me that the original version was recorded in Hamburg (where I come from) for NDR ( TV channel) and it has been broadcast there ever since. Since 1963. back then there were very few tv Channels, so everyone saw it. Thanks for your Videos, they help me to lern more english

her birthday is on new years eve, it is like it is, don't think about, enjoy it

@maxzillibiller6425

Жыл бұрын

@@user-ih1id4oy6w how? Just watching your London video

@berlindude75

Жыл бұрын

@@maxzillibiller6425 Stop talking to Russian impersonation bots. Report them for spam and scams.

Warum ist Dinner for One so beliebt? Ich würde sagen weil es gut passt. Es ist von jung bis alt verständlich. Es passt bei einer Party auch von der Länge. Und früher passte es auch von der Sendezeit. Heut zu Tage wird es ja 150 mal auf allen Kanälen wiederholt. Bei uns gibts immer was zu Essen, dann Dinner for One, dann könn die Kinder machen was sie wollen und die Erwachsenen gehen langsam in den Party Modus über. Gegen 10 Uhr trifft dann wieder alles zusammen und um 12 ... ich glaub das ist dann überall gleich.

HAPPY NEW YEAR to you and your nice family (Chase is such a cutie) 😊

My theory: If there is one thing brits can do, than it's to wrap serious items into funny and silly covers. TMHO the whole sketch is about one matter of life: Vergänglichkeit! (transience). An old and lonely lady who celebrates with her dead friends, with the help of her loyal and brave butler. That's it! Sylvester (new years eve) is not only a day to party but also a day to think about the last year. Good things, bad things and maybe about people who went forever (friends, celebrities...well, persons who had a meaning in your life.) For me, and maybe for some other people too, Sylvester is the day , or the night, where it comes to my mind that everything must pass.... And this little sketch reminds us of all the Vergänglichkeit in the most funny way possible. That's why we love to watch it on new years eve...(sorry for my school-english😬)

Not German but i have watched it almost every new year since childhood ,it it strictly reserved for new years. It is tradition and it is a procedure every year.

It would be awesome to see Dinner for one brought over and in a few years everyone in America knows Dinner for one and who to thank for it to bring it over. On the topic of great traditions to bring over from Germany "Polterabend" would be great. You get together before a wedding and in the middle of the party you are smashing a lot of old plates to bring the bride and groom luck for there future. Did that a few years back at my friends wedding in Colorado and it was a huge success we all wrote awful stuff that we don't want them to experience on plates and than they smashed them on the ground. I think there is even a movie about Polterabend... Lots of love and einen guten Rutsch from Germany.

Around Christmas and new year very few people work in the TV-Business, so they play some recordings. Maybe because they say "Happy new year, Miss Sophie" they have used it to fill the time. Over some years it became a tradition, like "Little Lord Fauntleroy" (1980), "Sissi" (1955) or „Drei Haselnüsse für Aschenbrödel“ (1973) are popular Christmas traditions to watch.

Well yeah, this clip is - like you've already said - just a TV tradition for us Germans on the New year's eve 😃👍🏻 Also, because it's just funny to watch!! I always watch it on NYE! This dude is so drunk, holy hell... 😂 And that's why it's "the same procedure as every year"! Have a good start into 2023! Your videos are great!

You watched the Swiss version. In the German version there is a German narrator telling the background story: It's the 90th birthday of Miss Sophie on Dec 31st and her last friend passed away 25 years ago. 2:44 It's Admiral(!) von Schneider. And in the past it had been a German military tradition to do the feet-thing. BTW: There is a long article on Wikipedia (Dinner for One) with some more background.

The tiger is a hunting trophy common in high class houses at that time and in this case used as a slapstick prop. I guess that's all to it. And the ending joke you will understand once your older haha

Yes, we watched it in English without subtitles. And when I had enough English in class, I was translating to my family members. But it was a tradition to watch it, because we held our bellies from laughing. Don't worry in general, when you don't understand humor. Human in each country is different. French often comes with a need to think about it. American humor seems to be much hooked on puns. British humor is sometimes kind of dark (Monthy Python) and dry. Russian humor also uses the Russian language to play with words.

I´m Chris from Austria. Here "Dinner for One" is a big thing since my childhood.

The scrip was written by a British author back in 1934 the recording was only on 1963 nearly 30 years LATER. Frinton and Warden performed Dinner for One on stage on Britain's seaside piers as early as 1945 It is a play that was performed at the Imperial Theater in New York, among others. The laughter doesn't come from a laughing machine either, but from the live audience who were in the theater when it was recorded in Hamburg Germany a few days after it was "discovered" by 2 germans in Blackpool. And as it says.... same procedure as every year it became a new year tradition, such as tin casting, or Fireworks. hitting heels is a military act. with the command "stand still" the heels are hit together to hear whether all soldiers are in sync so "ADRMIRAL von Schneider" still does that in his retirement. Back in colonial times hunted animals where skinned and put as trophies at home. usually as rug. "you realy are a true american" knowing nothing outside the us :) sorry i dont mean it bad. Oh please, come on. 7:28 In the Bedroom James has also to give, the "same procedure as every year"! you realy dont get it? 7:44 for a country with the world's largest porn industry, you guys are really uptight.

@kuessebrama

Жыл бұрын

You mean lead casting, not tin atleast i don't know with tin. But yeah this is not allowed anymore, because breathing in a little bit of lead fumes kills you instantly if you do it once a year.

For the backstory before that sketch happens: Ufa Fiction (a production firm) is doing a 6-part mini series with 45 minutes long episodes. Working title is "Dinner for five". It shall be about the 4 guests, why they aren't there and what's their connection to Miss Sophie. It shall be based on the book "Dinner for Five - Killer for One". Filming starts in 2023. It's in the newspaper today (30.12.2022 or 12/30/2022). The Ufa announced it yesterday.

Dinner for one is also shown in Finland every new years eve. It is SO funny and I have seen it as long as I can remember.

About the last part woth the wink and that stuff is exactly about what he thinks but i think he doesn't believe such "naughty" humor was became so popular in the strickt old german days (or at least you might think germans wouldn't have liked that one in the old days)

In the aristocracy it was popular to have exotics trophies in they castles. One of these was a lionskin to show all they can shoot an wild animals in africa (or anything along those lines). in the 70th we had in germany 2 broadcasters how send from 6am to 10pm so this show was maybe a highlight hat this time at new eve. But at the end of the day, no traditions makes any sense.

Facts: the theater play "Dinner for one" was probably written in the 1920s and was unsuccessful. Freddie Frinton, who is little known in England, had the play in his program and performed it on a small stage in Blackpool. Two German journalists happened to come into the theater and saw the performance. Both persuaded Frinton to come to Hamburg to make a TV recording there. Frinton insisted he needed a live audience and didn't speak a word of German. On December 9, 1961, the scene was shown live in German TV for the first time. In 1963 the scene was recorded again in Hamburg/Germany. In 1972 the program director was still looking for a gap filler for the program and broadcast the scene on December 31st. Thereafter the scene was repeated every year on December 31st. Swiss TV also recorded the scene in 1963 with the same actors, but only 11 minutes long. The recording from Hamburg is 18 minutes long. After the recording in Hamburg, the butler and Miss must have traveled on to Switzerland to play the scene again there. Frinton was able to just about make a living from the plays and played on every stage he could get. He didn't have the rights to "Dinner for one" and had to pay fees for every performance. He later appeared on the BBC with other plays.

@jensschroder8214

Жыл бұрын

It is simply the broadcast gap when the Federal President and Federal Chancellor have already addressed the chosen words to the people. Everyone waiting for midnight. And a drunk Englishman performs the same procedure every year. Until the new year begins and everyone wishes the other well. As every year, same procedure every year ...